Alexa: Doesn't play requested playlists

[Gordon_C]

No matter how the playlist is named; with dashes, dots, or just plain spelled out my Alexa devices won't access any specified playlist.

Moderator Edit: Changing title for clarity

[TannerPandora]

Hi @Gordon_C 

Welcome to community!

Sorry for any trouble listening to your playlist through Alexa. I'm happy to pass along your experience to our engineering team. To clarify, does Alexa acknowledge your request and then play something different or does Alexa not play anything at all?

Additionally, you can report this to Amazon directly using your Utterance Report.

To view your utterance history report, click this link from a computer and log into your Alexa account. Or from a mobile device launch the Alexa app, tap the Menu icon, select Activity and then More under Pandora activity.

From here you'll be able to view what Alexa thought she heard, as well as listen to a recording of what you said. If she didn't do what you wanted, be sure to let Amazon know by selecting No.

[StephLeigh]

I recently started having the same issue. There's one particular playlist that Alexa "can't find", no matter what I've tried renaming it to. And I've tried all the online suggested "fixes". 

[jhstn72]

I also recently had this start - it either won't play what I asked for or simply says it can't find it. Really annoying. I can play it from the Pandora App and only sometimes from the Alexa App, but the Alexa device cannot find it if I ask for it "Hey Alexa play "(playlist name)". 

[Gordon_C]

I haven't changed any settings so can't claim to know what has changed, but I can now find playlists using my Alexa device. Issues with the Pandora app remain, but that's a different topic of conversation.

[tjt123]

This is happening to me as well. This even occurs using Alexa Routines. I clearly specify a station that exactly matches one of a station in My Collection. Alexa repeats back that she "can't find the station xxxxx on Xxx's Pandora". This almost certainly is a problem with the skill. I can launch this directly from the Music & Podcasts section of the Alexa app. 

[Johndt37]

I have the exact same problem.  I specify a playlist that exactly matches one in My Collection. Alexa repeats back that she "can't find the playlist xxxxx on Xxx's Pandora". I can launch this directly from the Music & Podcasts section of the Alexa app. Tried all remedies.  I'm now ready to ditch Pandora, which is my favorite streaming service.  

[Tdwimsatt]

I had a similar problem and I did the following:

1. Always add "Radio" to the end of station names.
2. Prefix the station name with something unique such as your name, to differentiate the name from another similarly named station Pandora may have as a generic station or category. For example, a station you named "Smooth Jazz Radio" might also be the name of an existing Pandora station. Rename it "Gordon's Smooth Jazz Radio".
3. In Alexa Routines, be careful to use the same case in the names as you used to name your station. For example: "Gordon's smooth jazz radio" may not be the same as ""Gordon's Smooth Jazz Radio". We are working with computers, after all. Things like that seem trivial and should be handled, frequently they are not. That could be on the Alexa side OR the Pandora side.