Abstract: Approaches provide for a voice communications device to control, refine, or otherwise manage the playback of media content in response to instructions, such as spoken instructions. For example, the voice communications device receives input data associated with a command, such as a request to begin media playback. Accounts corresponding to users associated with the command are identified and one or more refinements extracted from the input data are used to filter content, such as from respective content catalogs or via trained models associated with the users. Determined content is generated that includes content from each of the content catalogs or trained models associated with the users. Thereafter, the voice communications device can initiate media playback.

Abstract: Techniques described herein can be used to provide recommendations for multiple users. In particular, one or more users may interact with an interactive device to stream media content or utilize other services provided by a service provider. The users may provide commands to the interactive device to request content from a service provider. Contextual data associated with the request may be used to determine that an audience of the interactive device comprises more than one user. Based on this determination, content recommendations can be provided so that the recommendations are more likely to be suitable for the audience.

Abstract: Described herein are online services provided to users based on the current context information of the users. In particular, a user may interact with an interactive device to stream media content from a remote service provider. The user may provide commands to the interactive device using a voice command. The interactive device may transmit requests based on such user command. In order for the service providers to provide customized services, the interactive device can be configured to capture additional contextual data indicative of an environment of the user such as ambient sound and provide such contextual data to the service provider. The service provider can utilize such contextual data to generate content recommendations suitable to the current context of the request or command or user.

Abstract: Approaches provide for using a voice communications device to control, refine, or otherwise manage the playback of media content in response to a spoken instruction. For example, the voice communications device can receive a request to refine and/or initiate the playback of media content, such as music, news, audio books, audio broadcasts, and other such content. Audio input data that includes the request can be received by the voice communications device and an application executing on the voice communications device or otherwise in communication with the voice communications device can analyze the audio input data to determine how to carry out the request. The application can determine whether there is an active play queue of media content configured to play using the voice communications device. In the situation where there is no media content being played using the voice communications device, the application can determine media content using information in the request.

Abstract: Audio data is received, for example from a voice communications device, and using commands and contexts in the audio data, playback of a content item such as a song can be accomplished. For example, a user can skip ahead in a song, play a song, find a song, and otherwise perform control functions on a device with no screen that give the user contextual control over the song that is playing or is to be played.

Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically selecting musical content for playback based on an initial “seed” of music selected by a user in a way that seamlessly extends the user's listening experience. The initially selected seed music might be, for example, an album or a playlist. Music that follows the seed music is algorithmically selected to match the music selected by the user.