Amazon Echo Just Added Music, Radio And Podcasts To Alexa’s Routines

Amazon Echo Just Added Music, Radio And Podcasts To Alexa’s Routines

Alexa Routines are a useful way to trigger a bunch of different actions with a single voice command on your Amazon Echo. Now, they’re getting even better, now that you can add specific songs, podcasts and radio shows.

Photo: Flickr/BestAI Assistant

The update should be rolling out to the Alexa app soon. Once you get it, here’s how to add some music to your morning or evening routine.

If you’ve never set up a Routine for your Echo speaker, it’s easy. Just launch the Alexa app, open the menu (top left button), and tap Routines. Then hit the big plus button to make a new one.

From here, the first thing you’ll want to do is create a trigger word or phrase. For example, you might want your Echo to turn on the lights, tell you the weather, and then play some soft music when you say “Alexa, good morning” – or “Alexa, I hate Mondays.”

Next, tap on “Add action”. You should see a list of icons, including News, Smart Home, Weather and the new Music option. For Music, you can pick a song or playlist from a bunch of different services, including Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora and iHeartRadio. It also supports podcasts and radio shows, so you can start your day with your favourite news podcast.

Add as many actions as you want and then hit “Create” to confirm the new Routine. After a minute or two, it should be ready to go, and you’ll just have to remind yourself to have a friendly chat with Alexa as you’re enjoying your morning coffee.


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