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: Technology is described for directing media content to a target device. A media content directing request may be received from a source device indicating that the source device intends to direct media content to the target device that is available for media content playback. A list of available target devices for media content playback may be provided to the source device. A playback message may be received from the source device that includes a selection of the target device from the list of available target devices. Communication of the playback message to the target device may be facilitated to initiate playback of media content from a media content playback server as directed by the source device.