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Playlists let you group multiple audio or video items into a single experience, or enable users to create their own media queues. There are three types of playlists in BeyondWords:
  • Standard: Manually select which content items to include
  • Smart: Set rules to automatically include relevant content items
  • Dynamic: Let users curate their own playlists (requires working in JavaScript)
Each standard/smart playlist automatically generates a corresponding podcast feed, and vice versa.
You might want to use continuous playback as an alternative to playlists. This means the player automatically plays your most recent content items after the initial item ends.

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Create a standard playlist

Standard playlists are made up of items you choose and stay the same unless you update them manually. This is useful for grouping related coverage on a single story, creating daily roundups, or curating other kinds of fixed editorial collections.
1

Go to playlist settings

Go to Distribution → Playlists in your project dashboard
2

Create a new playlist

Click + Playlist and fill out the form:
  • Title: Name your playlist
  • Content limit: Enter the maximum number of items to include in the playlist (up to 100)
  • Image (optional): Upload a square image to represent your playlist
  • Type of playlist: Select Standard
Once complete, click Continue.
3

Select content to include

Click Select articles and use the checkboxes to decide which content to include.Once complete, click Save changes.
4

Change playlist order (optional)

To change the order of your playlist contents, click ••• → Reorder

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Create a smart playlist

Smart playlists update automatically based on rules you define, allowing you to deliver a continuously refreshed feed of themed content. For example, you can include all the audio articles by a specific author, or all the videos related to a particular topic.
1

Go to playlist settings

Go to Distribution → Playlists in your project dashboard.
2

Create a new playlist

Click + Playlist and fill out the form:
  • Title: Name your playlist
  • Content limit: Enter the maximum number of items to include in the playlist (up to 100)
  • Image (optional): Upload a square image to represent your playlist
  • Type of playlist: Select Smart
Once complete, click Continue.
3

Set playlist rules

By default, smart playlists include all items in your project. To change this, click Set rules then + Rule.Use the Field, Condition, and Value fields to create your rule. For example, you may wish to create the rule author is Joe Bloggs.Once you’re happy, click Apply.
4

Save changes

You can add as many rules as needed, combining them with and or or operators.The Preview section shows which items will be included based on your current content and rules.Once you’re happy, click Save changes.

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Embed a playlist

To embed a smart or standard playlist:
1

Go to playlist settings

Go to Distribution → Playlists in your project dashboard.
2

Select a playlist

Click ••• alongside the playlist you’d like to embed, then select Get embed code.
3

Copy embed code

Choose the content type you’d like to include in your playlist (audio article, audio summary, video article, or video summary).You’ll see a preview of your playlist in the space below.
Your playlist will remain empty if you haven’t generated the corresponding content type.
Once you’re happy, click the Copy icon on the embed code.
4

Paste the embed code

Paste and save the embed code into the desired location on your website.
<script async defer src="https://proxy.beyondwords.io/npm/@beyondwords/player@latest/dist/umd.js"
  onload="new BeyondWords.Player({
    target: this,
    projectId: YOUR_PROJECT_ID,
    playlistId: YOUR_PLAYLIST_ID
  })">
</script>
The playlist player inherits the same colors and call to action as your main player. These are controlled in player settings.
Beyond Words Playlist Player

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Share a playlist via URL

To share a smart or standard playlist via URL:
  1. Go to Distribution → Playlists in your project dashboard
  2. Click ••• alongside the playlist you’d like to share, then select Copy shareable URL
  3. Paste your URL in the desired locations
The shareable URL page displays the project title, playlist image, content titles, content durations, and playback controls.

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Create a dynamic playlist

Dynamic playlists are generated in real time using your own logic and data. For example, you can allow users to build their own playlists with an add to queue feature.
1

Set up the JavaScript player

Install the JavaScript player on your website.
2

Store user selections

Implement backend logic to save the identifiers of content users add to their queue (e.g. contentId, sourceId, or sourceUrl), along with their type.
3

Initialize the player

You will need your projectId and content identifiers (e.g. contentId, sourceId, or sourceUrl) to load items.Pass the saved items into the player as a list of identifiers. Each item should include one identifier:
import BeyondWords from '@beyondwords/player';

new BeyondWords.Player({
  target: '#beyondwords-player',
  projectId: YOUR_PROJECT_ID, // required
  playlist: [
    {
      // include one of the following per item
      contentId: 'YOUR_CONTENT_ID',
      sourceId: "<SOURCE_ID>",
      sourceUrl: "<SOURCE_URL>",
      playlistId: YOUR_PLAYLIST_ID,
    },
    // ...more items
  ],
});
The player fetches the content and loads it as a playlist.Player settings are pulled from your project by default, but can be overridden via the configuration.

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Copy a playlist ID

You will need to copy a playlist ID (playlistId) when loading or referencing a specific playlist in the player SDK or Playlists API—for example, when initializing a player with a playlist or building dynamic playlists programmatically. To copy a playlist ID:
  1. Go to Distribution → Playlists in your project dashboard
  2. Click ••• alongside your chosen playlist
  3. Click Copy ID and paste it where required

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FAQs

To edit a smart or standard playlist:
  1. Go to Distribution → Playlists in your project dashboard
  2. Click ••• → Edit alongside your chosen playlist
  3. Update your chosen settings then click Save changes
To delete a smart or standard playlist:
  1. Go to Distribution → Playlists in your project dashboard
  2. Click ••• → Delete alongside your chosen playlist
  3. Click Delete to confirm
To change privacy settings for a smart or standard playlist:
  1. Go to Distribution → Playlists in your project dashboard
  2. Click Public or Private alongside your chosen playlist
  3. Switch the toggle then click Save changes
If your playlist is set to “public”, it can be accessed via its shareable URL and any embeds. If it’s “private”, it cannot be accessed this way.
If you’re not seeing any content in your playlist in BeyondWords, it may be because you have:
  • Created a standard playlist without adding any articles
  • Created a smart playlist with overly restrictive rules
  • Selected a content type (e.g. video articles) that you haven’t yet generated
If content appears in your playlist in BeyondWords but not through your distribution method, you may be on a legacy plan that doesn’t support playlist distribution. Contact support if you’d like to discuss upgrading.
Yes, you can use the outros feature to play an audio sting between items in a playlist:
  1. Go to Distribution → Player in your project dashboard
  2. Scroll down to the Outro section and click Upload audio
  3. Upload the transition sound you want to use
  4. Click Save changes
Please note that the outro will also play on individual items, not just within playlists.
If you update your content, the latest version will be reflected in the playlist after a short delay due to caching. If you delete content, it will no longer appear in the playlist.