Merge pull request 'Milestone 127: recommendation quality — provenance, tiered mixes, For You v2, tuning lab' (#107) from dev into main

The knob-turn summary renders both as the sparkline tick tooltips (one
per series) and in the list under the chart; the single-element query
tripped on the duplicates in CI run 1906.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01TsF3cNoKrqCYsU78cXC8U6

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/MinstrelApplication.kt

@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.CacheIndexer
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.mutations.MutationReplayer
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.sync.SyncController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.diagnostics.DiagnosticsReporter
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.diagnostics.DiagnosticsUploader
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.LiveEventsDispatcher
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.metadata.FreshnessSweeper
@@ -155,6 +157,11 @@ class MinstrelApplication :
      */
     @Suppress("unused") @Inject lateinit var liveEventsDispatcher: LiveEventsDispatcher
 
+    // Device diagnostics (M9). The reporter gates itself on the account's
+    // debug flag; the uploader drains its buffer on a tick / recovery.
+    @Suppress("unused") @Inject lateinit var diagnosticsReporter: DiagnosticsReporter
+    @Suppress("unused") @Inject lateinit var diagnosticsUploader: DiagnosticsUploader
+
     @Inject @ApplicationScope lateinit var appScope: CoroutineScope
 
     override fun onCreate() {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminInvitesViewModel.kt

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminInvitesRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.Invite
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.channels.Channel
@@ -25,6 +27,7 @@ data class AdminInvitesUiState(
 @HiltViewModel
 class AdminInvitesViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: AdminInvitesRepository,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow(AdminInvitesUiState())
@@ -36,6 +39,13 @@ class AdminInvitesViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): reload a failed list
+        // when server health returns instead of waiting for a manual pull.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value.message != null) refresh()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh() {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminQuarantineScreen.kt

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import androidx.navigation.NavHostController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.AdminQuarantineItemRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AdminQuarantine
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
@@ -62,9 +63,10 @@ fun AdminQuarantineScreen(
                     body = "When users flag tracks as bad rips, wrong tags, or " +
                         "duplicates, their reports get aggregated and surfaced here.",
                 )
-                is AdminQuarantineUiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+                is AdminQuarantineUiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                     title = "Couldn't load queue",
-                    body = s.message,
+                    message = s.message,
+                    onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
                 )
                 is AdminQuarantineUiState.Success -> QueueList(
                     rows = s.rows,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminQuarantineViewModel.kt

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminQuarantineRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.AdminQuarantineItemRef
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ sealed interface AdminQuarantineUiState {
 class AdminQuarantineViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: AdminQuarantineRepository,
     private val eventsStream: EventsStream,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow<AdminQuarantineUiState>(AdminQuarantineUiState.Loading)
@@ -38,6 +41,13 @@ class AdminQuarantineViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 .filter { it.kind.startsWith("quarantine.") }
                 .collect { refresh() }
         }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): reload a failed list
+        // when server health returns instead of waiting for a manual pull.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is AdminQuarantineUiState.Error) refresh()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminRequestsScreen.kt

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import androidx.navigation.NavHostController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.RequestRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AdminRequests
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
@@ -61,9 +62,10 @@ fun AdminRequestsScreen(
                     body = "When users ask Lidarr for new music, their pending " +
                         "requests show up here for approval.",
                 )
-                is AdminRequestsUiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+                is AdminRequestsUiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                     title = "Couldn't load requests",
-                    body = s.message,
+                    message = s.message,
+                    onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
                 )
                 is AdminRequestsUiState.Success -> RequestList(
                     rows = s.rows,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminRequestsViewModel.kt

@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminRequestsRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminUsersRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.RequestRef
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
@@ -35,6 +37,7 @@ class AdminRequestsViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: AdminRequestsRepository,
     private val usersRepository: AdminUsersRepository,
     private val eventsStream: EventsStream,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow<AdminRequestsUiState>(AdminRequestsUiState.Loading)
@@ -47,6 +50,13 @@ class AdminRequestsViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 .filter { it.kind in RELEVANT_EVENT_KINDS }
                 .collect { refresh() }
         }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): reload a failed list
+        // when server health returns instead of waiting for a manual pull.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is AdminRequestsUiState.Error) refresh()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminUsersViewModel.kt

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminUsersRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.AdminUserRef
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
@@ -23,6 +25,7 @@ sealed interface AdminUsersUiState {
 @HiltViewModel
 class AdminUsersViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: AdminUsersRepository,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow<AdminUsersUiState>(AdminUsersUiState.Loading)
@@ -30,6 +33,13 @@ class AdminUsersViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): reload a failed list
+        // when server health returns instead of waiting for a manual pull.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is AdminUsersUiState.Error) refresh()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/api/endpoints/DiagnosticsApi.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints
+
+import kotlinx.serialization.SerialName
+import kotlinx.serialization.Serializable
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.JsonElement
+import retrofit2.http.Body
+import retrofit2.http.POST
+
+/**
+ * Retrofit interface for device diagnostics ingest (M9). One call
+ * uploads a batch of buffered events. The server stores them only when
+ * the account's debug_mode_enabled flag is on (it returns 204 otherwise,
+ * which the uploader treats as success so it can drop the batch).
+ */
+interface DiagnosticsApi {
+    @POST("api/diagnostics")
+    suspend fun report(@Body body: DiagnosticsReportRequest)
+}
+
+@Serializable
+data class DiagnosticsReportRequest(
+    @SerialName("client_id") val clientId: String,
+    @SerialName("app_version") val appVersion: String? = null,
+    @SerialName("os_version") val osVersion: String? = null,
+    val events: List<DiagnosticEventWire>,
+)
+
+@Serializable
+data class DiagnosticEventWire(
+    val kind: String,
+    // Device-clock epoch milliseconds. The server stamps its own
+    // received_at; both are stored so a skewed device clock is visible.
+    @SerialName("occurred_at") val occurredAt: Long,
+    // Opaque structured payload carrying the event sub-type + fields.
+    val payload: JsonElement,
+)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/auth/AuthController.kt

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth
 
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.AuthApi
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.MeApi
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.UserRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.LoginRequestBody
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ class AuthController @Inject constructor(
     retrofit: Retrofit,
 ) {
     private val api: AuthApi = retrofit.create()
+    private val meApi: MeApi = retrofit.create()
 
     private val currentUserState = MutableStateFlow<UserRef?>(null)
     val currentUser: StateFlow<UserRef?> = currentUserState.asStateFlow()
@@ -55,6 +57,10 @@ class AuthController @Inject constructor(
                 currentUserState.value = raw?.let { decodeUser(it) }
             }
         }
+        // Refresh from /api/me on startup so a remotely-changed account
+        // flag (e.g. admin enabling debug mode, M9) reaches the device
+        // without a re-login. Best-effort; failures keep the cached value.
+        scope.launch { refreshProfile() }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -72,9 +78,32 @@ class AuthController @Inject constructor(
         )
         currentUserState.value = user
         authStore.setUserJson(json.encodeToString(UserRef.serializer(), user))
+        // Pull the fuller /me shape (carries debug_mode_enabled) right
+        // after login so the diagnostics gate is correct without waiting
+        // for the next startup refresh.
+        scope.launch { refreshProfile() }
         return user
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Re-fetch the caller's profile from /api/me and update currentUser
+     * + persisted userJson. Carries account-level flags (debug mode)
+     * that aren't in the login response. Best-effort: a network failure
+     * leaves the cached identity untouched. No-op when signed out.
+     */
+    suspend fun refreshProfile() {
+        if (!isSignedIn) return
+        val p = runCatching { meApi.getProfile() }.getOrNull() ?: return
+        val user = UserRef(
+            id = p.id,
+            username = p.username,
+            isAdmin = p.isAdmin,
+            debugModeEnabled = p.debugModeEnabled,
+        )
+        currentUserState.value = user
+        authStore.setUserJson(json.encodeToString(UserRef.serializer(), user))
+    }
+
     /**
      * Clears the local session immediately and best-effort hits
      * `/api/auth/logout` so the server can drop its session row.

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/auth/AuthStore.kt

@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ class AuthStore @Inject constructor(
     private val cacheSettingsState = MutableStateFlow(CacheSettings.DEFAULT)
     val cacheSettings: StateFlow<CacheSettings> = cacheSettingsState.asStateFlow()
 
+    private val diagnosticsOptOutState = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    val diagnosticsOptOut: StateFlow<Boolean> = diagnosticsOptOutState.asStateFlow()
+
     private val json = Json { ignoreUnknownKeys = true }
 
     init {
@@ -70,6 +73,7 @@ class AuthStore @Inject constructor(
                 themeModeState.value = row?.themeMode
                 clientIdState.value = row?.clientId
                 cacheSettingsState.value = decodeCacheSettings(row?.cacheSettingsJson)
+                diagnosticsOptOutState.value = row?.diagnosticsOptOut ?: false
             }
         }
     }
@@ -112,6 +116,11 @@ class AuthStore @Inject constructor(
         scope.launch { persistCacheSettings(encoded) }
     }
 
+    fun setDiagnosticsOptOut(value: Boolean) {
+        diagnosticsOptOutState.value = value
+        scope.launch { persistDiagnosticsOptOut(value) }
+    }
+
     private suspend fun persistCookie(value: String?) {
         if (dao.get() == null) {
             dao.upsert(currentEntity().copy(sessionCookie = value))
@@ -160,6 +169,14 @@ class AuthStore @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
+    private suspend fun persistDiagnosticsOptOut(value: Boolean) {
+        if (dao.get() == null) {
+            dao.upsert(currentEntity().copy(diagnosticsOptOut = value))
+        } else {
+            dao.setDiagnosticsOptOut(value)
+        }
+    }
+
     private fun currentEntity(): AuthSessionEntity = AuthSessionEntity(
         id = ROW_ID,
         sessionCookie = sessionCookieState.value,
@@ -171,6 +188,7 @@ class AuthStore @Inject constructor(
             CacheSettings.serializer(),
             cacheSettingsState.value,
         ),
+        diagnosticsOptOut = diagnosticsOptOutState.value,
     )
 
     companion object {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/AppDatabase.kt

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedResumeStateDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedPlaylistTrackDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedQuarantineDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedTrackDao
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.DiagnosticEventDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.SyncMetadataDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.AudioCacheIndexEntity
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.AuthSessionEntity
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.CachedResumeStateEntity
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.CachedPlaylistTrackEntity
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.CachedQuarantineEntity
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.CachedTrackEntity
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.DiagnosticEventEntity
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.SyncMetadataEntity
 
 /**
@@ -61,8 +63,11 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.SyncMetadataEntity
         CachedHomeIndexEntity::class,
         CachedHistorySnapshotEntity::class,
         AuthSessionEntity::class,
+        DiagnosticEventEntity::class,
     ],
-    version = 6,
+    // v7: + diagnostic_events table (M9) and the diagnosticsOptOut column
+    // on auth_session. Pre-v1 destructive fallback rebuilds on mismatch.
+    version = 7,
     exportSchema = true,
 )
 @TypeConverters(MinstrelTypeConverters::class)
@@ -81,4 +86,5 @@ abstract class AppDatabase : RoomDatabase() {
     abstract fun cachedHomeIndexDao(): CachedHomeIndexDao
     abstract fun cachedHistorySnapshotDao(): CachedHistorySnapshotDao
     abstract fun authSessionDao(): AuthSessionDao
+    abstract fun diagnosticEventDao(): DiagnosticEventDao
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/DatabaseModule.kt

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedHistorySnapshotDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedHomeIndexDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedLikeDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedMutationDao
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.DiagnosticEventDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedPlaylistDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedPlaylistTrackDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedQuarantineDao
@@ -105,5 +106,10 @@ object DatabaseModule {
     fun provideAudioCacheIndexDao(db: AppDatabase): AudioCacheIndexDao =
         db.audioCacheIndexDao()
 
+    @Provides
+    @Singleton
+    fun provideDiagnosticEventDao(db: AppDatabase): DiagnosticEventDao =
+        db.diagnosticEventDao()
+
     private const val DATABASE_NAME = "minstrel.db"
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/dao/AuthSessionDao.kt

@@ -42,4 +42,8 @@ interface AuthSessionDao {
     /** Partial update: change only the serialized cache settings. */
     @Query("UPDATE auth_session SET cacheSettingsJson = :json WHERE id = 0")
     suspend fun setCacheSettingsJson(json: String?)
+
+    /** Partial update: change only the per-device diagnostics opt-out. */
+    @Query("UPDATE auth_session SET diagnosticsOptOut = :optOut WHERE id = 0")
+    suspend fun setDiagnosticsOptOut(optOut: Boolean)
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/dao/DiagnosticEventDao.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao
+
+import androidx.room.Dao
+import androidx.room.Insert
+import androidx.room.Query
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.DiagnosticEventEntity
+
+@Dao
+interface DiagnosticEventDao {
+    @Insert
+    suspend fun insert(row: DiagnosticEventEntity): Long
+
+    /** FIFO drain order so the uploader sends oldest-first. */
+    @Query("SELECT * FROM diagnostic_events ORDER BY id ASC LIMIT :limit")
+    suspend fun takeBatch(limit: Int): List<DiagnosticEventEntity>
+
+    @Query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM diagnostic_events")
+    suspend fun count(): Int
+
+    @Query("DELETE FROM diagnostic_events WHERE id IN (:ids)")
+    suspend fun deleteByIds(ids: List<Long>)
+
+    /**
+     * Ring-buffer trim: drop the oldest rows beyond [keep]. Called after
+     * insert so a long offline stretch can't grow the buffer unbounded.
+     */
+    @Query(
+        "DELETE FROM diagnostic_events WHERE id NOT IN " +
+            "(SELECT id FROM diagnostic_events ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT :keep)",
+    )
+    suspend fun trimToNewest(keep: Int)
+
+    @Query("DELETE FROM diagnostic_events")
+    suspend fun clear()
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/entities/AuthSessionEntity.kt

@@ -36,4 +36,11 @@ data class AuthSessionEntity(
      * CacheSettings shape evolves.
      */
     val cacheSettingsJson: String? = null,
+    /**
+     * Per-device opt-out of diagnostics reporting (M9). When the
+     * account's debug mode is enabled by an admin, the user can still
+     * turn reporting OFF on this device (battery/privacy) — that local
+     * choice lives here. Default false = honor the account flag.
+     */
+    val diagnosticsOptOut: Boolean = false,
 )

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/entities/DiagnosticEventEntity.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities
+
+import androidx.room.Entity
+import androidx.room.PrimaryKey
+
+/**
+ * One buffered device-diagnostics event (M9). The DiagnosticsReporter
+ * writes rows here when the account's debug mode is on; the
+ * DiagnosticsUploader drains them to POST /api/diagnostics and deletes
+ * on success.
+ *
+ * This is a deliberate ring buffer that is NOT routed through the offline
+ * MutationQueue: diagnostics are high-volume, best-effort telemetry, and
+ * the bug we're chasing (roaming / dead-zone recovery) happens WHILE
+ * offline — so events must persist locally through the dead zone and
+ * upload on recovery, without clogging the user-data mutation replay.
+ *
+ * `occurredAtMillis` is the device-clock epoch-ms when the event happened
+ * (the server also stamps its own received_at). `payloadJson` is an
+ * opaque JSON object carrying the event sub-type + fields.
+ */
+@Entity(tableName = "diagnostic_events")
+data class DiagnosticEventEntity(
+    @PrimaryKey(autoGenerate = true) val id: Long = 0,
+    val kind: String,
+    val occurredAtMillis: Long,
+    val payloadJson: String,
+)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/sync/SyncController.kt

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.sync
 
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.SyncApi
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.AuthStore
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
@@ -17,6 +18,9 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.SyncAlbumWire
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.SyncArtistWire
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.SyncTrackWire
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filter
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filterNotNull
@@ -64,6 +68,17 @@ class SyncController @Inject constructor(
     // pull-to-refresh) can fire concurrently; coalesce them into one pass.
     private val mutex = Mutex()
 
+    private val lastSyncErrorInternal = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
+
+    /**
+     * Human copy for the most recent sync failure; null after any clean
+     * pass. Lets the Library screen distinguish "empty because the first
+     * sync failed" (show error + retry) from "genuinely empty library"
+     * (show welcome copy) — a failed sync over a populated cache stays
+     * silent, since the cached content is still the better surface.
+     */
+    val lastSyncError: StateFlow<String?> = lastSyncErrorInternal.asStateFlow()
+
     init {
         scope.launch {
             authStore.sessionCookie
@@ -82,11 +97,13 @@ class SyncController @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
-    /** Public entry-point for "Sync now" affordances. Swallows errors. */
+    /** Public entry-point for "Sync now" affordances. Swallows errors into [lastSyncError]. */
     suspend fun syncSafe() {
         if (!mutex.tryLock()) return
         try {
             runCatching { sync() }
+                .onSuccess { lastSyncErrorInternal.value = null }
+                .onFailure { lastSyncErrorInternal.value = ErrorCopy.fromThrowable(it) }
         } finally {
             mutex.unlock()
         }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/connectivity/Recovery.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity
+
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.drop
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filter
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
+
+/**
+ * Emits once each time server health RETURNS to [ServerHealth.Healthy]
+ * after the collector subscribed — the StateFlow's replayed current value
+ * is dropped, so only genuine down→up transitions fire (a screen that
+ * subscribes while already Healthy doesn't double-load).
+ *
+ * This is the screen-level half of the recovery idiom the app-lifetime
+ * singletons (SyncController / MutationReplayer / DiagnosticsUploader)
+ * already use: a ViewModel collects this in its viewModelScope and re-runs
+ * its load, so a surface that failed while the server was unreachable
+ * heals itself the moment connectivity returns instead of sitting in the
+ * failed state until a manual pull-to-refresh.
+ */
+fun NetworkStatusController.recoveries(): Flow<Unit> = state
+    .map { it == ServerHealth.Healthy }
+    .distinctUntilChanged()
+    .drop(1)
+    .filter { it }
+    .map { }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/diagnostics/DiagnosticsReporter.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,328 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.diagnostics
+
+import android.content.BroadcastReceiver
+import android.content.Context
+import android.content.Intent
+import android.content.IntentFilter
+import android.os.PowerManager
+import androidx.lifecycle.DefaultLifecycleObserver
+import androidx.lifecycle.LifecycleOwner
+import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
+import androidx.lifecycle.ProcessLifecycleOwner
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.AuthController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.AuthStore
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.DiagnosticEventDao
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.DiagnosticEventEntity
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ConnectivityObserver
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.PlayerController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.RemotePlayerState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.OutputPickerController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.OutputRoute
+import dagger.hilt.android.qualifiers.ApplicationContext
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
+import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.combine
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.Json
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.JsonObject
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.buildJsonObject
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.put
+import javax.inject.Inject
+import javax.inject.Singleton
+
+/**
+ * On-device diagnostics collector (M9). Active only while the account's
+ * debug mode is enabled (server flag, read via AuthController.currentUser)
+ * AND the user hasn't opted out locally. When active it taps existing
+ * connectivity / player / UPnP / power seams READ-ONLY and writes a
+ * timeseries of events into the [DiagnosticEventDao] ring buffer; the
+ * [DiagnosticsUploader] drains that buffer to the server.
+ *
+ * The aim is to explain two failure classes after the fact: roaming /
+ * poor-data recovery (connectivity + server-health transitions) and
+ * locked-phone UPnP desync (power/Doze transitions correlated with the
+ * Sonos-vs-local position deltas captured in the heartbeat).
+ */
+@Suppress("TooManyFunctions") // one collector + one (un)register pair per signal; cohesive
+@Singleton
+class DiagnosticsReporter @Inject constructor(
+    @ApplicationContext private val context: Context,
+    @ApplicationScope private val scope: CoroutineScope,
+    private val dao: DiagnosticEventDao,
+    private val authController: AuthController,
+    private val authStore: AuthStore,
+    private val connectivity: ConnectivityObserver,
+    private val networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
+    private val playerController: PlayerController,
+    private val outputPicker: OutputPickerController,
+    private val remoteState: RemotePlayerState,
+    private val json: Json,
+) {
+    @Volatile private var enabled = false
+    private var collectorJob: Job? = null
+    private var powerReceiver: BroadcastReceiver? = null
+    private var lifecycleObserver: DefaultLifecycleObserver? = null
+
+    init {
+        // Gate = account flag (currentUser.debugModeEnabled) AND not the
+        // per-device local opt-out.
+        scope.launch {
+            combine(authController.currentUser, authStore.diagnosticsOptOut) { user, optOut ->
+                (user?.debugModeEnabled == true) && !optOut
+            }.distinctUntilChanged().collect { setEnabled(it) }
+        }
+        // Periodically re-pull /me so a remote admin flip propagates
+        // without a re-login or app restart.
+        scope.launch {
+            while (true) {
+                delay(GATE_REFRESH_MS)
+                authController.refreshProfile()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun setEnabled(value: Boolean) {
+        if (value == enabled) return
+        enabled = value
+        if (value) start() else stop()
+    }
+
+    private fun start() {
+        registerPowerReceiver()
+        registerLifecycleObserver()
+        collectorJob = scope.launch {
+            record("lifecycle", buildJsonObject { put("event", "reporting_started") })
+            launch { collectConnectivity() }
+            launch { collectServerHealth() }
+            launch { collectUpnpDrops() }
+            launch { collectPlayerState() }
+            launch { collectTrackChanges() }
+            launch { collectRoutes() }
+            launch { heartbeatLoop() }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun stop() {
+        collectorJob?.cancel()
+        collectorJob = null
+        unregisterPowerReceiver()
+        unregisterLifecycleObserver()
+        // Off means off: drop any unsent buffer (honors the user OFF
+        // intent and avoids leaking data captured before disable).
+        scope.launch { runCatching { dao.clear() } }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun collectConnectivity() {
+        connectivity.online.distinctUntilChanged().collect { online ->
+            record("connectivity", buildJsonObject {
+                put("event", "online_changed")
+                put("online", online)
+            })
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun collectServerHealth() {
+        // state is a StateFlow — already conflated/distinct, so no
+        // distinctUntilChanged (it's a deprecation warning = build error).
+        networkStatus.state.collect { s ->
+            record("connectivity", buildJsonObject {
+                put("event", "server_health")
+                put("state", s.name)
+            })
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun collectUpnpDrops() {
+        playerController.dropEvents.collect { msg ->
+            record("upnp_sync", buildJsonObject {
+                put("event", "drop")
+                put("message", msg)
+            })
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun collectPlayerState() {
+        // 'playback', not 'upnp_sync' — player state applies to every output
+        // route (phone speaker, Bluetooth, UPnP), not just casting.
+        playerController.uiState
+            .map { Triple(it.currentSource, it.isUpnpLoading, it.playbackError) }
+            .distinctUntilChanged()
+            .collect { (source, upnpLoading, err) ->
+                record("playback", buildJsonObject {
+                    put("event", "player_state")
+                    put("source", source ?: "")
+                    put("upnp_loading", upnpLoading)
+                    if (err != null) put("error", err)
+                })
+            }
+    }
+
+    // Emit a snapshot at each track/queue-index change — captures a
+    // skip-induced local↔Sonos desync at the INSTANT it happens, which the
+    // 45s heartbeat misses. Note: uiState is a conflated StateFlow, so a
+    // very rapid skip burst may coalesce intermediate indices (we still get
+    // the boundaries + the local-vs-Sonos snapshot).
+    private suspend fun collectTrackChanges() {
+        playerController.uiState
+            .map { it.queueIndex to it.currentTrack?.id }
+            .distinctUntilChanged()
+            .collect { (index, _) ->
+                val ui = playerController.uiState.value
+                val casting = outputPicker.routesState.value.current.protocol !=
+                    OutputRoute.Protocol.SYSTEM
+                record("playback", buildJsonObject {
+                    put("event", "track_change")
+                    put("local_index", index)
+                    // Track IDENTITY, not just index — indices wobble across
+                    // re-casts, so the id + Sonos URI make a desync unambiguous.
+                    put("local_track_id", ui.currentTrack?.id ?: "")
+                    put("local_pos_ms", ui.positionMs)
+                    putSonos(this, casting)
+                    put("upnp_loading", ui.isUpnpLoading)
+                    put("server_health", networkStatus.state.value.name)
+                    put("route", outputPicker.routesState.value.current.name)
+                })
+            }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun collectRoutes() {
+        // 'playback' — route changes happen for all outputs. This only ever
+        // logs the ACTIVE route (routesState.current), so no "connected" flag.
+        outputPicker.routesState.map { it.current }.distinctUntilChanged().collect { r ->
+            record("playback", buildJsonObject {
+                put("event", "route")
+                put("id", r.id)
+                put("name", r.name)
+                put("kind", r.kind.name)
+                put("protocol", r.protocol.name)
+            })
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun heartbeatLoop() {
+        while (true) {
+            delay(HEARTBEAT_MS)
+            val ui = playerController.uiState.value
+            val route = outputPicker.routesState.value.current
+            val routeActive = route.protocol != OutputRoute.Protocol.SYSTEM
+            // Idle = nothing worth sampling. Skip to keep the buffer lean.
+            if (!ui.isPlaying && !routeActive) continue
+            record("heartbeat", buildJsonObject {
+                put("server_health", networkStatus.state.value.name)
+                put("is_playing", ui.isPlaying)
+                put("source", ui.currentSource ?: "")
+                put("local_index", ui.queueIndex)
+                put("local_track_id", ui.currentTrack?.id ?: "")
+                put("local_pos_ms", ui.positionMs)
+                put("route", route.name)
+                put("route_protocol", route.protocol.name)
+                putSonos(this, routeActive)
+                addPowerFields(this)
+            })
+        }
+    }
+
+    // --- power + lifecycle taps -------------------------------------------
+
+    private fun registerPowerReceiver() {
+        if (powerReceiver != null) return
+        val receiver = object : BroadcastReceiver() {
+            override fun onReceive(c: Context?, intent: Intent?) {
+                val action = intent?.action ?: return
+                if (!enabled) return
+                scope.launch { record("power", powerEvent(action)) }
+            }
+        }
+        val filter = IntentFilter().apply {
+            addAction(Intent.ACTION_SCREEN_ON)
+            addAction(Intent.ACTION_SCREEN_OFF)
+            addAction(PowerManager.ACTION_DEVICE_IDLE_MODE_CHANGED)
+        }
+        // System-protected broadcasts, but pass NOT_EXPORTED explicitly so
+        // the API 34+ registerReceiver flag requirement is satisfied.
+        ContextCompat.registerReceiver(
+            context, receiver, filter, ContextCompat.RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED,
+        )
+        powerReceiver = receiver
+    }
+
+    private fun unregisterPowerReceiver() {
+        powerReceiver?.let { runCatching { context.unregisterReceiver(it) } }
+        powerReceiver = null
+    }
+
+    private fun registerLifecycleObserver() {
+        if (lifecycleObserver != null) return
+        val obs = object : DefaultLifecycleObserver {
+            override fun onStart(owner: LifecycleOwner) = logLifecycle("app_foreground")
+            override fun onStop(owner: LifecycleOwner) = logLifecycle("app_background")
+        }
+        lifecycleObserver = obs
+        scope.launch(Dispatchers.Main) {
+            ProcessLifecycleOwner.get().lifecycle.addObserver(obs)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun unregisterLifecycleObserver() {
+        val obs = lifecycleObserver ?: return
+        lifecycleObserver = null
+        scope.launch(Dispatchers.Main) {
+            ProcessLifecycleOwner.get().lifecycle.removeObserver(obs)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun logLifecycle(event: String) {
+        if (!enabled) return
+        scope.launch { record("lifecycle", buildJsonObject { put("event", event) }) }
+    }
+
+    private fun powerEvent(action: String): JsonObject = buildJsonObject {
+        put("event", action.substringAfterLast('.'))
+        addPowerFields(this)
+    }
+
+    // Sonos/UPnP remote-vs-local desync fields. Only meaningful while a
+    // remote route is active; zeroed otherwise so a stale RemotePlayerState
+    // from a just-ended cast can't masquerade as live Sonos data (the
+    // cast→phone handoff artifact). currentTrackUri is the desync ground
+    // truth — it carries the track the speaker is actually streaming.
+    private fun putSonos(builder: kotlinx.serialization.json.JsonObjectBuilder, casting: Boolean) {
+        builder.put("sonos_track", if (casting) remoteState.trackNumber else 0)
+        builder.put("sonos_pos_ms", if (casting) remoteState.positionMs else 0)
+        builder.put("sonos_playing", casting && remoteState.isPlaying)
+        if (casting) builder.put("sonos_uri", remoteState.currentTrackUri)
+    }
+
+    private fun addPowerFields(builder: kotlinx.serialization.json.JsonObjectBuilder) {
+        val pm = context.getSystemService(Context.POWER_SERVICE) as PowerManager
+        builder.put("doze", pm.isDeviceIdleMode)
+        builder.put("screen_on", pm.isInteractive)
+        builder.put("battery_opt_ignored", pm.isIgnoringBatteryOptimizations(context.packageName))
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun record(kind: String, payload: JsonObject) {
+        runCatching {
+            val id = dao.insert(
+                DiagnosticEventEntity(
+                    kind = kind,
+                    occurredAtMillis = System.currentTimeMillis(),
+                    payloadJson = json.encodeToString(JsonObject.serializer(), payload),
+                ),
+            )
+            if (id % TRIM_INTERVAL == 0L) dao.trimToNewest(MAX_BUFFER)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private companion object {
+        const val HEARTBEAT_MS = 45_000L
+        const val GATE_REFRESH_MS = 300_000L // re-pull /me every 5 min
+        const val MAX_BUFFER = 5_000 // ring-buffer ceiling, oldest dropped
+        const val TRIM_INTERVAL = 50L // trim every N inserts, not every one
+    }
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/diagnostics/DiagnosticsUploader.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.diagnostics
+
+import android.os.Build
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.BuildConfig
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.DiagnosticEventWire
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.DiagnosticsApi
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.DiagnosticsReportRequest
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.AuthStore
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.DiagnosticEventDao
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.DiagnosticEventEntity
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filter
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filterNotNull
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import kotlinx.coroutines.sync.Mutex
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.Json
+import retrofit2.Retrofit
+import retrofit2.create
+import javax.inject.Inject
+import javax.inject.Singleton
+
+/**
+ * Drains the [DiagnosticEventDao] ring buffer to POST /api/diagnostics
+ * (M9). Triggers mirror [com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.mutations.MutationReplayer]:
+ * a periodic tick, a sign-in (sessionCookie non-null), and a server-health
+ * recovery to [ServerHealth.Healthy] — so a dead-zone's buffered events
+ * upload the moment the link comes back.
+ *
+ * Deliberately NOT the MutationQueue: diagnostics are high-volume,
+ * best-effort telemetry. A failed upload just retries on the next tick;
+ * the server no-ops (204) when the account's debug flag is off, which the
+ * uploader treats as success so the buffer drains either way.
+ */
+@Singleton
+class DiagnosticsUploader @Inject constructor(
+    private val dao: DiagnosticEventDao,
+    private val authStore: AuthStore,
+    private val json: Json,
+    @ApplicationScope private val scope: CoroutineScope,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
+    retrofit: Retrofit,
+) {
+    private val api: DiagnosticsApi = retrofit.create()
+    private val mutex = Mutex()
+
+    init {
+        scope.launch {
+            while (true) {
+                delay(UPLOAD_INTERVAL_MS)
+                drainSafe()
+            }
+        }
+        scope.launch {
+            authStore.sessionCookie.filterNotNull().distinctUntilChanged().collect { drainSafe() }
+        }
+        scope.launch {
+            networkStatus.state
+                .map { it == ServerHealth.Healthy }
+                .distinctUntilChanged()
+                .filter { it }
+                .collect { drainSafe() }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** Coalesces concurrent triggers via tryLock — a drain in flight wins. */
+    private suspend fun drainSafe() {
+        val clientId = authStore.clientId.value
+        // Signed out / no client id yet → nothing to do. Single guard keeps
+        // the return count within the detekt gate.
+        if (authStore.sessionCookie.value.isNullOrEmpty() || clientId == null) return
+        if (!mutex.tryLock()) return
+        try {
+            drain(clientId)
+        } finally {
+            mutex.unlock()
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun drain(clientId: String) {
+        var more = true
+        while (more) {
+            val batch = runCatching { dao.takeBatch(BATCH_SIZE) }.getOrNull().orEmpty()
+            val sent = batch.isNotEmpty() && runCatching { upload(clientId, batch) }.isSuccess
+            if (sent) runCatching { dao.deleteByIds(batch.map { it.id }) }
+            // Keep going only while a full batch sent cleanly; otherwise stop
+            // (empty buffer, or a failure to retry on the next trigger).
+            more = sent && batch.size >= BATCH_SIZE
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun upload(clientId: String, batch: List<DiagnosticEventEntity>) {
+        api.report(
+            DiagnosticsReportRequest(
+                clientId = clientId,
+                appVersion = BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME,
+                osVersion = "Android ${Build.VERSION.RELEASE} (${Build.MODEL})",
+                events = batch.map { row ->
+                    DiagnosticEventWire(
+                        kind = row.kind,
+                        occurredAt = row.occurredAtMillis,
+                        payload = json.parseToJsonElement(row.payloadJson),
+                    )
+                },
+            ),
+        )
+    }
+
+    private companion object {
+        const val UPLOAD_INTERVAL_MS = 60_000L
+        const val BATCH_SIZE = 100
+    }
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/discover/ui/DiscoverScreen.kt

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.ArtistSuggestionRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.LidarrRequestKind
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.LidarrSearchResultRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.Discover
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
@@ -109,6 +110,7 @@ private fun DiscoverBody(
                             snackbar.showSnackbar(snackbarFor(outcome, s.name))
                         }
                     },
+                    onRetry = { viewModel.loadSuggestions() },
                 )
                 ResultsState.Loading -> LoadingCentered()
                 is ResultsState.Loaded -> ResultsList(
@@ -121,7 +123,11 @@ private fun DiscoverBody(
                         }
                     },
                 )
-                is ResultsState.Error -> CenteredMessage("Search failed: ${r.message}")
+                is ResultsState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
+                    title = "Search failed",
+                    message = r.message,
+                    onRetry = viewModel::runSearch,
+                )
             }
         }
     }
@@ -177,10 +183,15 @@ private fun SuggestionsPane(
     state: SuggestionState,
     locallyRequestedMbids: Set<String>,
     onRequest: (ArtistSuggestionRef) -> Unit,
+    onRetry: () -> Unit,
 ) {
     when (state) {
         SuggestionState.Loading -> LoadingCentered()
-        is SuggestionState.Error -> CenteredMessage("Couldn't load suggestions.")
+        is SuggestionState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
+            title = "Couldn't load suggestions",
+            message = state.message,
+            onRetry = onRetry,
+        )
         is SuggestionState.Loaded -> SuggestionsList(
             items = state.items.filter { it.mbid !in locallyRequestedMbids },
             onRequest = onRequest,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/discover/ui/DiscoverViewModel.kt

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package com.fabledsword.minstrel.discover.ui
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.discover.data.DiscoverRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.discover.data.RequestOutcome
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.ArtistSuggestionRef
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ sealed interface ResultsState {
 @HiltViewModel
 class DiscoverViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: DiscoverRepository,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow(DiscoverState())
@@ -53,6 +56,15 @@ class DiscoverViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         loadSuggestions()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): re-run whichever pane
+        // failed while the server was unreachable once health returns.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                val s = internal.value
+                if (s.suggestions is SuggestionState.Error) loadSuggestions()
+                if (s.results is ResultsState.Error) runSearch()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun setQuery(value: String) {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/history/ui/HistoryTab.kt

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.compose.collectAsStateWithLifecycle
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.history.data.HistoryEntry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.history.data.HistoryRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.TrackRef
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.PlayerController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackRow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackCoverThumb
@@ -56,6 +59,7 @@ private const val SHARE_STOP_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000L
 class HistoryTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: HistoryRepository,
     private val player: PlayerController,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val refreshError = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
@@ -82,6 +86,11 @@ class HistoryTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): re-pull when server
+        // health returns, so a load that failed offline heals unprompted.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect { refresh() }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {
@@ -116,9 +125,10 @@ fun HistoryTab(
                 title = "No listening history yet",
                 body = "Play something — your recent plays will show up here.",
             )
-            is UiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+            is UiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                 title = "Couldn't load history",
-                body = s.message,
+                message = s.message,
+                onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
             )
             is UiState.Success -> HistoryList(
                 entries = s.data,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/home/ui/HomeScreen.kt

@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ import com.composables.icons.lucide.Lucide
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.Music
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.home.data.HomeRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.data.LibraryRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.widgets.AlbumCard
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.playlists.widgets.PlaylistPlaceholderCard
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.asCacheFirstStateFlow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.HorizontalScrollRow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
@@ -167,8 +169,22 @@ class HomeViewModel @Inject constructor(
     /** Transient snackbar messages from offline-pool taps. */
     val transientMessages: Flow<String> = poolMessages.receiveAsFlow()
 
+    /**
+     * Copy for the most recent /home/index refresh failure; null once a
+     * refresh succeeds. Folded into [uiState] so an empty cache + failed
+     * refresh renders as Error (with retry) instead of masquerading as
+     * the "Welcome to Minstrel" empty state.
+     */
+    private val refreshError = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
+
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): a Home that failed to
+        // load while the server was unreachable re-pulls itself the moment
+        // health returns — same idiom as SyncController, one layer up.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect { refresh() }
+        }
         // #968: the daily 03:00 rebuild (and manual refresh) emit
         // playlist.system_rebuilt; re-pull Home so the system-playlist tiles
         // and You-might-like rows reflect the new snapshot without a manual
@@ -289,7 +305,14 @@ class HomeViewModel @Inject constructor(
      * actual completion before hiding the indicator.
      */
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {
-        val home = launch { runCatching { homeRepository.refreshIndex() } }
+        refreshError.value = null
+        val home = launch {
+            // /home/index is the load-bearing pull: its failure drives the
+            // empty-cache Error state. A failure over a populated cache
+            // stays silent — cached sections beat a full-screen error.
+            runCatching { homeRepository.refreshIndex() }
+                .onFailure { refreshError.value = ErrorCopy.fromThrowable(it) }
+        }
         val lists = launch { runCatching { playlistsRepository.refreshList() } }
         val status = launch {
             runCatching { homeRepository.getSystemPlaylistsStatus() }
@@ -336,9 +359,17 @@ class HomeViewModel @Inject constructor(
     }
 
     private fun combineHomeFlows() =
-        observeHomeSections().combine(playlistsRepository.observeAll()) { sections, playlists ->
+        combine(
+            observeHomeSections(),
+            playlistsRepository.observeAll(),
+            refreshError,
+        ) { sections, playlists, err ->
             val merged = sections.copy(playlists = playlists)
-            if (merged.isAllEmpty) UiState.Empty else UiState.Success(merged)
+            when {
+                !merged.isAllEmpty -> UiState.Success(merged)
+                err != null -> UiState.Error(err)
+                else -> UiState.Empty
+            }
         }
 }
 
@@ -389,9 +420,10 @@ fun HomeScreen(
                             "settings, then come back here for system playlists " +
                             "and recommendations.",
                     )
-                    is UiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+                    is UiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                         title = "Couldn't load home",
-                        body = s.message,
+                        message = s.message,
+                        onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
                     )
                     is UiState.Success -> HomeSuccessContent(
                         sections = s.data,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/library/ui/AlbumDetailScreen.kt

@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AlbumDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.ArtistDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.formatDuration
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackRow
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LikeButton
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ServerImage
@@ -116,9 +116,10 @@ private fun AlbumDetailStateContent(
         when (val s = state) {
             is AlbumDetailUiState.Loading ->
                 if (s.seed != null) SeededAlbumLoading(s.seed) else SkeletonTrackList()
-            is AlbumDetailUiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+            is AlbumDetailUiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                 title = "Couldn't load album",
-                body = s.message,
+                message = s.message,
+                onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
             )
             is AlbumDetailUiState.Success -> {
                 val albumLiked by viewModel.albumLiked.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/library/ui/AlbumDetailViewModel.kt

@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import androidx.navigation.toRoute
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.data.LibraryRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.likes.data.LikesRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.AlbumDetailRef
@@ -36,6 +38,7 @@ class AlbumDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val likes: LikesRepository,
     private val player: PlayerController,
     private val seedCache: DetailSeedCache,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
     savedStateHandle: SavedStateHandle,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
@@ -64,6 +67,14 @@ class AlbumDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): a detail that failed to
+        // load while the server was unreachable re-fetches when health
+        // returns, so coming back to the screen shows content, not an error.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is AlbumDetailUiState.Error) refresh()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/library/ui/ArtistDetailScreen.kt

@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.albumCoverPath
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AlbumDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.ArtistDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.formatDuration
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.HorizontalScrollRow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LikeButton
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
@@ -107,9 +107,10 @@ fun ArtistDetailScreen(
                         } else {
                             SkeletonArtistAlbumsGrid()
                         }
-                    is ArtistDetailUiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+                    is ArtistDetailUiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                         title = "Couldn't load artist",
-                        body = s.message,
+                        message = s.message,
+                        onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
                     )
                     is ArtistDetailUiState.Success ->
                         ArtistSuccessBody(s, viewModel, playerViewModel, navController)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/library/ui/ArtistDetailViewModel.kt

@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import androidx.navigation.toRoute
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.data.LibraryRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.likes.data.LikesRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.ArtistDetailRef
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@ class ArtistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val likes: LikesRepository,
     private val player: PlayerController,
     private val seedCache: DetailSeedCache,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
     savedStateHandle: SavedStateHandle,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
@@ -69,6 +72,19 @@ class ArtistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245). From Error, redo the
+        // whole load; from Success, re-pull just the secondary sections —
+        // their fetch failures are swallowed to emptyList, so a dead zone
+        // during the first load leaves them permanently absent otherwise.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                when (internal.value) {
+                    is ArtistDetailUiState.Error -> refresh()
+                    is ArtistDetailUiState.Success -> loadSecondarySections()
+                    is ArtistDetailUiState.Loading -> Unit
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun toggleLikeArtist() {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/library/ui/LibraryViewModel.kt

@@ -24,11 +24,17 @@ class LibraryViewModel @Inject constructor(
         combine(
             repository.observeArtists(),
             repository.observeAlbums(),
-        ) { artists, albums ->
-            if (artists.isEmpty() && albums.isEmpty()) {
-                UiState.Empty
-            } else {
-                UiState.Success(LibraryData(artists, albums))
+            syncController.lastSyncError,
+        ) { artists, albums, syncError ->
+            when {
+                artists.isNotEmpty() || albums.isNotEmpty() ->
+                    UiState.Success(LibraryData(artists, albums))
+                // Empty cache + failed sync is a load failure, not an empty
+                // library — surface it so the user gets a Retry instead of
+                // the welcome copy. Heals automatically: SyncController
+                // re-syncs on health recovery, clearing lastSyncError.
+                syncError != null -> UiState.Error(syncError)
+                else -> UiState.Empty
             }
         }
             .asCacheFirstStateFlow(viewModelScope)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/likes/ui/LikedTab.kt

@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.compose.collectAsStateWithLifecycle
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import androidx.navigation.NavHostController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.likes.data.LikesRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.widgets.AlbumCard
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.widgets.ArtistCard
@@ -38,6 +41,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.asCacheFirstStateFlow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackRow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.HorizontalScrollRow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LikeButton
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
@@ -46,6 +50,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackCoverThumb
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.trackactions.TrackActionsButton
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.combine
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
@@ -68,14 +73,25 @@ data class LikedSections(
 class LikedTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: LikesRepository,
     private val player: PlayerController,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
+    /** Copy for the most recent refresh failure; null once one succeeds. */
+    private val refreshError = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
+
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): re-pull when server
+        // health returns, so a load that failed offline heals unprompted.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect { refresh() }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {
+        refreshError.value = null
         runCatching { repository.refreshIds() }
+            .onFailure { refreshError.value = ErrorCopy.fromThrowable(it) }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -92,9 +108,16 @@ class LikedTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
         repository.observeLikedArtists(),
         repository.observeLikedAlbums(),
         repository.observeLikedTracks(),
-    ) { artists, albums, tracks ->
+        refreshError,
+    ) { artists, albums, tracks, err ->
         val sections = LikedSections(artists, albums, tracks)
-        if (sections.isAllEmpty) UiState.Empty else UiState.Success(sections)
+        when {
+            !sections.isAllEmpty -> UiState.Success(sections)
+            // Empty cache + failed refresh is a load failure, not "no
+            // likes yet" — surface Error so the user gets a Retry.
+            err != null -> UiState.Error(err)
+            else -> UiState.Empty
+        }
     }.asCacheFirstStateFlow(viewModelScope)
 
     /**
@@ -130,9 +153,10 @@ fun LikedTab(
                 body = "Tap the heart on an artist, album, or track to start " +
                     "building your liked collection.",
             )
-            is UiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+            is UiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                 title = "Couldn't load likes",
-                body = s.message,
+                message = s.message,
+                onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
             )
             is UiState.Success -> LikedContent(
                 sections = s.data,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/models/UserRef.kt

@@ -16,4 +16,11 @@ data class UserRef(
     val id: String,
     val username: String,
     val isAdmin: Boolean = false,
+    /**
+     * Account-level diagnostics opt-in (M9). NOT present in the login
+     * response (that's the narrow UserView) — populated by the /api/me
+     * refresh in AuthController so a remote admin flip reaches the
+     * device. Default false until the first refresh.
+     */
+    val debugModeEnabled: Boolean = false,
 )

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/models/wire/MyProfileWire.kt

@@ -18,4 +18,5 @@ data class MyProfileWire(
     @SerialName("display_name") val displayName: String? = null,
     val email: String? = null,
     @SerialName("is_admin") val isAdmin: Boolean = false,
+    @SerialName("debug_mode_enabled") val debugModeEnabled: Boolean = false,
 )

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/output/OutputPickerSheet.kt

@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ private fun RouteRow(
                     maxLines = 2,
                     overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
                 )
-                val subtitle = route.description ?: defaultSubtitle(route)
+                val subtitle = route.description ?: defaultSubtitle(route, isSelected)
                 Text(
                     text = subtitle,
                     style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
@@ -198,10 +198,13 @@ private fun MulticastHintRow() {
     }
 }
 
-private fun defaultSubtitle(route: OutputRoute): String = when (route.kind) {
+// isSelected (route == the active/selected route) drives the Bluetooth
+// "Connected" subtitle. RouteInfo.connectionState can't — it stays
+// DISCONNECTED for local SYSTEM routes even when they're in use.
+private fun defaultSubtitle(route: OutputRoute, isSelected: Boolean): String = when (route.kind) {
     OutputRoute.Kind.BuiltIn -> "Phone speaker"
     OutputRoute.Kind.Wired -> "Wired"
-    OutputRoute.Kind.Bluetooth -> if (route.isConnected) "Connected" else "Available"
+    OutputRoute.Kind.Bluetooth -> if (isSelected) "Connected" else "Available"
     OutputRoute.Kind.Cast -> "Cast"
     OutputRoute.Kind.Other -> "Available"
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/output/OutputRoute.kt

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ data class OutputRoute(
     val description: String?,
     val kind: Kind,
     val protocol: Protocol,
-    val isConnected: Boolean,
 ) {
     enum class Kind { BuiltIn, Wired, Bluetooth, Cast, Other }
 
@@ -43,9 +42,11 @@ data class OutputRoute(
         /**
          * Lift a MediaRouter [route] into the domain model. Kind is
          * inferred from [MediaRouter.RouteInfo.getDeviceType]; unknown
-         * device types fall through to [Kind.Other]. The
-         * `connectionState` proxy is good enough for the chip's
-         * "Connected"/"Available" subtitle.
+         * device types fall through to [Kind.Other]. "Active" is NOT an
+         * intrinsic of the route — the caller derives it by comparing to
+         * the selected route (RouteSnapshot.current), because
+         * RouteInfo.connectionState only reflects remote-route handshakes
+         * and stays DISCONNECTED for local SYSTEM routes even when in use.
          */
         fun fromRouteInfo(route: MediaRouter.RouteInfo): OutputRoute {
             val kind = when (route.deviceType) {
@@ -58,15 +59,12 @@ data class OutputRoute(
                 MediaRouter.RouteInfo.DEVICE_TYPE_SPEAKER -> Kind.Other
                 else -> Kind.Other
             }
-            val connected =
-                route.connectionState == MediaRouter.RouteInfo.CONNECTION_STATE_CONNECTED
             return OutputRoute(
                 id = route.id,
                 name = route.name,
                 description = route.description,
                 kind = kind,
                 protocol = Protocol.SYSTEM,
-                isConnected = connected,
             )
         }
 
@@ -76,10 +74,10 @@ data class OutputRoute(
          * network speakers into the same `OutputPickerController`
          * routes stream the system routes come through.
          *
-         * `isConnected = false` because UPnP devices have no
-         * MediaRouter connection-state concept — they're always
-         * "available" on the LAN, and the picker's selected-route
-         * rendering handles the "currently playing" indicator.
+         * UPnP devices have no MediaRouter connection-state concept —
+         * they're always "available" on the LAN, and the picker's
+         * selected-route rendering handles the "currently playing"
+         * indicator.
          *
          * Subtitle is `manufacturer modelName` joined by a single
          * space, falling back to "Network speaker" when both fields
@@ -96,7 +94,6 @@ data class OutputRoute(
                 description = description,
                 kind = Kind.Other,
                 protocol = Protocol.UPNP,
-                isConnected = false,
             )
         }
     }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/playlists/ui/PlaylistDetailScreen.kt

@@ -38,9 +38,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
 import androidx.compose.runtime.LaunchedEffect
 import androidx.compose.runtime.collectAsState
 import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
-import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
-import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
 import androidx.compose.ui.draw.clip
@@ -60,6 +58,8 @@ import com.composables.icons.lucide.Play
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.RefreshCw
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.Shuffle
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.LiveEvent
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.PlaylistRef
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.playlists.data.PlaylistsRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.playlists.data.toPlayableTrackRefs
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.formatDuration
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackRow
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LikeButton
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.SkeletonTrackRow
@@ -117,6 +118,7 @@ class PlaylistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val player: PlayerController,
     private val eventsStream: EventsStream,
     private val seedCache: DetailSeedCache,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
     savedStateHandle: SavedStateHandle,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
@@ -167,6 +169,14 @@ class PlaylistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 .filter { it.kind.startsWith("playlist.") }
                 .collect { handlePlaylistEvent(it) }
         }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): a detail that failed to
+        // load while the server was unreachable re-fetches when health
+        // returns, instead of waiting for the Retry tap.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is PlaylistDetailUiState.Error) refresh()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -369,7 +379,11 @@ private fun PlaylistDetailContent(
     Crossfade(targetState = state::class, label = "playlist-detail") { _ -> when (val s = state) {
         is PlaylistDetailUiState.Loading ->
             s.seed?.let { SeededPlaylistLoading(it) } ?: SkeletonPlaylistTrackList()
-        is PlaylistDetailUiState.Error -> ErrorBlock(s.message, viewModel::refresh)
+        is PlaylistDetailUiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
+            title = "Couldn't load playlist",
+            message = s.message,
+            onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
+        )
         is PlaylistDetailUiState.Success -> {
             val likedTrackIds by viewModel.likedTrackIds.collectAsState()
             val playerState by playerViewModel.uiState.collectAsState()
@@ -653,33 +667,6 @@ private fun SeededPlaylistLoading(seed: PlaylistRef) {
     }
 }
 
-@Composable
-private fun ErrorBlock(message: String, onRetry: () -> Unit) {
-    var retried by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
-    Column(
-        modifier = Modifier
-            .fillMaxSize()
-            .padding(24.dp),
-        verticalArrangement = Arrangement.Center,
-        horizontalAlignment = Alignment.CenterHorizontally,
-    ) {
-        Text(
-            text = message,
-            color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error,
-            style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyLarge,
-        )
-        Spacer(Modifier.height(12.dp))
-        OutlinedButton(
-            onClick = {
-                if (!retried) {
-                    retried = true
-                    onRetry()
-                }
-            },
-        ) { Text("Retry") }
-    }
-}
-
 // ─── Helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 private const val UNAVAILABLE_ALPHA = 0.4f

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/playlists/ui/PlaylistsListScreen.kt

@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.compose.collectAsStateWithLifecycle
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import androidx.navigation.NavHostController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.PlaylistRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.PlaylistDetail
@@ -40,6 +42,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.asCacheFirstStateFlow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.playlists.widgets.PlaylistCard
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
@@ -47,8 +50,10 @@ import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
 import kotlinx.coroutines.channels.Channel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.SharingStarted
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.combine
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filter
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.receiveAsFlow
@@ -84,6 +89,9 @@ class PlaylistsListViewModel @Inject constructor(
             initialValue = false,
         )
 
+    /** Copy for the most recent list-refresh failure; null once one succeeds. */
+    private val refreshError = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
+
     init {
         refresh()
         // Live updates: a playlist created/updated/deleted from another
@@ -93,11 +101,18 @@ class PlaylistsListViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 .filter { it.kind.startsWith("playlist.") }
                 .collect { refresh() }
         }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): re-pull when server
+        // health returns, so a load that failed offline heals unprompted.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect { refresh() }
+        }
     }
 
     /** Re-pull the playlists list. Returns the Job for pull-to-refresh awaits. */
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {
+        refreshError.value = null
         runCatching { repository.refreshList() }
+            .onFailure { refreshError.value = ErrorCopy.fromThrowable(it) }
     }
 
     /** Tile play button: shuffle the playlist's tracks and start at index 0. */
@@ -110,14 +125,15 @@ class PlaylistsListViewModel @Inject constructor(
     }
 
     val uiState: StateFlow<UiState<List<PlaylistRef>>> =
-        repository.observeAll()
-            .map { list ->
-                if (list.isEmpty()) {
-                    UiState.Empty
-                } else {
-                    UiState.Success(list)
-                }
+        combine(repository.observeAll(), refreshError) { list, err ->
+            when {
+                list.isNotEmpty() -> UiState.Success(list)
+                // Empty cache + failed refresh is a load failure, not "no
+                // playlists yet" — surface Error so the user gets a Retry.
+                err != null -> UiState.Error(err)
+                else -> UiState.Empty
             }
+        }
             .asCacheFirstStateFlow(viewModelScope)
 }
 
@@ -157,9 +173,10 @@ fun PlaylistsListScreen(
                         "appear once your library has enough plays. Create your " +
                         "own playlist from any album or track in the meantime.",
                 )
-                is UiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+                is UiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                     title = "Couldn't load playlists",
-                    body = s.message,
+                    message = s.message,
+                    onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
                 )
                 is UiState.Success -> PlaylistsGrid(
                     playlists = s.data,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/quarantine/ui/HiddenTab.kt

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import com.composables.icons.lucide.Lucide
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.QuarantineRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackCoverThumb
@@ -43,9 +44,10 @@ fun HiddenTab(viewModel: HiddenTabViewModel = hiltViewModel()) {
                     "and it'll show up here. The track stays out of system " +
                     "playlists until you unhide it.",
             )
-            is UiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+            is UiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                 title = "Couldn't load hidden tracks",
-                body = s.message,
+                message = s.message,
+                onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
             )
             is UiState.Success -> HiddenList(
                 rows = s.data,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/quarantine/ui/HiddenTabViewModel.kt

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package com.fabledsword.minstrel.quarantine.ui
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.QuarantineRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ private const val SHARE_STOP_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000L
 class HiddenTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: QuarantineRepository,
     private val eventsStream: EventsStream,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val refreshError = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
@@ -61,6 +64,11 @@ class HiddenTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 .filter { it.kind.startsWith("quarantine.") }
                 .collect { refresh() }
         }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): re-pull when server
+        // health returns, so a load that failed offline heals unprompted.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect { refresh() }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/requests/ui/RequestsScreen.kt

@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.ArtistDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.Requests
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
@@ -78,9 +79,10 @@ fun RequestsScreen(
                     body = "Use Discover to ask Lidarr for new music; your " +
                         "requests show up here.",
                 )
-                is UiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+                is UiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                     title = "Couldn't load requests",
-                    body = s.message,
+                    message = s.message,
+                    onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
                 )
                 is UiState.Success -> RequestList(
                     rows = s.data,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/requests/ui/RequestsViewModel.kt

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package com.fabledsword.minstrel.requests.ui
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.RequestRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.RequestStatus
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ private const val POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 12_000L
 class RequestsViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: RequestsRepository,
     private val eventsStream: EventsStream,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow<UiState<List<RequestRef>>>(UiState.Loading)
@@ -45,6 +48,14 @@ class RequestsViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 .collect { silentReload() }
         }
         viewModelScope.launch { pollWhileInFlight() }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): a load that failed while
+        // the server was unreachable heals the moment health returns, without
+        // waiting for the next poll tick.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is UiState.Error) silentReload()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {
@@ -71,7 +82,11 @@ class RequestsViewModel @Inject constructor(
      */
     private suspend fun pollWhileInFlight() {
         while (true) {
-            if (hasInFlightRequest()) {
+            // Also retry from a failed load (issue #1245): from UiState.Error
+            // the in-flight predicate can never become true, so without this
+            // the poll never self-heals the screen — e.g. after a transient
+            // 500 that health monitoring (transport-level) never saw.
+            if (hasInFlightRequest() || internal.value is UiState.Error) {
                 silentReload()
             }
             delay(POLL_INTERVAL_MS)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/search/ui/SearchScreen.kt

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AlbumDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.ArtistDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.Search as SearchRoute
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackRow
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MainAppBarActions
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackCoverThumb
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ fun SearchScreen(
                 onTrackPlay = viewModel::playTrack,
                 onNavigateToAlbum = { id -> navController.navigate(AlbumDetail(id)) },
                 onNavigateToArtist = { id -> navController.navigate(ArtistDetail(id)) },
+                onRetry = viewModel::retry,
             )
         }
     }
@@ -151,11 +153,16 @@ private fun ResultsPane(
     onTrackPlay: (TrackRef) -> Unit,
     onNavigateToAlbum: (String) -> Unit,
     onNavigateToArtist: (String) -> Unit,
+    onRetry: () -> Unit,
 ) {
     when (state) {
         SearchResultsState.Idle -> CenteredHint("Type to search your library.")
         SearchResultsState.Loading -> LoadingCentered()
-        is SearchResultsState.Error -> CenteredHint("Search failed: ${state.message}")
+        is SearchResultsState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
+            title = "Search failed",
+            message = state.message,
+            onRetry = onRetry,
+        )
         is SearchResultsState.Loaded -> {
             if (state.response.isEmpty) {
                 CenteredHint(

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/search/ui/SearchViewModel.kt

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package com.fabledsword.minstrel.search.ui
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.SearchResponseRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.TrackRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.PlayerController
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ data class SearchState(
 class SearchViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: SearchRepository,
     private val player: PlayerController,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val queryFlow = MutableStateFlow("")
@@ -69,6 +72,14 @@ class SearchViewModel @Inject constructor(
                     runSearch(q)
                 }
         }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): a search that failed
+        // while the server was unreachable re-runs when health returns —
+        // the queryFlow pipeline can't, since the text hasn't changed.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value.results is SearchResultsState.Error) retry()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun setQuery(value: String) {
@@ -80,6 +91,18 @@ class SearchViewModel @Inject constructor(
         setQuery("")
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Re-run the current query after a failure. Bypasses the queryFlow
+     * pipeline, whose distinctUntilChanged drops a same-text resubmit —
+     * without this, a transient error pins "Search failed" until the
+     * user edits the query.
+     */
+    fun retry() {
+        val q = internal.value.query.trim()
+        if (q.isEmpty()) return
+        viewModelScope.launch { runSearch(q) }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Tapping a search result builds a queue from the full visible
      * track-results list starting at the tapped entry, matching Flutter.

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/settings/ui/SettingsScreen.kt

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import androidx.compose.material3.Scaffold
 import androidx.compose.material3.SegmentedButton
 import androidx.compose.material3.SegmentedButtonDefaults
 import androidx.compose.material3.SingleChoiceSegmentedButtonRow
+import androidx.compose.material3.Switch
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.material3.TextButton
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ fun SettingsScreen(
             onPickTheme = themeVm::setThemeMode,
             onNavToRequests = { navController.navigate(Requests) },
             onNavToAdmin = { navController.navigate(Admin) },
+            onToggleDiagnostics = viewModel::setDiagnosticsOptOut,
             onSignOutClick = { showSignOutConfirm = true },
         )
     }
@@ -116,6 +118,7 @@ private fun SettingsList(
     onPickTheme: (ThemeMode) -> Unit,
     onNavToRequests: () -> Unit,
     onNavToAdmin: () -> Unit,
+    onToggleDiagnostics: (Boolean) -> Unit,
     onSignOutClick: () -> Unit,
 ) {
     Column(
@@ -148,6 +151,12 @@ private fun SettingsList(
         ProfileCard()
         PasswordCard()
         ListenBrainzCard()
+        if (state.diagnosticsEnabledByAdmin) {
+            DiagnosticsCard(
+                optOut = state.diagnosticsOptOut,
+                onToggle = onToggleDiagnostics,
+            )
+        }
         AppearanceCard(themeMode = themeMode, onPick = onPickTheme)
         StorageCard()
         AboutCard()
@@ -262,6 +271,46 @@ private fun AccountCard(username: String, isAdmin: Boolean, serverUrl: String) {
     }
 }
 
+// Shown only while an admin has enabled debug mode on this account. Lets
+// the user turn reporting OFF on this device (battery/privacy) without
+// touching the account flag. Checked = reporting on = NOT opted out.
+@Composable
+private fun DiagnosticsCard(optOut: Boolean, onToggle: (Boolean) -> Unit) {
+    ElevatedCard(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
+        Column(
+            modifier = Modifier.padding(16.dp),
+            verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(8.dp),
+        ) {
+            Text(
+                text = "Diagnostics",
+                style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium,
+                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface,
+            )
+            Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically) {
+                Column(modifier = Modifier.weight(1f)) {
+                    Text(
+                        text = "Send diagnostic reports",
+                        style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyLarge,
+                        color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface,
+                    )
+                    Text(
+                        text = "Your admin enabled debug mode to investigate an " +
+                            "issue. This device streams connectivity and playback " +
+                            "diagnostics. Turn off any time.",
+                        style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
+                        color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+                    )
+                }
+                Spacer(Modifier.size(12.dp))
+                Switch(
+                    checked = !optOut,
+                    onCheckedChange = { checked -> onToggle(!checked) },
+                )
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 @OptIn(ExperimentalMaterial3Api::class)
 @Composable
 private fun AppearanceCard(themeMode: ThemeMode, onPick: (ThemeMode) -> Unit) {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/settings/ui/SettingsViewModel.kt

@@ -19,12 +19,15 @@ data class SettingsState(
     val isAdmin: Boolean = false,
     val isSigningOut: Boolean = false,
     val signedOut: Boolean = false,
+    // M9: account debug flag (admin-set) + this device's local opt-out.
+    val diagnosticsEnabledByAdmin: Boolean = false,
+    val diagnosticsOptOut: Boolean = false,
 )
 
 @HiltViewModel
 class SettingsViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val authController: AuthController,
-    authStore: AuthStore,
+    private val authStore: AuthStore,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val transient = MutableStateFlow(TransientState())
@@ -41,19 +44,27 @@ class SettingsViewModel @Inject constructor(
             combine(
                 authStore.baseUrl,
                 authController.currentUser,
+                authStore.diagnosticsOptOut,
                 transient,
-            ) { url, user, t ->
+            ) { url, user, optOut, t ->
                 SettingsState(
                     serverUrl = url,
                     username = user?.username.orEmpty(),
                     isAdmin = user?.isAdmin == true,
                     isSigningOut = t.isSigningOut,
                     signedOut = t.signedOut,
+                    diagnosticsEnabledByAdmin = user?.debugModeEnabled == true,
+                    diagnosticsOptOut = optOut,
                 )
             }.collect { internal.value = it }
         }
     }
 
+    /** Per-device opt-out of diagnostics while the account flag is on. */
+    fun setDiagnosticsOptOut(optOut: Boolean) {
+        authStore.setDiagnosticsOptOut(optOut)
+    }
+
     fun signOut() {
         if (transient.value.isSigningOut) return
         viewModelScope.launch {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/shared/widgets/ErrorRetry.kt

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Column
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxSize
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
+import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.LazyColumn
 import androidx.compose.material3.Button
 import androidx.compose.material3.ButtonDefaults
 import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
@@ -23,44 +24,63 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.theme.LocalActionColors
  * Shared error-with-retry widget. Surfaces a brief message and a
  * primary action button. Per the design system, the button uses
  * `LocalActionColors.primary` (Moss) — NEVER the accent.
+ *
+ * Renders inside a single-item LazyColumn (same rationale as
+ * [EmptyState]) so the widget participates in nested-scroll dispatch
+ * under PullToRefreshBox — both the Retry button and a pull gesture
+ * can recover from the error state.
  */
 @Composable
 fun ErrorRetry(
     message: String,
     onRetry: () -> Unit,
     modifier: Modifier = Modifier,
+    title: String? = null,
     retryLabel: String = "Retry",
 ) {
     val actionColors = LocalActionColors.current
-    Column(
-        modifier = modifier
-            .fillMaxSize()
-            .padding(32.dp),
-        verticalArrangement = Arrangement.Center,
-        horizontalAlignment = Alignment.CenterHorizontally,
-    ) {
-        Icon(
-            imageVector = Lucide.TriangleAlert,
-            contentDescription = null,
-            modifier = Modifier.size(48.dp),
-            tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error,
-        )
-        Text(
-            text = message,
-            modifier = Modifier.padding(top = 16.dp),
-            style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyMedium,
-            color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface,
-            textAlign = TextAlign.Center,
-        )
-        Button(
-            onClick = onRetry,
-            modifier = Modifier.padding(top = 16.dp),
-            colors = ButtonDefaults.buttonColors(
-                containerColor = actionColors.primary,
-                contentColor = actionColors.onAction,
-            ),
-        ) {
-            Text(retryLabel)
+    LazyColumn(modifier = modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
+        item {
+            Column(
+                modifier = Modifier
+                    .fillParentMaxSize()
+                    .padding(32.dp),
+                verticalArrangement = Arrangement.Center,
+                horizontalAlignment = Alignment.CenterHorizontally,
+            ) {
+                Icon(
+                    imageVector = Lucide.TriangleAlert,
+                    contentDescription = null,
+                    modifier = Modifier.size(48.dp),
+                    tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error,
+                )
+                if (title != null) {
+                    Text(
+                        text = title,
+                        modifier = Modifier.padding(top = 16.dp),
+                        style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium,
+                        color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface,
+                        textAlign = TextAlign.Center,
+                    )
+                }
+                Text(
+                    text = message,
+                    modifier = Modifier.padding(top = if (title != null) 8.dp else 16.dp),
+                    style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyMedium,
+                    color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface,
+                    textAlign = TextAlign.Center,
+                )
+                Button(
+                    onClick = onRetry,
+                    modifier = Modifier.padding(top = 16.dp),
+                    colors = ButtonDefaults.buttonColors(
+                        containerColor = actionColors.primary,
+                        contentColor = actionColors.onAction,
+                    ),
+                ) {
+                    Text(retryLabel)
+                }
+            }
         }
     }
 }

android/app/src/test/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/library/ui/LibraryViewModelTest.kt

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.testutil.MainDispatcherExtension
 import io.mockk.every
 import io.mockk.mockk
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableSharedFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.flow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.flowOf
 import kotlinx.coroutines.test.runTest
@@ -21,6 +22,13 @@ import kotlin.test.assertEquals
 @ExtendWith(MainDispatcherExtension::class)
 class LibraryViewModelTest {
 
+    // lastSyncError needs a real StateFlow: the VM combines it into uiState,
+    // and a relaxed-mock flow never emits, so the combine would never fire.
+    private fun syncControllerMock(): SyncController =
+        mockk<SyncController>(relaxed = true) {
+            every { lastSyncError } returns MutableStateFlow(null)
+        }
+
     @Test
     fun `initial state is Loading before any DAO emission`() = runTest {
         val repo = mockk<LibraryRepository>()
@@ -29,7 +37,7 @@ class LibraryViewModelTest {
 
         val vm = LibraryViewModel(
             repo,
-            mockk<SyncController>(relaxed = true),
+            syncControllerMock(),
             mockk<PlayerController>(relaxed = true),
         )
 
@@ -51,7 +59,7 @@ class LibraryViewModelTest {
 
         val vm = LibraryViewModel(
             repo,
-            mockk<SyncController>(relaxed = true),
+            syncControllerMock(),
             mockk<PlayerController>(relaxed = true),
         )
 
@@ -71,7 +79,7 @@ class LibraryViewModelTest {
 
         val vm = LibraryViewModel(
             repo,
-            mockk<SyncController>(relaxed = true),
+            syncControllerMock(),
             mockk<PlayerController>(relaxed = true),
         )
 
@@ -94,7 +102,7 @@ class LibraryViewModelTest {
 
         val vm = LibraryViewModel(
             repo,
-            mockk<SyncController>(relaxed = true),
+            syncControllerMock(),
             mockk<PlayerController>(relaxed = true),
         )
 

cmd/minstrel/main.go

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/lidarrrequests"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/logging"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/playlists"
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/recsettings"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/scrobble"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/scrobble/listenbrainz"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/server"
@@ -146,6 +147,16 @@ func run() error {
 	coverEnricher := coverart.NewEnricher(pool, logger.With("component", "coverart"), coverSettings)
 	coverEnricher.DataDir = cfg.Storage.DataDir
 
+	// Recommendation tuning lab (#1250): seeds shipped defaults on first
+	// boot and pushes the daily_mix weights + taste config into package
+	// playlists — must precede the scheduler so the first builds score
+	// with the operator's tuned values, not the pre-push literals.
+	recSettings, err := recsettings.New(ctx, pool, logger.With("component", "recsettings"))
+	if err != nil {
+		logger.Error("recommendation settings service init failed", "err", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
 	// One unified scan chain: library walk → MBID backfill → cover enrich.
 	// Boot-time scan and manual-trigger scans share this path; results land
 	// in scan_runs for the admin overview.
@@ -294,6 +305,7 @@ func run() error {
 	}, cfg.Events, cfg.Recommendation, cfg.Storage.DataDir, cfg.Branding, coverEnricher, coverSettings, scanner, scanCfg)
 	srv.Bus = bus
 	srv.PlaylistScheduler = playlistScheduler
+	srv.RecSettings = recSettings
 	srv.StreamSecret = cfg.StreamSecret
 	httpServer := &http.Server{
 		Addr:              cfg.Server.Address,

internal/api/admin_recommendation_trends.go

@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+// Admin recommendation-trends endpoint (#1251): weekly per-surface
+// outcome series with tuning-audit markers — the verify half of the
+// tune→verify loop the tuning lab (#1250) opens. Aggregated across
+// all users because the knobs are global; rows carry rates only.
+package api
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"sort"
+	"strconv"
+	"time"
+
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/apierror"
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/db/dbq"
+)
+
+const (
+	trendsDefaultWeeks = 12
+	trendsMaxWeeks     = 52
+	// trendsAuditFetchCap bounds the audit fetch; markers older than
+	// the window are dropped in Go. Far above any real knob-turn count
+	// inside a year.
+	trendsAuditFetchCap = 500
+)
+
+// trendPoint is one week of one surface family's outcomes.
+type trendPoint struct {
+	WeekStart     string  `json:"week_start"` // ISO date (Monday)
+	Plays         int64   `json:"plays"`
+	Skips         int64   `json:"skips"`
+	SkipRate      float64 `json:"skip_rate"`
+	AvgCompletion float64 `json:"avg_completion"`
+	// TasteHitRate is the share of plays whose track's artist carries a
+	// positive weight in the player's current taste profile — a drifted
+	// but retroactive read on whether the surface feeds taste-fitting
+	// tracks.
+	TasteHitRate float64 `json:"taste_hit_rate"`
+	// completionN carries the completion sample count through same-week
+	// merges so avg_completion stays sample-weighted; not serialized.
+	completionN int64
+}
+
+// trendSeries is one surface family's weekly series.
+type trendSeries struct {
+	Key    string       `json:"key"`
+	Label  string       `json:"label"`
+	Intent string       `json:"intent"` // go_to | discovery | direct; "" for the manual baseline
+	Plays  int64        `json:"plays"`  // window total, for sorting/volume-gating
+	Points []trendPoint `json:"points"`
+}
+
+// trendMarker is one tuning-audit event annotated on the timeline.
+type trendMarker struct {
+	ChangedAt string          `json:"changed_at"`
+	Scope     string          `json:"scope"`
+	Action    string          `json:"action"`
+	Changes   json.RawMessage `json:"changes"`
+}
+
+type trendsResp struct {
+	Weeks   int           `json:"weeks"`
+	Series  []trendSeries `json:"series"`
+	Markers []trendMarker `json:"markers"`
+}
+
+// handleGetRecommendationTrends implements
+// GET /api/admin/recommendation-trends?weeks=N (default 12, cap 52).
+func (h *handlers) handleGetRecommendationTrends(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	weeks := trendsDefaultWeeks
+	if v := r.URL.Query().Get("weeks"); v != "" {
+		n, err := strconv.Atoi(v)
+		if err != nil || n < 1 {
+			writeErr(w, apierror.BadRequest("bad_request", "invalid weeks"))
+			return
+		}
+		if n > trendsMaxWeeks {
+			n = trendsMaxWeeks
+		}
+		weeks = n
+	}
+
+	q := dbq.New(h.pool)
+	rows, err := q.RecommendationWeeklyTrends(r.Context(), int32(weeks))
+	if err != nil {
+		h.logger.Error("api: recommendation trends", "err", err)
+		writeErr(w, apierror.InternalMsg("lookup failed", err))
+		return
+	}
+	audits, err := q.ListTuningAudit(r.Context(), trendsAuditFetchCap)
+	if err != nil {
+		h.logger.Error("api: recommendation trends audit", "err", err)
+		writeErr(w, apierror.InternalMsg("lookup failed", err))
+		return
+	}
+
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, buildTrendsResponse(weeks, time.Now().UTC(), rows, audits))
+}
+
+// buildTrendsResponse folds weekly rows into per-family series and
+// windows the audit markers. Split from the handler for pure-unit
+// testability.
+func buildTrendsResponse(
+	weeks int, now time.Time,
+	rows []dbq.RecommendationWeeklyTrendsRow,
+	audits []dbq.RecommendationTuningAudit,
+) trendsResp {
+	type accum struct {
+		fam    recFamily
+		plays  int64
+		points []trendPoint
+	}
+	families := map[string]*accum{}
+	for _, row := range rows {
+		fam := recFamily{key: "manual", label: "Manual library plays"}
+		if row.Source != nil && *row.Source != "" {
+			fam = bucketRecSource(*row.Source)
+		}
+		acc, ok := families[fam.key]
+		if !ok {
+			acc = &accum{fam: fam}
+			families[fam.key] = acc
+		}
+		acc.plays += row.Plays
+		p := trendPoint{
+			WeekStart:     row.WeekStart.Time.Format("2006-01-02"),
+			Plays:         row.Plays,
+			Skips:         row.Skips,
+			AvgCompletion: row.AvgCompletion,
+			completionN:   row.CompletionN,
+		}
+		if row.Plays > 0 {
+			p.SkipRate = float64(row.Skips) / float64(row.Plays)
+			p.TasteHitRate = float64(row.TasteHits) / float64(row.Plays)
+		}
+		// Same family can arrive as several raw sources (radio:<uuid>);
+		// merge same-week points play-weighted.
+		if n := len(acc.points); n > 0 && acc.points[n-1].WeekStart == p.WeekStart {
+			acc.points[n-1] = mergeTrendPoints(acc.points[n-1], p)
+		} else {
+			acc.points = append(acc.points, p)
+		}
+	}
+
+	resp := trendsResp{Weeks: weeks, Series: []trendSeries{}, Markers: []trendMarker{}}
+	for _, acc := range families {
+		resp.Series = append(resp.Series, trendSeries{
+			Key:    acc.fam.key,
+			Label:  acc.fam.label,
+			Intent: acc.fam.intent,
+			Plays:  acc.plays,
+			Points: acc.points,
+		})
+	}
+	sort.Slice(resp.Series, func(i, j int) bool {
+		if resp.Series[i].Plays != resp.Series[j].Plays {
+			return resp.Series[i].Plays > resp.Series[j].Plays
+		}
+		return resp.Series[i].Key < resp.Series[j].Key
+	})
+
+	cutoff := now.Add(-time.Duration(weeks) * 7 * 24 * time.Hour)
+	for _, a := range audits {
+		if a.ChangedAt.Time.Before(cutoff) {
+			continue
+		}
+		resp.Markers = append(resp.Markers, trendMarker{
+			ChangedAt: a.ChangedAt.Time.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
+			Scope:     a.Scope,
+			Action:    a.Action,
+			Changes:   json.RawMessage(a.Changes),
+		})
+	}
+	// ListTuningAudit returns newest-first; the timeline reads better
+	// oldest-first.
+	sort.Slice(resp.Markers, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return resp.Markers[i].ChangedAt < resp.Markers[j].ChangedAt
+	})
+	return resp
+}
+
+// mergeTrendPoints combines two same-week points of one family:
+// counts add, skip/taste rates re-derive from the merged counts, and
+// avg_completion is weighted by each side's completion sample count.
+func mergeTrendPoints(a, b trendPoint) trendPoint {
+	out := trendPoint{
+		WeekStart:   a.WeekStart,
+		Plays:       a.Plays + b.Plays,
+		Skips:       a.Skips + b.Skips,
+		completionN: a.completionN + b.completionN,
+	}
+	if out.Plays > 0 {
+		out.SkipRate = float64(out.Skips) / float64(out.Plays)
+		out.TasteHitRate = (a.TasteHitRate*float64(a.Plays) + b.TasteHitRate*float64(b.Plays)) /
+			float64(out.Plays)
+	}
+	if out.completionN > 0 {
+		out.AvgCompletion = (a.AvgCompletion*float64(a.completionN) + b.AvgCompletion*float64(b.completionN)) /
+			float64(out.completionN)
+	}
+	return out
+}

internal/api/admin_recommendation_trends_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgtype"
+
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/db/dbq"
+)
+
+func date(s string) pgtype.Date {
+	t, _ := time.Parse("2006-01-02", s)
+	return pgtype.Date{Time: t, Valid: true}
+}
+
+func TestBuildTrendsResponse_SeriesMergingAndMarkers(t *testing.T) {
+	src := func(s string) *string { return &s }
+	now := time.Date(2026, 7, 3, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	rows := []dbq.RecommendationWeeklyTrendsRow{
+		// Two radio session sources in the same week collapse into one
+		// family point; completion weighting by sample count.
+		{WeekStart: date("2026-06-22"), Source: src("radio:aaaa"),
+			Plays: 3, Skips: 1, CompletionN: 3, AvgCompletion: 0.6, TasteHits: 3},
+		{WeekStart: date("2026-06-22"), Source: src("radio:bbbb"),
+			Plays: 1, Skips: 1, CompletionN: 1, AvgCompletion: 0.2, TasteHits: 0},
+		{WeekStart: date("2026-06-29"), Source: src("radio:aaaa"),
+			Plays: 2, Skips: 0, CompletionN: 2, AvgCompletion: 0.9, TasteHits: 1},
+		// NULL source = manual baseline family.
+		{WeekStart: date("2026-06-29"), Source: nil,
+			Plays: 5, Skips: 1, CompletionN: 5, AvgCompletion: 0.8, TasteHits: 4},
+	}
+	audits := []dbq.RecommendationTuningAudit{
+		{ID: 2, ChangedAt: pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: now.Add(-24 * time.Hour), Valid: true},
+			Scope: "radio", Action: "update", Changes: []byte(`[{"field":"taste_weight","old":1,"new":2}]`)},
+		// Older than the window → dropped.
+		{ID: 1, ChangedAt: pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: now.Add(-100 * 7 * 24 * time.Hour), Valid: true},
+			Scope: "taste", Action: "reset", Changes: []byte(`[]`)},
+	}
+
+	resp := buildTrendsResponse(12, now, rows, audits)
+
+	if len(resp.Series) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("series = %d, want 2 (radio + manual)", len(resp.Series))
+	}
+	radio := resp.Series[0] // 6 plays > manual's 5 → sorted first
+	if radio.Key != "radio" || radio.Plays != 6 {
+		t.Fatalf("series[0] = %s/%d, want radio/6", radio.Key, radio.Plays)
+	}
+	if len(radio.Points) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("radio points = %d, want 2 weeks", len(radio.Points))
+	}
+	wk1 := radio.Points[0]
+	if wk1.WeekStart != "2026-06-22" || wk1.Plays != 4 || wk1.Skips != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("week1 = %+v, want 2026-06-22 with 4 plays / 2 skips", wk1)
+	}
+	if wk1.SkipRate != 0.5 {
+		t.Errorf("week1 skip_rate = %v, want 0.5", wk1.SkipRate)
+	}
+	// Completion weighted by sample count: (0.6*3 + 0.2*1) / 4 = 0.5.
+	if wk1.AvgCompletion < 0.49 || wk1.AvgCompletion > 0.51 {
+		t.Errorf("week1 avg_completion = %v, want 0.5", wk1.AvgCompletion)
+	}
+	// Taste hits: 3 of 4 plays.
+	if wk1.TasteHitRate != 0.75 {
+		t.Errorf("week1 taste_hit_rate = %v, want 0.75", wk1.TasteHitRate)
+	}
+	if manual := resp.Series[1]; manual.Key != "manual" || manual.Intent != "" {
+		t.Errorf("series[1] = %+v, want the manual baseline family", manual)
+	}
+
+	if len(resp.Markers) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("markers = %d, want 1 (out-of-window marker dropped)", len(resp.Markers))
+	}
+	if resp.Markers[0].Scope != "radio" || resp.Markers[0].Action != "update" {
+		t.Errorf("marker = %+v, want radio/update", resp.Markers[0])
+	}
+}
+
+func newTrendsRouter(h *handlers) chi.Router {
+	r := chi.NewRouter()
+	r.Get("/api/admin/recommendation-trends", h.handleGetRecommendationTrends)
+	return r
+}
+
+func TestRecommendationTrends_EndToEnd(t *testing.T) {
+	h, pool := testHandlers(t)
+	user := seedUser(t, pool, "trends", "pw", true)
+	artist := seedArtist(t, pool, "TrendArtist")
+	album := seedAlbum(t, pool, artist.ID, "TrendAlbum", 2020)
+	tk := seedTrack(t, pool, album.ID, artist.ID, "TrendTrack", 1, 200000)
+	session := seedPlaySession(t, pool, user.ID, time.Now())
+
+	// Positive taste weight for the artist → plays count as taste hits.
+	if _, err := pool.Exec(context.Background(),
+		`INSERT INTO taste_profile_artists (user_id, artist_id, weight) VALUES ($1, $2, 1.5)`,
+		user.ID, artist.ID); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("seed taste profile: %v", err)
+	}
+	radio := "radio"
+	seedSourcedPlay(t, h, user.ID, tk.ID, session, &radio, nil, 0.9, false)
+	// A knob turn to mark the timeline.
+	if err := h.recSettings.UpdateProfile(context.Background(), "radio",
+		map[string]float64{"taste_weight": 2}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("UpdateProfile: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/api/admin/recommendation-trends", nil)
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	newTrendsRouter(h).ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("status = %d, want 200 (%s)", rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	}
+	var resp trendsResp
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(rec.Body.Bytes(), &resp); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("decode: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp.Weeks != trendsDefaultWeeks {
+		t.Errorf("weeks = %d, want %d", resp.Weeks, trendsDefaultWeeks)
+	}
+	var radioSeries *trendSeries
+	for i := range resp.Series {
+		if resp.Series[i].Key == "radio" {
+			radioSeries = &resp.Series[i]
+		}
+	}
+	if radioSeries == nil || len(radioSeries.Points) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("radio series = %+v, want one point", radioSeries)
+	}
+	if radioSeries.Points[0].TasteHitRate != 1.0 {
+		t.Errorf("taste_hit_rate = %v, want 1.0 (positive-weight artist)",
+			radioSeries.Points[0].TasteHitRate)
+	}
+	if len(resp.Markers) != 1 || resp.Markers[0].Scope != "radio" {
+		t.Errorf("markers = %+v, want the radio knob turn", resp.Markers)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRecommendationTrends_InvalidWeeks(t *testing.T) {
+	h, _ := testHandlers(t)
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/api/admin/recommendation-trends?weeks=zero", nil)
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	newTrendsRouter(h).ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusBadRequest {
+		t.Errorf("status = %d, want 400", rec.Code)
+	}
+}

internal/api/admin_recommendation_tuning.go

@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+// Admin recommendation-tuning endpoints (#1250): the defaults-
+// discovery lab. GET returns current values + shipped defaults for
+// every scope; PATCH applies a partial update to one scope; reset
+// restores a scope to shipped defaults. Every change writes an audit
+// row (consumed by the metrics trend view, #1251).
+package api
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+
+	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
+
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/apierror"
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/recommendation"
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/recsettings"
+)
+
+// weightsResp is one weight profile on the wire, keyed by the same
+// snake_case field names the PATCH body accepts.
+type weightsResp struct {
+	BaseWeight       float64 `json:"base_weight"`
+	LikeBoost        float64 `json:"like_boost"`
+	RecencyWeight    float64 `json:"recency_weight"`
+	SkipPenalty      float64 `json:"skip_penalty"`
+	JitterMagnitude  float64 `json:"jitter_magnitude"`
+	ContextWeight    float64 `json:"context_weight"`
+	SimilarityWeight float64 `json:"similarity_weight"`
+	TasteWeight      float64 `json:"taste_weight"`
+}
+
+func weightsRespFrom(w recommendation.ScoringWeights) weightsResp {
+	return weightsResp{
+		BaseWeight:       w.BaseWeight,
+		LikeBoost:        w.LikeBoost,
+		RecencyWeight:    w.RecencyWeight,
+		SkipPenalty:      w.SkipPenalty,
+		JitterMagnitude:  w.JitterMagnitude,
+		ContextWeight:    w.ContextWeight,
+		SimilarityWeight: w.SimilarityWeight,
+		TasteWeight:      w.TasteWeight,
+	}
+}
+
+type tasteTuningResp struct {
+	HalfLifeDays       float64 `json:"half_life_days"`
+	EngagementHardSkip float64 `json:"engagement_hard_skip"`
+	EngagementNeutral  float64 `json:"engagement_neutral"`
+	EngagementFull     float64 `json:"engagement_full"`
+}
+
+func tasteRespFrom(t recsettings.TasteTuning) tasteTuningResp {
+	return tasteTuningResp{
+		HalfLifeDays:       t.HalfLifeDays,
+		EngagementHardSkip: t.EngagementHardSkip,
+		EngagementNeutral:  t.EngagementNeutral,
+		EngagementFull:     t.EngagementFull,
+	}
+}
+
+// tuningSnapshot is both the GET response and the post-mutation echo:
+// current values alongside shipped defaults so the card can mark
+// which knobs deviate.
+type tuningSnapshot struct {
+	Profiles map[string]weightsResp `json:"profiles"`
+	Taste    tasteTuningResp        `json:"taste"`
+	Shipped  struct {
+		Profiles map[string]weightsResp `json:"profiles"`
+		Taste    tasteTuningResp        `json:"taste"`
+	} `json:"shipped"`
+}
+
+func (h *handlers) tuningSnapshot() tuningSnapshot {
+	var out tuningSnapshot
+	out.Profiles = map[string]weightsResp{
+		recsettings.ScopeRadio:    weightsRespFrom(h.recSettings.Weights(recsettings.ScopeRadio)),
+		recsettings.ScopeDailyMix: weightsRespFrom(h.recSettings.Weights(recsettings.ScopeDailyMix)),
+	}
+	out.Taste = tasteRespFrom(h.recSettings.Taste())
+	out.Shipped.Profiles = map[string]weightsResp{
+		recsettings.ScopeRadio:    weightsRespFrom(recsettings.ShippedRadioWeights()),
+		recsettings.ScopeDailyMix: weightsRespFrom(recsettings.ShippedDailyMixWeights()),
+	}
+	out.Shipped.Taste = tasteRespFrom(recsettings.ShippedTasteTuning())
+	return out
+}
+
+// handleGetRecommendationTuning implements GET /api/admin/recommendation-tuning.
+func (h *handlers) handleGetRecommendationTuning(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, h.tuningSnapshot())
+}
+
+// patchTuningReq carries the partial update: field name → new value,
+// using the same snake_case names the GET response emits.
+type patchTuningReq struct {
+	Values map[string]float64 `json:"values"`
+}
+
+// handlePatchRecommendationTuning implements
+// PATCH /api/admin/recommendation-tuning/{scope}.
+func (h *handlers) handlePatchRecommendationTuning(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	scope := chi.URLParam(r, "scope")
+	var body patchTuningReq
+	if err := json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
+		writeErr(w, apierror.BadRequest("bad_body", "invalid JSON"))
+		return
+	}
+	if len(body.Values) == 0 {
+		writeErr(w, apierror.BadRequest("bad_body", "values is empty"))
+		return
+	}
+
+	var err error
+	if scope == recsettings.ScopeTaste {
+		err = h.recSettings.UpdateTaste(r.Context(), body.Values)
+	} else {
+		err = h.recSettings.UpdateProfile(r.Context(), scope, body.Values)
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		writeTuningErr(w, h, scope, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, h.tuningSnapshot())
+}
+
+// handleResetRecommendationTuning implements
+// POST /api/admin/recommendation-tuning/{scope}/reset.
+func (h *handlers) handleResetRecommendationTuning(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	scope := chi.URLParam(r, "scope")
+	if err := h.recSettings.Reset(r.Context(), scope); err != nil {
+		writeTuningErr(w, h, scope, err)
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, h.tuningSnapshot())
+}
+
+// writeTuningErr maps recsettings validation errors to 400s and
+// everything else to a logged 500.
+func writeTuningErr(w http.ResponseWriter, h *handlers, scope string, err error) {
+	switch {
+	case errors.Is(err, recsettings.ErrUnknownScope):
+		writeErr(w, &apierror.Error{
+			Status: http.StatusNotFound, Code: "not_found", Message: "no such tuning scope",
+		})
+	case errors.Is(err, recsettings.ErrUnknownField), errors.Is(err, recsettings.ErrOutOfRange):
+		writeErr(w, apierror.BadRequest("invalid_tuning", err.Error()))
+	default:
+		h.logger.Error("admin: recommendation tuning", "scope", scope, "err", err)
+		writeErr(w, apierror.InternalMsg("tuning update failed", err))
+	}
+}

internal/api/admin_recommendation_tuning_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
+
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/recsettings"
+)
+
+func newTuningRouter(h *handlers) chi.Router {
+	r := chi.NewRouter()
+	r.Get("/api/admin/recommendation-tuning", h.handleGetRecommendationTuning)
+	r.Patch("/api/admin/recommendation-tuning/{scope}", h.handlePatchRecommendationTuning)
+	r.Post("/api/admin/recommendation-tuning/{scope}/reset", h.handleResetRecommendationTuning)
+	return r
+}
+
+func decodeTuning(t *testing.T, rec *httptest.ResponseRecorder) tuningSnapshot {
+	t.Helper()
+	var snap tuningSnapshot
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(rec.Body.Bytes(), &snap); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("decode: %v", err)
+	}
+	return snap
+}
+
+func TestRecommendationTuning_GetReturnsShippedDefaults(t *testing.T) {
+	h, _ := testHandlers(t)
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/api/admin/recommendation-tuning", nil)
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	newTuningRouter(h).ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("status = %d, want 200", rec.Code)
+	}
+	snap := decodeTuning(t, rec)
+	if snap.Profiles["radio"].TasteWeight != 1.0 || snap.Profiles["daily_mix"].TasteWeight != 1.5 {
+		t.Errorf("profiles = %+v, want shipped taste weights 1.0 / 1.5", snap.Profiles)
+	}
+	if snap.Taste.HalfLifeDays != 75 {
+		t.Errorf("taste half-life = %v, want shipped 75", snap.Taste.HalfLifeDays)
+	}
+	if snap.Shipped.Profiles["radio"] != snap.Profiles["radio"] {
+		t.Error("untouched values must equal shipped defaults")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRecommendationTuning_PatchAndReset(t *testing.T) {
+	h, _ := testHandlers(t)
+	r := newTuningRouter(h)
+
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPatch, "/api/admin/recommendation-tuning/radio",
+		strings.NewReader(`{"values":{"taste_weight": 2.5}}`))
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	r.ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("patch status = %d, want 200 (%s)", rec.Code, rec.Body.String())
+	}
+	snap := decodeTuning(t, rec)
+	if snap.Profiles["radio"].TasteWeight != 2.5 {
+		t.Errorf("patched taste_weight = %v, want 2.5", snap.Profiles["radio"].TasteWeight)
+	}
+	// The change is live for the radio scoring path.
+	if got := h.recSettings.Weights(recsettings.ScopeRadio).TasteWeight; got != 2.5 {
+		t.Errorf("service taste_weight = %v, want 2.5 (live effect)", got)
+	}
+
+	req = httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/api/admin/recommendation-tuning/radio/reset", nil)
+	rec = httptest.NewRecorder()
+	r.ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+	if rec.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("reset status = %d, want 200", rec.Code)
+	}
+	snap = decodeTuning(t, rec)
+	if snap.Profiles["radio"].TasteWeight != 1.0 {
+		t.Errorf("reset taste_weight = %v, want shipped 1.0", snap.Profiles["radio"].TasteWeight)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRecommendationTuning_PatchErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	h, _ := testHandlers(t)
+	r := newTuningRouter(h)
+	cases := []struct {
+		name, path, body string
+		want             int
+	}{
+		{"unknown scope", "/api/admin/recommendation-tuning/banana",
+			`{"values":{"taste_weight":1}}`, http.StatusNotFound},
+		{"unknown field", "/api/admin/recommendation-tuning/radio",
+			`{"values":{"vibes":1}}`, http.StatusBadRequest},
+		{"out of range", "/api/admin/recommendation-tuning/taste",
+			`{"values":{"engagement_neutral":2}}`, http.StatusBadRequest},
+		{"empty values", "/api/admin/recommendation-tuning/radio",
+			`{"values":{}}`, http.StatusBadRequest},
+		{"bad json", "/api/admin/recommendation-tuning/radio",
+			`{`, http.StatusBadRequest},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPatch, c.path, strings.NewReader(c.body))
+		rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+		r.ServeHTTP(rec, req)
+		if rec.Code != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("%s: status = %d, want %d", c.name, rec.Code, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/api/admin_users.go

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ type adminUserView struct {
 	DisplayName         *string `json:"display_name"`
 	IsAdmin             bool    `json:"is_admin"`
 	AutoApproveRequests bool    `json:"auto_approve_requests"`
+	DebugModeEnabled    bool    `json:"debug_mode_enabled"`
 	CreatedAt           string  `json:"created_at"`
 }
 
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ func (h *handlers) handleAdminListUsers(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request)
 			DisplayName:         row.DisplayName,
 			IsAdmin:             row.IsAdmin,
 			AutoApproveRequests: row.AutoApproveRequests,
+			DebugModeEnabled:    row.DebugModeEnabled,
 			CreatedAt:           row.CreatedAt.Time.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
 		}
 		out = append(out, v)
@@ -120,6 +122,7 @@ func (h *handlers) handleUpdateUserAdmin(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request)
 		DisplayName:         updated.DisplayName,
 		IsAdmin:             updated.IsAdmin,
 		AutoApproveRequests: updated.AutoApproveRequests,
+		DebugModeEnabled:    updated.DebugModeEnabled,
 		CreatedAt:           updated.CreatedAt.Time.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
 	})
 }
@@ -189,6 +192,7 @@ func (h *handlers) handleAdminCreateUser(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request)
 		DisplayName:         user.DisplayName,
 		IsAdmin:             user.IsAdmin,
 		AutoApproveRequests: user.AutoApproveRequests,
+		DebugModeEnabled:    user.DebugModeEnabled,
 		CreatedAt:           user.CreatedAt.Time.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
 	})
 }
@@ -329,6 +333,7 @@ func (h *handlers) handleAdminAutoApproveToggle(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.R
 		DisplayName:         updated.DisplayName,
 		IsAdmin:             updated.IsAdmin,
 		AutoApproveRequests: updated.AutoApproveRequests,
+		DebugModeEnabled:    updated.DebugModeEnabled,
 		CreatedAt:           updated.CreatedAt.Time.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
 	})
 }

internal/api/api.go

@@ -22,16 +22,18 @@ import (
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/mailer"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/playevents"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/playlists"
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/recsettings"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/tracks"
 )
 
 // Mount attaches /api/* handlers to r. Public endpoints (login) are outside
 // RequireUser; everything else is gated by the middleware. The events writer
 // is shared with the Subsonic mount so /rest/scrobble feeds the same store.
-func Mount(r chi.Router, pool *pgxpool.Pool, logger *slog.Logger, events *playevents.Writer, recCfg config.RecommendationConfig, lidarrCfg *lidarrconfig.Service, lidarrReqs *lidarrrequests.Service, lidarrQuar *lidarrquarantine.Service, tracksSvc *tracks.Service, playlistsSvc *playlists.Service, coverEnricher *coverart.Enricher, coverSettings *coverart.SettingsService, scanner *library.Scanner, scanCfg library.RunScanConfig, dataDir string, sender mailer.Sender, bus *eventbus.Bus, playlistScheduler *playlists.Scheduler, streamSecret []byte) {
+func Mount(r chi.Router, pool *pgxpool.Pool, logger *slog.Logger, events *playevents.Writer, recCfg config.RecommendationConfig, recSettings *recsettings.Service, lidarrCfg *lidarrconfig.Service, lidarrReqs *lidarrrequests.Service, lidarrQuar *lidarrquarantine.Service, tracksSvc *tracks.Service, playlistsSvc *playlists.Service, coverEnricher *coverart.Enricher, coverSettings *coverart.SettingsService, scanner *library.Scanner, scanCfg library.RunScanConfig, dataDir string, sender mailer.Sender, bus *eventbus.Bus, playlistScheduler *playlists.Scheduler, streamSecret []byte) {
 	rng := rand.New(rand.NewSource(rand.Int63()))
 	h := &handlers{
 		pool: pool, logger: logger, events: events, recCfg: recCfg,
+		recSettings:       recSettings,
 		rng:               rng.Float64,
 		lidarrCfg:         lidarrCfg,
 		lidarrRequests:    lidarrReqs,
@@ -135,6 +137,12 @@ func Mount(r chi.Router, pool *pgxpool.Pool, logger *slog.Logger, events *playev
 			// load failures). Admin-only inbox; any user can report.
 			authed.Post("/playback-errors", h.handleReportPlaybackError)
 
+			// Device diagnostics ingest (M9). Any signed-in user can
+			// POST a batch, but events are only stored when the
+			// account's debug_mode_enabled flag is on (handler no-ops
+			// otherwise). Admin views live under /admin/diagnostics.
+			authed.Post("/diagnostics", h.handleReportDiagnostics)
+
 			// Self-hosted in-app update channel (#397). Auth-gated to
 			// prevent anonymous bandwidth abuse on the APK stream;
 			// /apk additionally per-user rate-limited.
@@ -181,6 +189,11 @@ func Mount(r chi.Router, pool *pgxpool.Pool, logger *slog.Logger, events *playev
 				admin.Delete("/users/{id}", h.handleAdminDeleteUser)
 				admin.Post("/users/{id}/reset-password", h.handleAdminResetPassword)
 				admin.Put("/users/{id}/auto-approve", h.handleAdminAutoApproveToggle)
+				admin.Put("/users/{id}/debug-mode", h.handleAdminDebugModeToggle)
+
+				// Device diagnostics timeline + device overview (M9).
+				admin.Get("/diagnostics", h.handleListAdminDiagnostics)
+				admin.Get("/diagnostics/devices", h.handleListAdminDiagnosticDevices)
 
 				admin.Get("/cover-sources", h.handleListCoverSources)
 				admin.Patch("/cover-sources/{provider_id}", h.handleUpdateCoverSource)
@@ -190,6 +203,14 @@ func Mount(r chi.Router, pool *pgxpool.Pool, logger *slog.Logger, events *playev
 				admin.Get("/smtp-config", h.handleGetSMTPConfig)
 				admin.Put("/smtp-config", h.handleUpdateSMTPConfig)
 				admin.Post("/smtp-config/test", h.handleTestSMTPConfig)
+
+				// Recommendation tuning lab (#1250): scoring-weight
+				// profiles + taste-build knobs, DB-backed, live effect.
+				admin.Get("/recommendation-tuning", h.handleGetRecommendationTuning)
+				admin.Patch("/recommendation-tuning/{scope}", h.handlePatchRecommendationTuning)
+				admin.Post("/recommendation-tuning/{scope}/reset", h.handleResetRecommendationTuning)
+				// Weekly outcome trends + knob-turn markers (#1251).
+				admin.Get("/recommendation-trends", h.handleGetRecommendationTrends)
 			})
 
 			authed.Get("/playlists", h.handleListPlaylists)
@@ -212,6 +233,7 @@ type handlers struct {
 	logger            *slog.Logger
 	events            *playevents.Writer
 	recCfg            config.RecommendationConfig
+	recSettings       *recsettings.Service
 	rng               func() float64
 	lidarrCfg         *lidarrconfig.Service
 	lidarrRequests    *lidarrrequests.Service

internal/api/auth_test.go

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/mailer"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/playevents"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/playlists"
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/recsettings"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/tracks"
 )
 
@@ -56,11 +57,12 @@ func testHandlers(t *testing.T) (*handlers, *pgxpool.Pool) {
 	dbtest.ResetDB(t, pool)
 	w := playevents.NewWriter(pool, logger, 30*time.Minute, 0.5, 30000)
 	recCfg := config.RecommendationConfig{
-		BaseWeight: 1.0, LikeBoost: 2.0, RecencyWeight: 1.0,
-		SkipPenalty: 1.0, JitterMagnitude: 0.1,
-		ContextWeight: 2.0, SimilarityWeight: 2.0,
 		RecentlyPlayedHours: 1, RadioSize: 50, RadioSizeMax: 200,
 	}
+	recSettings, err := recsettings.New(context.Background(), pool, logger)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("recsettings: %v", err)
+	}
 	lidarrCfg := lidarrconfig.New(pool)
 	lidarrReqs := lidarrrequests.NewService(pool, lidarrCfg, nil, nil)
 	lidarrQuar := lidarrquarantine.NewService(pool, lidarrCfg, nil)
@@ -70,7 +72,7 @@ func testHandlers(t *testing.T) (*handlers, *pgxpool.Pool) {
 	dataDir := t.TempDir()
 	tracksSvc := tracks.NewService(pool, logger, nil, dataDir)
 	playlistsSvc := playlists.NewService(pool, logger, dataDir)
-	h := &handlers{pool: pool, logger: logger, events: w, recCfg: recCfg, rng: func() float64 { return 0.5 }, lidarrCfg: lidarrCfg, lidarrRequests: lidarrReqs, lidarrQuarantine: lidarrQuar, tracks: tracksSvc, playlists: playlistsSvc, dataDir: dataDir, scanner: nil, scanCfg: library.RunScanConfig{}, mailer: &mailer.FakeSender{}}
+	h := &handlers{pool: pool, logger: logger, events: w, recCfg: recCfg, recSettings: recSettings, rng: func() float64 { return 0.5 }, lidarrCfg: lidarrCfg, lidarrRequests: lidarrReqs, lidarrQuarantine: lidarrQuar, tracks: tracksSvc, playlists: playlistsSvc, dataDir: dataDir, scanner: nil, scanCfg: library.RunScanConfig{}, mailer: &mailer.FakeSender{}}
 	return h, pool
 }
 

internal/api/diagnostics.go

@@ -0,0 +1,346 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5"
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgtype"
+
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/apierror"
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/db/dbq"
+)
+
+// validDiagnosticKinds is the COARSE category whitelist. Mirrors the
+// CHECK constraint in migration 0036 — keep both in sync (per the
+// enum-CHECK-whitelist rule). The finer event discriminator + all
+// event-specific fields live inside each event's payload, so new event
+// variants do NOT require a new category here.
+var validDiagnosticKinds = map[string]struct{}{
+	"connectivity": {},
+	"upnp_sync":    {}, // genuinely UPnP/Sonos-specific (drops, resync)
+	"playback":     {}, // route + player-state, any output (phone/BT/UPnP)
+	"power":        {},
+	"lifecycle":    {},
+	"heartbeat":    {},
+	"http":         {},
+}
+
+// maxDiagnosticBatch caps a single ingest call. The client buffers and
+// flushes in batches of ~100; 500 leaves generous headroom while
+// bounding a misbehaving client's per-request work.
+const maxDiagnosticBatch = 500
+
+// Diagnostics list paging. Larger than the generic parsePaging caps
+// because the admin timeline is meant to be exported as a slice and
+// handed off for analysis — a heartbeat-dense window has many rows.
+const (
+	defaultDiagnosticPageSize = 500
+	maxDiagnosticPageSize     = 5000
+)
+
+// diagnosticEventIn is one event in a POST /api/diagnostics batch.
+// OccurredAt is the client device clock as epoch milliseconds (may be
+// skewed — the server also stamps received_at). Payload is opaque JSON
+// carrying the event's sub-type + fields.
+type diagnosticEventIn struct {
+	Kind       string          `json:"kind"`
+	OccurredAt int64           `json:"occurred_at"`
+	Payload    json.RawMessage `json:"payload"`
+}
+
+// reportDiagnosticsRequest is the body of POST /api/diagnostics — one
+// batch from one device.
+type reportDiagnosticsRequest struct {
+	ClientID   string              `json:"client_id"`
+	AppVersion *string             `json:"app_version,omitempty"`
+	OsVersion  *string             `json:"os_version,omitempty"`
+	Events     []diagnosticEventIn `json:"events"`
+}
+
+// handleReportDiagnostics implements POST /api/diagnostics. Any signed-in
+// user can call it, but events are only stored when the account's
+// debug_mode_enabled flag is on; otherwise the call is a 204 no-op so the
+// client can safely drop the batch (it gates locally on /api/me, this is
+// the race-safe backstop for "admin just disabled debug").
+func (h *handlers) handleReportDiagnostics(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	user, ok := requireUser(w, r)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	if !user.DebugModeEnabled {
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
+		return
+	}
+	var req reportDiagnosticsRequest
+	if !decodeBody(w, r, &req) {
+		return
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(req.ClientID) == "" {
+		writeErr(w, apierror.BadRequest("bad_request", "client_id required"))
+		return
+	}
+	if len(req.Events) == 0 {
+		writeJSON(w, http.StatusAccepted, map[string]int{"accepted": 0})
+		return
+	}
+	if len(req.Events) > maxDiagnosticBatch {
+		writeErr(w, apierror.BadRequest("batch_too_large", "too many events in one batch"))
+		return
+	}
+	for i := range req.Events {
+		if _, valid := validDiagnosticKinds[req.Events[i].Kind]; !valid {
+			writeErr(w, apierror.BadRequest("invalid_kind", "unknown diagnostic kind"))
+			return
+		}
+	}
+
+	err := pgx.BeginFunc(r.Context(), h.pool, func(tx pgx.Tx) error {
+		q := dbq.New(tx)
+		for i := range req.Events {
+			ev := req.Events[i]
+			payload := ev.Payload
+			if len(payload) == 0 {
+				payload = json.RawMessage("{}")
+			}
+			if _, err := q.InsertDiagnosticEvent(r.Context(), dbq.InsertDiagnosticEventParams{
+				UserID:     user.ID,
+				ClientID:   req.ClientID,
+				AppVersion: req.AppVersion,
+				OsVersion:  req.OsVersion,
+				Kind:       ev.Kind,
+				Payload:    payload,
+				OccurredAt: pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: time.UnixMilli(ev.OccurredAt).UTC(), Valid: true},
+			}); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		writeErrWithLog(w, h.logger, "diagnostics: insert batch failed", apierror.Internal(err))
+		return
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusAccepted, map[string]int{"accepted": len(req.Events)})
+}
+
+// adminDiagnosticView is one row in the admin timeline response. Payload
+// is passed through verbatim as raw JSON so the SPA can render / export
+// the structured event without the server re-shaping it.
+type adminDiagnosticView struct {
+	ID         string          `json:"id"`
+	UserID     string          `json:"user_id"`
+	Username   string          `json:"username"`
+	ClientID   string          `json:"client_id"`
+	AppVersion *string         `json:"app_version,omitempty"`
+	OsVersion  *string         `json:"os_version,omitempty"`
+	Kind       string          `json:"kind"`
+	Payload    json.RawMessage `json:"payload"`
+	OccurredAt string          `json:"occurred_at"`
+	ReceivedAt string          `json:"received_at"`
+}
+
+// handleListAdminDiagnostics implements GET /api/admin/diagnostics with
+// optional filters user_id, client_id, kind, from, to (RFC3339 or epoch
+// millis) plus limit/offset. Newest-first; the SPA reverses for a
+// chronological timeline + export.
+func (h *handlers) handleListAdminDiagnostics(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	q := r.URL.Query()
+	params, ok := h.buildDiagnosticsFilter(w, q)
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	rows, err := dbq.New(h.pool).ListAdminDiagnostics(r.Context(), params)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeErrWithLog(w, h.logger, "admin: list diagnostics failed", apierror.Internal(err))
+		return
+	}
+	out := make([]adminDiagnosticView, 0, len(rows))
+	for _, row := range rows {
+		out = append(out, adminDiagnosticView{
+			ID:         uuidToString(row.ID),
+			UserID:     uuidToString(row.UserID),
+			Username:   row.Username,
+			ClientID:   row.ClientID,
+			AppVersion: row.AppVersion,
+			OsVersion:  row.OsVersion,
+			Kind:       row.Kind,
+			Payload:    json.RawMessage(row.Payload),
+			OccurredAt: formatTimestamp(row.OccurredAt),
+			ReceivedAt: formatTimestamp(row.ReceivedAt),
+		})
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, out)
+}
+
+// buildDiagnosticsFilter parses the query string into a query param
+// struct, writing a 400 and returning ok=false on a malformed time.
+func (h *handlers) buildDiagnosticsFilter(
+	w http.ResponseWriter, q map[string][]string,
+) (dbq.ListAdminDiagnosticsParams, bool) {
+	get := func(k string) string {
+		if v, present := q[k]; present && len(v) > 0 {
+			return v[0]
+		}
+		return ""
+	}
+	limit, offset, err := parseDiagPaging(get("limit"), get("offset"))
+	if err != nil {
+		writeErr(w, apierror.BadRequest("bad_request", "invalid limit or offset"))
+		return dbq.ListAdminDiagnosticsParams{}, false
+	}
+	from, okFrom := parseDiagTime(get("from"))
+	to, okTo := parseDiagTime(get("to"))
+	if !okFrom || !okTo {
+		writeErr(w, apierror.BadRequest("bad_request", "invalid from/to timestamp"))
+		return dbq.ListAdminDiagnosticsParams{}, false
+	}
+	params := dbq.ListAdminDiagnosticsParams{
+		ClientID: optionalQuery(get("client_id")),
+		Kind:     optionalQuery(get("kind")),
+		FromTs:   from,
+		ToTs:     to,
+		Off:      int32(offset),
+		Lim:      int32(limit),
+	}
+	if uid, valid := parseUUID(get("user_id")); valid {
+		params.UserID = uid
+	}
+	return params, true
+}
+
+// adminDiagnosticDeviceView is one device in the "who is reporting"
+// overview / device filter dropdown.
+type adminDiagnosticDeviceView struct {
+	ClientID   string `json:"client_id"`
+	UserID     string `json:"user_id"`
+	Username   string `json:"username"`
+	AppVersion string `json:"app_version"`
+	OsVersion  string `json:"os_version"`
+	LastSeen   string `json:"last_seen"`
+	EventCount int64  `json:"event_count"`
+}
+
+// handleListAdminDiagnosticDevices implements GET
+// /api/admin/diagnostics/devices?user_id=. Lists distinct reporting
+// devices so the admin UI can populate its device filter.
+func (h *handlers) handleListAdminDiagnosticDevices(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	var userID pgtype.UUID
+	if uid, valid := parseUUID(r.URL.Query().Get("user_id")); valid {
+		userID = uid
+	}
+	rows, err := dbq.New(h.pool).ListDiagnosticDevices(r.Context(), userID)
+	if err != nil {
+		writeErrWithLog(w, h.logger, "admin: list diagnostic devices failed", apierror.Internal(err))
+		return
+	}
+	out := make([]adminDiagnosticDeviceView, 0, len(rows))
+	for _, row := range rows {
+		out = append(out, adminDiagnosticDeviceView{
+			ClientID:   row.ClientID,
+			UserID:     uuidToString(row.UserID),
+			Username:   row.Username,
+			AppVersion: row.AppVersion,
+			OsVersion:  row.OsVersion,
+			LastSeen:   formatTimestamp(row.LastSeen),
+			EventCount: row.EventCount,
+		})
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, out)
+}
+
+// adminDebugModeReq is the body of PUT /api/admin/users/{id}/debug-mode.
+type adminDebugModeReq struct {
+	Enabled bool `json:"enabled"`
+}
+
+// handleAdminDebugModeToggle implements PUT
+// /api/admin/users/{id}/debug-mode — flip an account's diagnostics
+// opt-in remotely while a bug is live. Echoes the updated user.
+func (h *handlers) handleAdminDebugModeToggle(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	targetID, ok := requireURLUUID(w, r, "id")
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	var req adminDebugModeReq
+	if !decodeBody(w, r, &req) {
+		return
+	}
+	updated, err := dbq.New(h.pool).SetDebugMode(r.Context(), dbq.SetDebugModeParams{
+		ID:               targetID,
+		DebugModeEnabled: req.Enabled,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		writeErrWithLog(w, h.logger, "admin: set debug mode failed", apierror.Internal(err))
+		return
+	}
+	h.logger.Info("admin: debug mode toggled",
+		"target_user", uuidToString(targetID), "enabled", req.Enabled)
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, adminUserView{
+		ID:                  uuidToString(updated.ID),
+		Username:            updated.Username,
+		DisplayName:         updated.DisplayName,
+		IsAdmin:             updated.IsAdmin,
+		AutoApproveRequests: updated.AutoApproveRequests,
+		DebugModeEnabled:    updated.DebugModeEnabled,
+		CreatedAt:           updated.CreatedAt.Time.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
+	})
+}
+
+// parseDiagPaging reads limit/offset with diagnostics-specific caps.
+// Blank → defaults; out-of-range clamps; non-numeric → error.
+func parseDiagPaging(rawLimit, rawOffset string) (limit, offset int, err error) {
+	limit = defaultDiagnosticPageSize
+	if s := strings.TrimSpace(rawLimit); s != "" {
+		n, perr := strconv.Atoi(s)
+		if perr != nil {
+			return 0, 0, perr
+		}
+		if n < 1 {
+			n = 1
+		}
+		if n > maxDiagnosticPageSize {
+			n = maxDiagnosticPageSize
+		}
+		limit = n
+	}
+	if s := strings.TrimSpace(rawOffset); s != "" {
+		n, perr := strconv.Atoi(s)
+		if perr != nil {
+			return 0, 0, perr
+		}
+		if n > 0 {
+			offset = n
+		}
+	}
+	return limit, offset, nil
+}
+
+// optionalQuery returns nil for an absent/blank query value so the sqlc
+// NULL-or-equals filter treats it as "no filter."
+func optionalQuery(raw string) *string {
+	raw = strings.TrimSpace(raw)
+	if raw == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &raw
+}
+
+// parseDiagTime accepts RFC3339 or epoch-millis. Empty = absent (NULL
+// filter, ok=true). Returns ok=false only on a non-empty unparseable value.
+func parseDiagTime(raw string) (pgtype.Timestamptz, bool) {
+	raw = strings.TrimSpace(raw)
+	if raw == "" {
+		return pgtype.Timestamptz{}, true
+	}
+	if t, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, raw); err == nil {
+		return pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: t.UTC(), Valid: true}, true
+	}
+	if ms, err := strconv.ParseInt(raw, 10, 64); err == nil {
+		return pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: time.UnixMilli(ms).UTC(), Valid: true}, true
+	}
+	return pgtype.Timestamptz{}, false
+}

internal/api/events.go

@@ -31,6 +31,26 @@ type playStartedResponse struct {
 	SessionID   string `json:"session_id"`
 }
 
+// eventFutureSkew is the tolerated client-clock drift into the future
+// before a timestamp is treated as bogus and replaced with now.
+const eventFutureSkew = 5 * time.Minute
+
+// clampEventTime bounds a client-supplied event timestamp to sanity:
+// no earlier than the account's creation (offline replays can
+// legitimately be days old, but no play can predate the user) and no
+// later than now + a small skew allowance. Unbounded client clocks
+// previously let a skewed device write arbitrarily old plays, which
+// poisoned Rediscover's "not played in 6 months" ordering (#1246).
+func clampEventTime(at, userCreatedAt, now time.Time) time.Time {
+	if at.Before(userCreatedAt) {
+		return userCreatedAt
+	}
+	if at.After(now.Add(eventFutureSkew)) {
+		return now
+	}
+	return at
+}
+
 type okResponse struct {
 	OK bool `json:"ok"`
 }
@@ -52,7 +72,7 @@ func (h *handlers) handleEvents(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 			writeErr(w, apierror.BadRequest("bad_request", "invalid `at` timestamp"))
 			return
 		}
-		at = parsed
+		at = clampEventTime(parsed.UTC(), user.CreatedAt.Time, time.Now().UTC())
 	}
 	clientID := ""
 	if req.ClientID != nil {

internal/api/library_test.go

@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ func TestRoutesRegisteredInMount(t *testing.T) {
 	r := chi.NewRouter()
 	w := playevents.NewWriter(h.pool, slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(io.Discard, nil)),
 		30*time.Minute, 0.5, 30000)
-	Mount(r, h.pool, h.logger, w, config.RecommendationConfig{RadioSize: 50, RadioSizeMax: 200, RecentlyPlayedHours: 1}, h.lidarrCfg, h.lidarrRequests, h.lidarrQuarantine, h.tracks, h.playlists, h.coverart, h.coverSettings, h.scanner, h.scanCfg, h.dataDir, nil, eventbus.New(), nil, nil)
+	Mount(r, h.pool, h.logger, w, config.RecommendationConfig{RadioSize: 50, RadioSizeMax: 200, RecentlyPlayedHours: 1}, h.recSettings, h.lidarrCfg, h.lidarrRequests, h.lidarrQuarantine, h.tracks, h.playlists, h.coverart, h.coverSettings, h.scanner, h.scanCfg, h.dataDir, nil, eventbus.New(), nil, nil)
 
 	paths := []string{
 		"/api/artists",

internal/api/me_profile.go

@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ type meProfileResp struct {
 	DisplayName *string `json:"display_name"`
 	Email       *string `json:"email"`
 	IsAdmin     bool    `json:"is_admin"`
+	// DebugModeEnabled is the account's diagnostics opt-in. The client
+	// reads it here to decide whether to run the on-device diagnostics
+	// reporter (M9). Admin-set; the client also has a local OFF switch.
+	DebugModeEnabled bool `json:"debug_mode_enabled"`
 }
 
 func (h *handlers) handleUpdateMyProfile(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
@@ -120,10 +124,11 @@ func (h *handlers) handleUpdateMyProfile(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request)
 
 func profileViewFromUser(u dbq.User) meProfileResp {
 	return meProfileResp{
-		ID:          uuidToString(u.ID),
-		Username:    u.Username,
-		DisplayName: u.DisplayName,
-		Email:       u.Email,
-		IsAdmin:     u.IsAdmin,
+		ID:               uuidToString(u.ID),
+		Username:         u.Username,
+		DisplayName:      u.DisplayName,
+		Email:            u.Email,
+		IsAdmin:          u.IsAdmin,
+		DebugModeEnabled: u.DebugModeEnabled,
 	}
 }

internal/api/me_recommendation_metrics.go

@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ package api
 
 import (
 	"net/http"
+	"sort"
 	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/apierror"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/db/dbq"
@@ -11,28 +13,142 @@ import (
 const (
 	recMetricsDefaultDays = 30
 	recMetricsMaxDays     = 365
+
+	// recMetricsLowVolume marks a family as low-confidence rather than
+	// hiding it: with fewer plays than this a skip rate is anecdote, not
+	// signal, but silently dropping the row would misread as "surface
+	// unused". The web renders low-confidence rows dimmed.
+	recMetricsLowVolume = 20
 )
 
-// recommendationMetric is one recommendation surface's outcomes.
-type recommendationMetric struct {
-	Source        string  `json:"source"`         // 'for_you' | 'discover' | mixes
-	Plays         int64   `json:"plays"`          // plays launched from this surface
+// Surface intents (milestone #127): each family is judged against its
+// job, not one global bar — discovery mixes are EXPECTED to run higher
+// skip rates than the go-to surfaces.
+const (
+	intentGoTo      = "go_to"
+	intentDiscovery = "discovery"
+	intentDirect    = "direct"
+)
+
+// surfaceMetric is one bucketed surface family's outcomes.
+type surfaceMetric struct {
+	Key           string  `json:"key"`            // stable family key ("for_you", "radio", …)
+	Label         string  `json:"label"`          // display label
+	Plays         int64   `json:"plays"`          // plays launched from this family
 	Skips         int64   `json:"skips"`          // of those, marked skipped
 	SkipRate      float64 `json:"skip_rate"`      // skips / plays, [0,1]
 	AvgCompletion float64 `json:"avg_completion"` // mean completion ratio, [0,1]
+	LowConfidence bool    `json:"low_confidence"` // plays < recMetricsLowVolume
+	// Breakdown splits the family into the pick-kind populations its
+	// builder stamped (#1249, generalized #1270): For You's taste/fresh,
+	// Discover's buckets, tier1-3 for tiered mixes — plus earlier plays
+	// that predate attribution. Present only when the family has at
+	// least one attributed play; the parent row remains the sum of its
+	// breakdown.
+	Breakdown []surfaceMetric `json:"breakdown,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// surfaceGroup is one intent band of surface families.
+type surfaceGroup struct {
+	Intent   string          `json:"intent"` // go_to | discovery | direct
+	Label    string          `json:"label"`
+	Surfaces []surfaceMetric `json:"surfaces"`
 }
 
 type recommendationMetricsResp struct {
-	WindowDays int                    `json:"window_days"`
-	Sources    []recommendationMetric `json:"sources"`
+	WindowDays int `json:"window_days"`
+	// Baseline is the control group: plays the user picked manually
+	// (source IS NULL). Surfaces are judged as deltas against it; nil
+	// when the window holds no manual plays.
+	Baseline *surfaceMetric `json:"baseline"`
+	Groups   []surfaceGroup `json:"groups"`
+}
+
+// recFamily is the bucketing target for a raw play_events.source value.
+type recFamily struct {
+	key    string
+	label  string
+	intent string
+}
+
+// bucketRecSource maps a raw client-stamped source string to its stable
+// family. One-off sources (album:<uuid>, radio:<uuid>) collapse into
+// their family so the table stays readable at any library size.
+func bucketRecSource(src string) recFamily {
+	switch {
+	case src == "for_you":
+		return recFamily{"for_you", "For You", intentGoTo}
+	case src == "songs_like_artist":
+		return recFamily{"songs_like_artist", "Songs like…", intentGoTo}
+	case src == "radio" || strings.HasPrefix(src, "radio:"):
+		return recFamily{"radio", "Radio", intentGoTo}
+	case src == "discover":
+		return recFamily{"discover", "Discover", intentDiscovery}
+	case src == "deep_cuts":
+		return recFamily{"deep_cuts", "Deep cuts", intentDiscovery}
+	case src == "rediscover":
+		return recFamily{"rediscover", "Rediscover", intentDiscovery}
+	case src == "new_for_you":
+		return recFamily{"new_for_you", "New for you", intentDiscovery}
+	case src == "on_this_day":
+		return recFamily{"on_this_day", "On this day", intentDiscovery}
+	case src == "first_listens":
+		return recFamily{"first_listens", "First listens", intentDiscovery}
+	case strings.HasPrefix(src, "album:"):
+		return recFamily{"direct_album", "Album plays", intentDirect}
+	case strings.HasPrefix(src, "artist:"):
+		return recFamily{"direct_artist", "Artist plays", intentDirect}
+	case strings.HasPrefix(src, "offline:"):
+		return recFamily{"offline", "Offline pools", intentDirect}
+	case strings.HasPrefix(src, "home:"):
+		return recFamily{"home", "Home sections", intentDirect}
+	case src == "history":
+		return recFamily{"history", "History", intentDirect}
+	default:
+		return recFamily{"other", "Other", intentDirect}
+	}
+}
+
+// familyAccum merges raw source rows into one family, carrying the
+// completion sample count so the merged average stays play-weighted.
+type familyAccum struct {
+	fam         recFamily
+	plays       int64
+	skips       int64
+	completionN int64
+	// completionSum is avg*count re-expanded, so merging N raw rows
+	// reduces to a single weighted division at the end.
+	completionSum float64
+}
+
+func (a *familyAccum) add(row dbq.RecommendationSourceMetricsForUserRow) {
+	a.plays += row.Plays
+	a.skips += row.Skips
+	a.completionN += row.CompletionN
+	a.completionSum += row.AvgCompletion * float64(row.CompletionN)
+}
+
+func (a *familyAccum) metric() surfaceMetric {
+	m := surfaceMetric{
+		Key:           a.fam.key,
+		Label:         a.fam.label,
+		Plays:         a.plays,
+		Skips:         a.skips,
+		LowConfidence: a.plays < recMetricsLowVolume,
+	}
+	if a.plays > 0 {
+		m.SkipRate = float64(a.skips) / float64(a.plays)
+	}
+	if a.completionN > 0 {
+		m.AvgCompletion = a.completionSum / float64(a.completionN)
+	}
+	return m
 }
 
 // handleGetRecommendationMetrics implements GET /api/me/recommendation-metrics.
-// Per-source play outcomes (plays / skips / skip-rate / avg-completion) for the
-// caller over the last `days` (default 30, capped at 365), so the operator can
-// see which recommendation surfaces are landing and tune the taste weights.
-// Only plays tagged with a system-playlist source count; library/radio plays
-// (no source) are excluded.
+// Bucketed per-surface-family outcomes for the caller over the last `days`
+// (default 30, capped at 365), grouped by surface intent and anchored by the
+// manual-plays baseline so the numbers are judgeable, not just observable.
 func (h *handlers) handleGetRecommendationMetrics(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	caller, ok := requireUser(w, r)
 	if !ok {
@@ -51,28 +167,141 @@ func (h *handlers) handleGetRecommendationMetrics(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http
 		return
 	}
 
-	out := recommendationMetricsResp{
-		WindowDays: days,
-		Sources:    make([]recommendationMetric, 0, len(rows)),
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, bucketMetricsResponse(days, rows))
+}
+
+// pickKindLabels is the display vocabulary for play_events.pick_kind
+// values (mirrors the CHECK in migration 0039). Every system mix that
+// stamps provenance gets its breakdown from this one map — adding a
+// stamping mix needs no metrics change.
+var pickKindLabels = map[string]string{
+	"taste":      "Taste picks",
+	"fresh":      "Fresh picks",
+	"dormant":    "Dormant artists",
+	"cross_user": "Liked by others",
+	"random":     "Random unheard",
+	"tier1":      "Tier 1 (exact)",
+	"tier2":      "Tier 2 (relaxed)",
+	"tier3":      "Tier 3 (stretched)",
+}
+
+// pickKindOrder fixes breakdown row order; unattributed ("", i.e. NULL
+// pick_kind — plays recorded before the mix stamped provenance, or
+// whose track had rotated out of the snapshot at ingestion) renders
+// last, kept visible so the parent row's sums stay transparent instead
+// of silently shrinking. The DB CHECK gates pick_kind to exactly this
+// vocabulary, so iterating the list is exhaustive.
+var pickKindOrder = []string{
+	"taste", "fresh", "dormant", "cross_user", "random",
+	"tier1", "tier2", "tier3", "",
+}
+
+// pickKindFamily derives the sub-family for one (family, pick_kind)
+// population, e.g. ("for_you", "taste") → for_you_taste "Taste picks".
+func pickKindFamily(parent recFamily, kind string) recFamily {
+	if kind == "" {
+		return recFamily{parent.key + "_unattributed", "Earlier plays", parent.intent}
 	}
+	label, ok := pickKindLabels[kind]
+	if !ok {
+		label = kind
+	}
+	return recFamily{parent.key + "_" + kind, label, parent.intent}
+}
+
+// pickKindBreakdown folds a family's per-pick-kind accums into its
+// Breakdown rows. Attached only when at least one attributed play
+// exists — an all-unattributed breakdown would just repeat the parent
+// row, and families that never stamp (radio, direct plays) stay flat.
+func pickKindBreakdown(picks map[string]*familyAccum) []surfaceMetric {
+	attributed := int64(0)
+	for kind, acc := range picks {
+		if kind != "" {
+			attributed += acc.plays
+		}
+	}
+	if attributed == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make([]surfaceMetric, 0, len(picks))
+	for _, kind := range pickKindOrder {
+		if acc, ok := picks[kind]; ok && acc.plays > 0 {
+			out = append(out, acc.metric())
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// bucketMetricsResponse folds the raw per-source rows into the grouped,
+// baseline-anchored response shape. Split from the handler for pure-unit
+// testability.
+func bucketMetricsResponse(
+	days int, rows []dbq.RecommendationSourceMetricsForUserRow,
+) recommendationMetricsResp {
+	baseline := &familyAccum{fam: recFamily{"manual", "Manual library plays", ""}}
+	families := map[string]*familyAccum{}
+	picks := map[string]map[string]*familyAccum{}
 	for _, row := range rows {
-		source := ""
-		if row.Source != nil {
-			source = *row.Source
+		if row.Source == nil || *row.Source == "" {
+			baseline.add(row)
+			continue
 		}
-		var skipRate float64
-		if row.Plays > 0 {
-			skipRate = float64(row.Skips) / float64(row.Plays)
+		fam := bucketRecSource(*row.Source)
+		acc, exists := families[fam.key]
+		if !exists {
+			acc = &familyAccum{fam: fam}
+			families[fam.key] = acc
 		}
-		out.Sources = append(out.Sources, recommendationMetric{
-			Source:        source,
-			Plays:         row.Plays,
-			Skips:         row.Skips,
-			SkipRate:      skipRate,
-			AvgCompletion: row.AvgCompletion,
-		})
+		acc.add(row)
+		// Accumulate the pick-kind population unconditionally; families
+		// that never stamp end up all-unattributed and get no breakdown.
+		kind := ""
+		if row.PickKind != nil {
+			kind = *row.PickKind
+		}
+		byKind, ok := picks[fam.key]
+		if !ok {
+			byKind = map[string]*familyAccum{}
+			picks[fam.key] = byKind
+		}
+		pick, ok := byKind[kind]
+		if !ok {
+			pick = &familyAccum{fam: pickKindFamily(fam, kind)}
+			byKind[kind] = pick
+		}
+		pick.add(row)
 	}
-	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, out)
+
+	resp := recommendationMetricsResp{WindowDays: days, Groups: []surfaceGroup{}}
+	if baseline.plays > 0 {
+		m := baseline.metric()
+		resp.Baseline = &m
+	}
+	for _, g := range []struct{ intent, label string }{
+		{intentGoTo, "Go-to surfaces"},
+		{intentDiscovery, "Discovery mixes"},
+		{intentDirect, "Direct plays"},
+	} {
+		group := surfaceGroup{Intent: g.intent, Label: g.label}
+		for _, acc := range families {
+			if acc.fam.intent == g.intent {
+				m := acc.metric()
+				m.Breakdown = pickKindBreakdown(picks[acc.fam.key])
+				group.Surfaces = append(group.Surfaces, m)
+			}
+		}
+		if len(group.Surfaces) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		sort.Slice(group.Surfaces, func(i, j int) bool {
+			if group.Surfaces[i].Plays != group.Surfaces[j].Plays {
+				return group.Surfaces[i].Plays > group.Surfaces[j].Plays
+			}
+			return group.Surfaces[i].Key < group.Surfaces[j].Key
+		})
+		resp.Groups = append(resp.Groups, group)
+	}
+	return resp
 }
 
 // parseMetricsDays reads the `days` query param (default 30, capped at 365).

internal/api/me_recommendation_metrics_test.go

@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
 	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgtype"
+
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/db/dbq"
 )
 
 func newMetricsRouter(h *handlers) chi.Router {
@@ -20,17 +22,19 @@ func newMetricsRouter(h *handlers) chi.Router {
 }
 
 // seedSourcedPlay inserts a play_event with an explicit source + completion +
-// skip flag. A nil source inserts NULL (library/radio play).
+// skip flag. A nil source inserts NULL (manual library play → baseline).
+// pickKind is the For You taste/fresh attribution (#1249); nil everywhere
+// except attributed for_you plays.
 func seedSourcedPlay(
 	t *testing.T, h *handlers, userID, trackID, sessionID pgtype.UUID,
-	source *string, completion float64, skipped bool,
+	source, pickKind *string, completion float64, skipped bool,
 ) {
 	t.Helper()
 	if _, err := h.pool.Exec(context.Background(),
 		`INSERT INTO play_events
-		   (user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, source, completion_ratio, was_skipped)
-		 VALUES ($1, $2, $3, now(), $4, $5, $6)`,
-		userID, trackID, sessionID, source, completion, skipped); err != nil {
+		   (user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, source, pick_kind, completion_ratio, was_skipped)
+		 VALUES ($1, $2, $3, now(), $4, $5, $6, $7)`,
+		userID, trackID, sessionID, source, pickKind, completion, skipped); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("seed sourced play: %v", err)
 	}
 }
@@ -45,7 +49,168 @@ func TestRecommendationMetrics_NoSession401(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestRecommendationMetrics_AggregatesBySourceExcludingNull(t *testing.T) {
+// findSurface returns the named family from any group, or nil.
+func findSurface(resp recommendationMetricsResp, key string) *surfaceMetric {
+	for _, g := range resp.Groups {
+		for i := range g.Surfaces {
+			if g.Surfaces[i].Key == key {
+				return &g.Surfaces[i]
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func TestBucketMetricsResponse_FamiliesGroupsBaseline(t *testing.T) {
+	src := func(s string) *string { return &s }
+	rows := []dbq.RecommendationSourceMetricsForUserRow{
+		{Source: src("for_you"), Plays: 3, Skips: 1, CompletionN: 3, AvgCompletion: 2.0 / 3},
+		// Two radio sessions collapse into one "radio" family; weighted
+		// completion = (0.2*1 + 0.8*1) / 2 = 0.5.
+		{Source: src("radio:aaaa"), Plays: 1, Skips: 1, CompletionN: 1, AvgCompletion: 0.2},
+		{Source: src("radio:bbbb"), Plays: 1, Skips: 0, CompletionN: 1, AvgCompletion: 0.8},
+		{Source: src("album:cccc"), Plays: 1, Skips: 0, CompletionN: 0, AvgCompletion: 0},
+		{Source: src("discover"), Plays: 1, Skips: 0, CompletionN: 1, AvgCompletion: 0.8},
+		// NULL source = manual plays → baseline, not a group row.
+		{Source: nil, Plays: 25, Skips: 5, CompletionN: 20, AvgCompletion: 0.9},
+	}
+	resp := bucketMetricsResponse(recMetricsDefaultDays, rows)
+
+	if resp.Baseline == nil {
+		t.Fatal("baseline missing")
+	}
+	if resp.Baseline.Plays != 25 || resp.Baseline.SkipRate != 0.2 {
+		t.Errorf("baseline = %+v, want plays=25 skip_rate=0.2", resp.Baseline)
+	}
+	if resp.Baseline.LowConfidence {
+		t.Error("baseline with 25 plays should not be low-confidence")
+	}
+
+	radio := findSurface(resp, "radio")
+	if radio == nil {
+		t.Fatal("radio family missing")
+	}
+	if radio.Plays != 2 || radio.Skips != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("radio plays/skips = %d/%d, want 2/1", radio.Plays, radio.Skips)
+	}
+	if radio.AvgCompletion < 0.49 || radio.AvgCompletion > 0.51 {
+		t.Errorf("radio avg_completion = %.3f, want 0.5 (play-weighted merge)", radio.AvgCompletion)
+	}
+	if !radio.LowConfidence {
+		t.Error("radio with 2 plays should be low-confidence")
+	}
+
+	if s := findSurface(resp, "direct_album"); s == nil || s.Plays != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("direct_album = %+v, want plays=1", s)
+	}
+	if s := findSurface(resp, ""); s != nil {
+		t.Error("NULL source must not appear as a surface family")
+	}
+
+	// No attributed (taste/fresh) plays in this fixture → no breakdown;
+	// an all-unattributed breakdown would just repeat the parent row.
+	if fy := findSurface(resp, "for_you"); fy == nil || fy.Breakdown != nil {
+		t.Errorf("for_you breakdown = %+v, want nil without attributed plays", fy)
+	}
+
+	// Group ordering is intent-banded: go_to before discovery before direct.
+	wantOrder := []string{intentGoTo, intentDiscovery, intentDirect}
+	if len(resp.Groups) != len(wantOrder) {
+		t.Fatalf("groups = %d, want %d", len(resp.Groups), len(wantOrder))
+	}
+	for i, g := range resp.Groups {
+		if g.Intent != wantOrder[i] {
+			t.Errorf("group[%d].intent = %s, want %s", i, g.Intent, wantOrder[i])
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBucketMetricsResponse_ForYouBreakdown(t *testing.T) {
+	src := func(s string) *string { return &s }
+	kind := func(s string) *string { return &s }
+	rows := []dbq.RecommendationSourceMetricsForUserRow{
+		{Source: src("for_you"), PickKind: kind("taste"), Plays: 30, Skips: 3,
+			CompletionN: 30, AvgCompletion: 0.9},
+		{Source: src("for_you"), PickKind: kind("fresh"), Plays: 10, Skips: 4,
+			CompletionN: 10, AvgCompletion: 0.5},
+		// NULL pick_kind = plays that predate attribution.
+		{Source: src("for_you"), Plays: 5, Skips: 1, CompletionN: 5, AvgCompletion: 0.7},
+	}
+	resp := bucketMetricsResponse(recMetricsDefaultDays, rows)
+
+	fy := findSurface(resp, "for_you")
+	if fy == nil {
+		t.Fatal("for_you family missing")
+	}
+	// The parent row stays the sum of its breakdown.
+	if fy.Plays != 45 || fy.Skips != 8 {
+		t.Errorf("for_you plays/skips = %d/%d, want 45/8", fy.Plays, fy.Skips)
+	}
+	if len(fy.Breakdown) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("breakdown rows = %d, want 3 (taste, fresh, earlier)", len(fy.Breakdown))
+	}
+	wantKeys := []string{"for_you_taste", "for_you_fresh", "for_you_unattributed"}
+	for i, k := range wantKeys {
+		if fy.Breakdown[i].Key != k {
+			t.Errorf("breakdown[%d].key = %s, want %s", i, fy.Breakdown[i].Key, k)
+		}
+	}
+	taste, fresh := fy.Breakdown[0], fy.Breakdown[1]
+	if taste.Plays != 30 || taste.SkipRate != 0.1 || taste.LowConfidence {
+		t.Errorf("taste = %+v, want plays=30 skip_rate=0.1 confident", taste)
+	}
+	if fresh.Plays != 10 || fresh.SkipRate != 0.4 || !fresh.LowConfidence {
+		t.Errorf("fresh = %+v, want plays=10 skip_rate=0.4 low-confidence", fresh)
+	}
+	// Breakdown rows never appear as their own surface families.
+	if s := findSurface(resp, "for_you_taste"); s != nil {
+		t.Error("for_you_taste must not be a top-level surface")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBucketMetricsResponse_DiscoverBucketBreakdown(t *testing.T) {
+	// Provenance is standard (#1270): Discover's bucket stamps surface as
+	// a breakdown exactly like For You's taste/fresh — this is what makes
+	// the 40/30/30 allocation judgeable instead of a guess.
+	src := func(s string) *string { return &s }
+	kind := func(s string) *string { return &s }
+	rows := []dbq.RecommendationSourceMetricsForUserRow{
+		{Source: src("discover"), PickKind: kind("dormant"), Plays: 8, Skips: 2,
+			CompletionN: 8, AvgCompletion: 0.8},
+		{Source: src("discover"), PickKind: kind("cross_user"), Plays: 6, Skips: 3,
+			CompletionN: 6, AvgCompletion: 0.6},
+		{Source: src("discover"), PickKind: kind("random"), Plays: 4, Skips: 3,
+			CompletionN: 4, AvgCompletion: 0.4},
+		// NULL pick_kind = plays that predate bucket stamping.
+		{Source: src("discover"), Plays: 2, Skips: 0, CompletionN: 2, AvgCompletion: 0.9},
+	}
+	resp := bucketMetricsResponse(recMetricsDefaultDays, rows)
+
+	d := findSurface(resp, "discover")
+	if d == nil {
+		t.Fatal("discover family missing")
+	}
+	if d.Plays != 20 || d.Skips != 8 {
+		t.Errorf("discover plays/skips = %d/%d, want 20/8", d.Plays, d.Skips)
+	}
+	wantKeys := []string{
+		"discover_dormant", "discover_cross_user", "discover_random",
+		"discover_unattributed",
+	}
+	if len(d.Breakdown) != len(wantKeys) {
+		t.Fatalf("breakdown rows = %d, want %d", len(d.Breakdown), len(wantKeys))
+	}
+	for i, k := range wantKeys {
+		if d.Breakdown[i].Key != k {
+			t.Errorf("breakdown[%d].key = %s, want %s", i, d.Breakdown[i].Key, k)
+		}
+	}
+	if b := d.Breakdown[0]; b.Label != "Dormant artists" || b.Plays != 8 {
+		t.Errorf("dormant row = %+v, want label=Dormant artists plays=8", b)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRecommendationMetrics_BucketsWithBaseline(t *testing.T) {
 	if os.Getenv("MINSTREL_TEST_DATABASE_URL") == "" {
 		t.Skip("MINSTREL_TEST_DATABASE_URL not set")
 	}
@@ -57,15 +222,17 @@ func TestRecommendationMetrics_AggregatesBySourceExcludingNull(t *testing.T) {
 	session := seedPlaySession(t, pool, user.ID, time.Now())
 
 	forYou := "for_you"
-	discover := "discover"
+	radioA := "radio:11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111"
+	taste, fresh := "taste", "fresh"
 	// for_you: 3 plays, 1 skipped; completions 1.0, 0.95, 0.05 → mean 0.6667.
-	seedSourcedPlay(t, h, user.ID, tk.ID, session, &forYou, 1.0, false)
-	seedSourcedPlay(t, h, user.ID, tk.ID, session, &forYou, 0.95, false)
-	seedSourcedPlay(t, h, user.ID, tk.ID, session, &forYou, 0.05, true)
-	// discover: 1 play.
-	seedSourcedPlay(t, h, user.ID, tk.ID, session, &discover, 0.8, false)
-	// library play (NULL source) — must be excluded.
-	seedSourcedPlay(t, h, user.ID, tk.ID, session, nil, 1.0, false)
+	// Two attributed as taste picks, the skipped one as a fresh pick (#1249).
+	seedSourcedPlay(t, h, user.ID, tk.ID, session, &forYou, &taste, 1.0, false)
+	seedSourcedPlay(t, h, user.ID, tk.ID, session, &forYou, &taste, 0.95, false)
+	seedSourcedPlay(t, h, user.ID, tk.ID, session, &forYou, &fresh, 0.05, true)
+	// A radio session play collapses into the "radio" family.
+	seedSourcedPlay(t, h, user.ID, tk.ID, session, &radioA, nil, 0.8, false)
+	// Manual play (NULL source) — the baseline row.
+	seedSourcedPlay(t, h, user.ID, tk.ID, session, nil, nil, 1.0, false)
 
 	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodGet, "/api/me/recommendation-metrics", nil)
 	req = withUser(req, user)
@@ -82,15 +249,11 @@ func TestRecommendationMetrics_AggregatesBySourceExcludingNull(t *testing.T) {
 	if resp.WindowDays != recMetricsDefaultDays {
 		t.Errorf("window_days = %d, want %d", resp.WindowDays, recMetricsDefaultDays)
 	}
-	bySource := map[string]recommendationMetric{}
-	for _, m := range resp.Sources {
-		bySource[m.Source] = m
+	if resp.Baseline == nil || resp.Baseline.Plays != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("baseline = %+v, want plays=1", resp.Baseline)
 	}
-	if _, present := bySource[""]; present {
-		t.Error("NULL-source (library) plays should be excluded")
-	}
-	fy, ok := bySource["for_you"]
-	if !ok {
+	fy := findSurface(resp, "for_you")
+	if fy == nil {
 		t.Fatal("for_you metrics missing")
 	}
 	if fy.Plays != 3 || fy.Skips != 1 {
@@ -102,7 +265,17 @@ func TestRecommendationMetrics_AggregatesBySourceExcludingNull(t *testing.T) {
 	if fy.AvgCompletion < 0.66 || fy.AvgCompletion > 0.67 {
 		t.Errorf("for_you avg_completion = %.4f, want ~0.6667", fy.AvgCompletion)
 	}
-	if d, ok := bySource["discover"]; !ok || d.Plays != 1 || d.Skips != 0 {
-		t.Errorf("discover metrics = %+v, want plays=1 skips=0", d)
+	// Pick-kind attribution surfaces as the For You breakdown (#1249).
+	if len(fy.Breakdown) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("for_you breakdown rows = %d, want 2 (taste, fresh)", len(fy.Breakdown))
+	}
+	if b := fy.Breakdown[0]; b.Key != "for_you_taste" || b.Plays != 2 || b.Skips != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("breakdown[0] = %+v, want for_you_taste plays=2 skips=0", b)
+	}
+	if b := fy.Breakdown[1]; b.Key != "for_you_fresh" || b.Plays != 1 || b.Skips != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("breakdown[1] = %+v, want for_you_fresh plays=1 skips=1", b)
+	}
+	if radio := findSurface(resp, "radio"); radio == nil || radio.Plays != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("radio family = %+v, want plays=1 (collapsed from radio:<uuid>)", radio)
 	}
 }

internal/api/radio.go

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/apierror"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/db/dbq"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/recommendation"
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/recsettings"
 )
 
 // RadioResponse is the body of GET /api/radio.
@@ -100,16 +101,9 @@ func (h *handlers) handleRadio(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	weights := recommendation.ScoringWeights{
-		BaseWeight:       h.recCfg.BaseWeight,
-		LikeBoost:        h.recCfg.LikeBoost,
-		RecencyWeight:    h.recCfg.RecencyWeight,
-		SkipPenalty:      h.recCfg.SkipPenalty,
-		JitterMagnitude:  h.recCfg.JitterMagnitude,
-		ContextWeight:    h.recCfg.ContextWeight,
-		SimilarityWeight: h.recCfg.SimilarityWeight,
-		TasteWeight:      h.recCfg.TasteWeight,
-	}
+	// Scoring weights come from the DB-backed tuning lab (#1250) —
+	// read per request so an admin change takes effect live.
+	weights := h.recSettings.Weights(recsettings.ScopeRadio)
 	picks := recommendation.Shuffle(candidates, weights, time.Now().UTC(), h.rng, limit-1)
 
 	out := make([]TrackRef, 0, len(picks)+1)

internal/config/config.go

@@ -88,20 +88,14 @@ type EventsConfig struct {
 	SkipMaxDurationPlayedMs int     `yaml:"skip_max_duration_played_ms"`
 }
 
-// RecommendationConfig governs the M3 weighted-shuffle scoring (spec §6).
-// All weights are operator-tunable; defaults match the spec recommendations.
+// RecommendationConfig holds the radio path's operational knobs. The
+// scoring WEIGHTS moved to DB-backed admin settings (#1250,
+// internal/recsettings) — YAML is bootstrap-only; anything an operator
+// tunes lives in the UI with live effect.
 type RecommendationConfig struct {
-	BaseWeight          float64 `yaml:"base_weight"`
-	LikeBoost           float64 `yaml:"like_boost"`
-	RecencyWeight       float64 `yaml:"recency_weight"`
-	SkipPenalty         float64 `yaml:"skip_penalty"`
-	JitterMagnitude     float64 `yaml:"jitter_magnitude"`
-	ContextWeight       float64 `yaml:"context_weight"`
-	SimilarityWeight    float64 `yaml:"similarity_weight"`
-	TasteWeight         float64 `yaml:"taste_weight"`
-	RecentlyPlayedHours int     `yaml:"recently_played_hours"`
-	RadioSize           int     `yaml:"radio_size"`
-	RadioSizeMax        int     `yaml:"radio_size_max"`
+	RecentlyPlayedHours int `yaml:"recently_played_hours"`
+	RadioSize           int `yaml:"radio_size"`
+	RadioSizeMax        int `yaml:"radio_size_max"`
 }
 
 func Default() Config {
@@ -120,16 +114,6 @@ func Default() Config {
 			SkipMaxDurationPlayedMs: 30000,
 		},
 		Recommendation: RecommendationConfig{
-			BaseWeight:       1.0,
-			LikeBoost:        2.0,
-			RecencyWeight:    1.0,
-			SkipPenalty:      1.0,
-			JitterMagnitude:  0.1,
-			ContextWeight:    2.0,
-			SimilarityWeight: 2.0,
-			// Radio is seed-directed (the user picked a direction), so taste
-			// is a lighter nudge here than in the daily mixes (1.5).
-			TasteWeight:         1.0,
 			RecentlyPlayedHours: 1,
 			RadioSize:           50,
 			RadioSizeMax:        200,

internal/db/dbq/diagnostics.sql.go

@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+// Code generated by sqlc. DO NOT EDIT.
+// versions:
+//   sqlc v1.31.1
+// source: diagnostics.sql
+
+package dbq
+
+import (
+	"context"
+
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgtype"
+)
+
+const gcPruneDiagnostics = `-- name: GcPruneDiagnostics :execrows
+DELETE FROM diagnostic_events WHERE received_at < now() - INTERVAL '30 days'
+`
+
+// Retention sweep for the gc worker. Deletes diagnostic_events older
+// than 30 days by server clock (received_at) so a skewed client clock
+// can't keep rows alive. Matches the other gc lifecycle sweeps'
+// hardcoded-threshold style; diagnostics are debug telemetry, not user
+// data, and 30 days is ample to investigate a live incident after the
+// fact. Returns the affected row count for the sweep log line.
+func (q *Queries) GcPruneDiagnostics(ctx context.Context) (int64, error) {
+	result, err := q.db.Exec(ctx, gcPruneDiagnostics)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	return result.RowsAffected(), nil
+}
+
+const insertDiagnosticEvent = `-- name: InsertDiagnosticEvent :one
+INSERT INTO diagnostic_events (
+    user_id, client_id, app_version, os_version, kind, payload, occurred_at
+)
+VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7)
+RETURNING id, received_at
+`
+
+type InsertDiagnosticEventParams struct {
+	UserID     pgtype.UUID
+	ClientID   string
+	AppVersion *string
+	OsVersion  *string
+	Kind       string
+	Payload    []byte
+	OccurredAt pgtype.Timestamptz
+}
+
+type InsertDiagnosticEventRow struct {
+	ID         pgtype.UUID
+	ReceivedAt pgtype.Timestamptz
+}
+
+// Records one client-reported diagnostic event. The writer validates the
+// `kind` category against its whitelist before this runs; the CHECK
+// constraint is the belt-and-braces guard. payload carries the finer
+// event discriminator + all event-specific fields. Returns received_at
+// so the caller can confirm ingest.
+func (q *Queries) InsertDiagnosticEvent(ctx context.Context, arg InsertDiagnosticEventParams) (InsertDiagnosticEventRow, error) {
+	row := q.db.QueryRow(ctx, insertDiagnosticEvent,
+		arg.UserID,
+		arg.ClientID,
+		arg.AppVersion,
+		arg.OsVersion,
+		arg.Kind,
+		arg.Payload,
+		arg.OccurredAt,
+	)
+	var i InsertDiagnosticEventRow
+	err := row.Scan(&i.ID, &i.ReceivedAt)
+	return i, err
+}
+
+const listAdminDiagnostics = `-- name: ListAdminDiagnostics :many
+SELECT
+    de.id          AS id,
+    de.user_id     AS user_id,
+    u.username     AS username,
+    de.client_id   AS client_id,
+    de.app_version AS app_version,
+    de.os_version  AS os_version,
+    de.kind        AS kind,
+    de.payload     AS payload,
+    de.occurred_at AS occurred_at,
+    de.received_at AS received_at
+FROM diagnostic_events de
+JOIN users u ON u.id = de.user_id
+WHERE ($1::uuid   IS NULL OR de.user_id   = $1::uuid)
+  AND ($2::text IS NULL OR de.client_id = $2::text)
+  AND ($3::text      IS NULL OR de.kind      = $3::text)
+  AND ($4::timestamptz IS NULL
+       OR de.occurred_at >= $4::timestamptz)
+  AND ($5::timestamptz IS NULL
+       OR de.occurred_at <= $5::timestamptz)
+ORDER BY de.occurred_at DESC
+LIMIT $7::int OFFSET $6::int
+`
+
+type ListAdminDiagnosticsParams struct {
+	UserID   pgtype.UUID
+	ClientID *string
+	Kind     *string
+	FromTs   pgtype.Timestamptz
+	ToTs     pgtype.Timestamptz
+	Off      int32
+	Lim      int32
+}
+
+type ListAdminDiagnosticsRow struct {
+	ID         pgtype.UUID
+	UserID     pgtype.UUID
+	Username   string
+	ClientID   string
+	AppVersion *string
+	OsVersion  *string
+	Kind       string
+	Payload    []byte
+	OccurredAt pgtype.Timestamptz
+	ReceivedAt pgtype.Timestamptz
+}
+
+// Admin timeline query. All filters are optional (NULL = no filter):
+// account (user_id), device (client_id), category (kind), and the
+// occurred_at window (from_ts/to_ts). Newest-first; the SPA reverses for
+// a chronological timeline / export. Joined with users for the username
+// so the view renders without a second round-trip.
+func (q *Queries) ListAdminDiagnostics(ctx context.Context, arg ListAdminDiagnosticsParams) ([]ListAdminDiagnosticsRow, error) {
+	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, listAdminDiagnostics,
+		arg.UserID,
+		arg.ClientID,
+		arg.Kind,
+		arg.FromTs,
+		arg.ToTs,
+		arg.Off,
+		arg.Lim,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var items []ListAdminDiagnosticsRow
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var i ListAdminDiagnosticsRow
+		if err := rows.Scan(
+			&i.ID,
+			&i.UserID,
+			&i.Username,
+			&i.ClientID,
+			&i.AppVersion,
+			&i.OsVersion,
+			&i.Kind,
+			&i.Payload,
+			&i.OccurredAt,
+			&i.ReceivedAt,
+		); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		items = append(items, i)
+	}
+	if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return items, nil
+}
+
+const listDiagnosticDevices = `-- name: ListDiagnosticDevices :many
+SELECT
+    de.client_id            AS client_id,
+    de.user_id              AS user_id,
+    u.username              AS username,
+    max(de.app_version)::text        AS app_version,
+    max(de.os_version)::text         AS os_version,
+    max(de.occurred_at)::timestamptz AS last_seen,
+    count(*)                         AS event_count
+FROM diagnostic_events de
+JOIN users u ON u.id = de.user_id
+WHERE ($1::uuid IS NULL OR de.user_id = $1::uuid)
+GROUP BY de.client_id, de.user_id, u.username
+ORDER BY last_seen DESC
+`
+
+type ListDiagnosticDevicesRow struct {
+	ClientID   string
+	UserID     pgtype.UUID
+	Username   string
+	AppVersion string
+	OsVersion  string
+	LastSeen   pgtype.Timestamptz
+	EventCount int64
+}
+
+// Distinct devices that have reported, for the admin device filter +
+// "who is currently reporting" overview. Optionally scoped to one account.
+func (q *Queries) ListDiagnosticDevices(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID) ([]ListDiagnosticDevicesRow, error) {
+	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, listDiagnosticDevices, userID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var items []ListDiagnosticDevicesRow
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var i ListDiagnosticDevicesRow
+		if err := rows.Scan(
+			&i.ClientID,
+			&i.UserID,
+			&i.Username,
+			&i.AppVersion,
+			&i.OsVersion,
+			&i.LastSeen,
+			&i.EventCount,
+		); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		items = append(items, i)
+	}
+	if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return items, nil
+}

internal/db/dbq/events.sql.go

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func (q *Queries) GetMostRecentPlaySessionForUser(ctx context.Context, userID pg
 }
 
 const getOpenPlayEventForUser = `-- name: GetOpenPlayEventForUser :one
-SELECT id, user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, ended_at, duration_played_ms, completion_ratio, was_skipped, client_id, session_vector_at_play, scrobbled_at, source FROM play_events
+SELECT id, user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, ended_at, duration_played_ms, completion_ratio, was_skipped, client_id, session_vector_at_play, scrobbled_at, source, pick_kind FROM play_events
 WHERE user_id = $1 AND ended_at IS NULL
 ORDER BY started_at DESC
 LIMIT 1
@@ -79,12 +79,13 @@ func (q *Queries) GetOpenPlayEventForUser(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUI
 		&i.SessionVectorAtPlay,
 		&i.ScrobbledAt,
 		&i.Source,
+		&i.PickKind,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
 
 const getPlayEventByID = `-- name: GetPlayEventByID :one
-SELECT id, user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, ended_at, duration_played_ms, completion_ratio, was_skipped, client_id, session_vector_at_play, scrobbled_at, source FROM play_events WHERE id = $1
+SELECT id, user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, ended_at, duration_played_ms, completion_ratio, was_skipped, client_id, session_vector_at_play, scrobbled_at, source, pick_kind FROM play_events WHERE id = $1
 `
 
 func (q *Queries) GetPlayEventByID(ctx context.Context, id pgtype.UUID) (PlayEvent, error) {
@@ -104,15 +105,48 @@ func (q *Queries) GetPlayEventByID(ctx context.Context, id pgtype.UUID) (PlayEve
 		&i.SessionVectorAtPlay,
 		&i.ScrobbledAt,
 		&i.Source,
+		&i.PickKind,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
 
+const getSystemPickKindForTrack = `-- name: GetSystemPickKindForTrack :one
+SELECT pt.pick_kind
+FROM playlist_tracks pt
+JOIN playlists p ON p.id = pt.playlist_id
+WHERE p.user_id = $1
+  AND p.system_variant = $2
+  AND pt.track_id = $3
+LIMIT 1
+`
+
+type GetSystemPickKindForTrackParams struct {
+	UserID        pgtype.UUID
+	SystemVariant *string
+	TrackID       pgtype.UUID
+}
+
+// Looks a track up in the user's CURRENT snapshot of the given system
+// variant and returns its pick_kind. Used at play-ingestion time to
+// freeze provenance onto the play_event — snapshots rebuild daily, so
+// attribution can't be reconstructed at read time (#1249/#1270). No
+// row = track not in today's snapshot (caller stores NULL); a row with
+// NULL pick_kind = the variant doesn't stamp (yet). songs_like_artist
+// is non-singleton (up to 3 mixes/user); a track in two of them takes
+// whichever LIMIT 1 hits — acceptable, tier stamps there describe the
+// same eligibility ladder.
+func (q *Queries) GetSystemPickKindForTrack(ctx context.Context, arg GetSystemPickKindForTrackParams) (*string, error) {
+	row := q.db.QueryRow(ctx, getSystemPickKindForTrack, arg.UserID, arg.SystemVariant, arg.TrackID)
+	var pick_kind *string
+	err := row.Scan(&pick_kind)
+	return pick_kind, err
+}
+
 const insertPlayEvent = `-- name: InsertPlayEvent :one
 INSERT INTO play_events (
-    user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, client_id, source
-) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6)
-RETURNING id, user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, ended_at, duration_played_ms, completion_ratio, was_skipped, client_id, session_vector_at_play, scrobbled_at, source
+    user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, client_id, source, pick_kind
+) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7::text)
+RETURNING id, user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, ended_at, duration_played_ms, completion_ratio, was_skipped, client_id, session_vector_at_play, scrobbled_at, source, pick_kind
 `
 
 type InsertPlayEventParams struct {
@@ -122,8 +156,12 @@ type InsertPlayEventParams struct {
 	StartedAt pgtype.Timestamptz
 	ClientID  *string
 	Source    *string
+	PickKind  *string
 }
 
+// pick_kind is non-NULL only for system-playlist plays whose track was
+// found (with a stamped kind) in the user's live snapshot for that
+// variant at ingestion time (#1249, generalized in #1270).
 func (q *Queries) InsertPlayEvent(ctx context.Context, arg InsertPlayEventParams) (PlayEvent, error) {
 	row := q.db.QueryRow(ctx, insertPlayEvent,
 		arg.UserID,
@@ -132,6 +170,7 @@ func (q *Queries) InsertPlayEvent(ctx context.Context, arg InsertPlayEventParams
 		arg.StartedAt,
 		arg.ClientID,
 		arg.Source,
+		arg.PickKind,
 	)
 	var i PlayEvent
 	err := row.Scan(
@@ -148,6 +187,7 @@ func (q *Queries) InsertPlayEvent(ctx context.Context, arg InsertPlayEventParams
 		&i.SessionVectorAtPlay,
 		&i.ScrobbledAt,
 		&i.Source,
+		&i.PickKind,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
@@ -291,7 +331,7 @@ SET ended_at = $2,
     completion_ratio = $4,
     was_skipped = $5
 WHERE id = $1
-RETURNING id, user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, ended_at, duration_played_ms, completion_ratio, was_skipped, client_id, session_vector_at_play, scrobbled_at, source
+RETURNING id, user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, ended_at, duration_played_ms, completion_ratio, was_skipped, client_id, session_vector_at_play, scrobbled_at, source, pick_kind
 `
 
 type UpdatePlayEventEndedParams struct {
@@ -328,6 +368,7 @@ func (q *Queries) UpdatePlayEventEnded(ctx context.Context, arg UpdatePlayEventE
 		&i.SessionVectorAtPlay,
 		&i.ScrobbledAt,
 		&i.Source,
+		&i.PickKind,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }

internal/db/dbq/models.go

@@ -265,6 +265,18 @@ type CoverArtSourcesMetum struct {
 	LastRegisteredProvidersHash string
 }
 
+type DiagnosticEvent struct {
+	ID         pgtype.UUID
+	UserID     pgtype.UUID
+	ClientID   string
+	AppVersion *string
+	OsVersion  *string
+	Kind       string
+	Payload    []byte
+	OccurredAt pgtype.Timestamptz
+	ReceivedAt pgtype.Timestamptz
+}
+
 type GeneralLike struct {
 	UserID  pgtype.UUID
 	TrackID pgtype.UUID
@@ -371,6 +383,7 @@ type PlayEvent struct {
 	SessionVectorAtPlay []byte
 	ScrobbledAt         pgtype.Timestamptz
 	Source              *string
+	PickKind            *string
 }
 
 type PlaySession struct {
@@ -421,6 +434,28 @@ type PlaylistTrack struct {
 	AlbumTitle  string
 	DurationSec int32
 	AddedAt     pgtype.Timestamptz
+	PickKind    *string
+}
+
+type RecommendationTuningAudit struct {
+	ID        int64
+	ChangedAt pgtype.Timestamptz
+	Scope     string
+	Action    string
+	Changes   []byte
+}
+
+type RecommendationWeightProfile struct {
+	Profile          string
+	BaseWeight       float64
+	LikeBoost        float64
+	RecencyWeight    float64
+	SkipPenalty      float64
+	JitterMagnitude  float64
+	ContextWeight    float64
+	SimilarityWeight float64
+	TasteWeight      float64
+	UpdatedAt        pgtype.Timestamptz
 }
 
 type RegistrationSetting struct {
@@ -511,6 +546,15 @@ type TasteProfileTag struct {
 	UpdatedAt pgtype.Timestamptz
 }
 
+type TasteTuning struct {
+	Singleton          bool
+	HalfLifeDays       float64
+	EngagementHardSkip float64
+	EngagementNeutral  float64
+	EngagementFull     float64
+	UpdatedAt          pgtype.Timestamptz
+}
+
 type Track struct {
 	ID          pgtype.UUID
 	Title       string
@@ -552,6 +596,7 @@ type User struct {
 	Email               *string
 	Timezone            string
 	TimezoneUpdatedAt   pgtype.Timestamptz
+	DebugModeEnabled    bool
 }
 
 type UserInvite struct {

internal/db/dbq/playlists.sql.go

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 const appendPlaylistTrack = `-- name: AppendPlaylistTrack :one
-INSERT INTO playlist_tracks (playlist_id, position, track_id, title, artist_name, album_title, duration_sec)
+INSERT INTO playlist_tracks (playlist_id, position, track_id, title, artist_name, album_title, duration_sec, pick_kind)
 SELECT
     $1::uuid,
     COALESCE((SELECT MAX(position) + 1 FROM playlist_tracks WHERE playlist_id = $1::uuid), 0),
@@ -20,24 +20,27 @@ SELECT
     t.title,
     artists.name,
     albums.title,
-    (t.duration_ms / 1000)::integer
+    (t.duration_ms / 1000)::integer,
+    $2::text
 FROM tracks t
 JOIN albums  ON albums.id  = t.album_id
 JOIN artists ON artists.id = t.artist_id
-WHERE t.id = $2::uuid
-RETURNING playlist_id, position, track_id, title, artist_name, album_title, duration_sec, added_at
+WHERE t.id = $3::uuid
+RETURNING playlist_id, position, track_id, title, artist_name, album_title, duration_sec, added_at, pick_kind
 `
 
 type AppendPlaylistTrackParams struct {
 	PlaylistID pgtype.UUID
+	PickKind   *string
 	TrackID    pgtype.UUID
 }
 
 // Inserts at the next available position. Snapshot fields are copied
 // from the tracks/albums/artists join at insert time. tracks.duration_ms
-// is converted to seconds for the snapshot.
+// is converted to seconds for the snapshot. pick_kind is NULL for manual
+// playlists; the For You builder stamps 'taste'/'fresh' (#1249).
 func (q *Queries) AppendPlaylistTrack(ctx context.Context, arg AppendPlaylistTrackParams) (PlaylistTrack, error) {
-	row := q.db.QueryRow(ctx, appendPlaylistTrack, arg.PlaylistID, arg.TrackID)
+	row := q.db.QueryRow(ctx, appendPlaylistTrack, arg.PlaylistID, arg.PickKind, arg.TrackID)
 	var i PlaylistTrack
 	err := row.Scan(
 		&i.PlaylistID,
@@ -48,6 +51,7 @@ func (q *Queries) AppendPlaylistTrack(ctx context.Context, arg AppendPlaylistTra
 		&i.AlbumTitle,
 		&i.DurationSec,
 		&i.AddedAt,
+		&i.PickKind,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
@@ -257,7 +261,7 @@ func (q *Queries) ListAllPlaylistTracksForCollage(ctx context.Context, arg ListA
 }
 
 const listPlaylistTracks = `-- name: ListPlaylistTracks :many
-SELECT pt.playlist_id, pt.position, pt.track_id, pt.title, pt.artist_name, pt.album_title, pt.duration_sec, pt.added_at,
+SELECT pt.playlist_id, pt.position, pt.track_id, pt.title, pt.artist_name, pt.album_title, pt.duration_sec, pt.added_at, pt.pick_kind,
        t.id           AS live_track_id,
        albums.id      AS album_id,
        artists.id     AS artist_id
@@ -278,6 +282,7 @@ type ListPlaylistTracksRow struct {
 	AlbumTitle  string
 	DurationSec int32
 	AddedAt     pgtype.Timestamptz
+	PickKind    *string
 	LiveTrackID pgtype.UUID
 	AlbumID     pgtype.UUID
 	ArtistID    pgtype.UUID
@@ -305,6 +310,7 @@ func (q *Queries) ListPlaylistTracks(ctx context.Context, playlistID pgtype.UUID
 			&i.AlbumTitle,
 			&i.DurationSec,
 			&i.AddedAt,
+			&i.PickKind,
 			&i.LiveTrackID,
 			&i.AlbumID,
 			&i.ArtistID,

internal/db/dbq/recommendation_metrics.sql.go

@@ -12,19 +12,17 @@ import (
 )
 
 const recommendationSourceMetricsForUser = `-- name: RecommendationSourceMetricsForUser :many
-
 SELECT
     pe.source,
+    pe.pick_kind,
     count(*)::bigint AS plays,
     count(*) FILTER (WHERE pe.was_skipped)::bigint AS skips,
-    COALESCE(
-        avg(pe.completion_ratio) FILTER (WHERE pe.completion_ratio IS NOT NULL),
-        0)::float8 AS avg_completion
+    count(pe.completion_ratio)::bigint AS completion_n,
+    COALESCE(avg(pe.completion_ratio), 0)::float8 AS avg_completion
 FROM play_events pe
 WHERE pe.user_id = $1
-  AND pe.source IS NOT NULL
   AND pe.started_at > now() - ($2::float8 * INTERVAL '1 day')
-GROUP BY pe.source
+GROUP BY pe.source, pe.pick_kind
 ORDER BY plays DESC
 `
 
@@ -35,18 +33,17 @@ type RecommendationSourceMetricsForUserParams struct {
 
 type RecommendationSourceMetricsForUserRow struct {
 	Source        *string
+	PickKind      *string
 	Plays         int64
 	Skips         int64
+	CompletionN   int64
 	AvgCompletion float64
 }
 
-// Recommendation observability (#796 phase 4). Per-source play outcomes so the
-// operator can see whether each recommendation surface is landing and tune the
-// taste weights. Source is stamped on play_events when a play is launched from
-// a system-playlist surface ('for_you' | 'discover' | the discovery mixes);
-// NULL for library / radio / user-playlist plays, which are excluded here.
 // $1 user_id, $2 window_days. plays/skips are counts; avg_completion is the
-// mean completion ratio over plays that recorded one (0 when none did).
+// mean completion ratio over the completion_n plays that recorded one.
+// pick_kind splits For You plays into taste/fresh/unattributed (#1249);
+// it is NULL for every other source, so those still group to one row.
 func (q *Queries) RecommendationSourceMetricsForUser(ctx context.Context, arg RecommendationSourceMetricsForUserParams) ([]RecommendationSourceMetricsForUserRow, error) {
 	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, recommendationSourceMetricsForUser, arg.UserID, arg.Column2)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -58,8 +55,10 @@ func (q *Queries) RecommendationSourceMetricsForUser(ctx context.Context, arg Re
 		var i RecommendationSourceMetricsForUserRow
 		if err := rows.Scan(
 			&i.Source,
+			&i.PickKind,
 			&i.Plays,
 			&i.Skips,
+			&i.CompletionN,
 			&i.AvgCompletion,
 		); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -71,3 +70,83 @@ func (q *Queries) RecommendationSourceMetricsForUser(ctx context.Context, arg Re
 	}
 	return items, nil
 }
+
+const recommendationWeeklyTrends = `-- name: RecommendationWeeklyTrends :many
+
+SELECT
+    date_trunc('week', pe.started_at)::date AS week_start,
+    pe.source,
+    count(*)::bigint AS plays,
+    count(*) FILTER (WHERE pe.was_skipped)::bigint AS skips,
+    count(pe.completion_ratio)::bigint AS completion_n,
+    COALESCE(avg(pe.completion_ratio), 0)::float8 AS avg_completion,
+    count(*) FILTER (WHERE tpa.artist_id IS NOT NULL)::bigint AS taste_hits
+FROM play_events pe
+JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
+LEFT JOIN taste_profile_artists tpa
+       ON tpa.user_id = pe.user_id
+      AND tpa.artist_id = t.artist_id
+      AND tpa.weight > 0
+WHERE pe.started_at > now() - ($1::int * INTERVAL '1 week')
+GROUP BY 1, 2
+ORDER BY 1, 2
+`
+
+type RecommendationWeeklyTrendsRow struct {
+	WeekStart     pgtype.Date
+	Source        *string
+	Plays         int64
+	Skips         int64
+	CompletionN   int64
+	AvgCompletion float64
+	TasteHits     int64
+}
+
+// Recommendation observability (#796 phase 4). Per-source play outcomes so the
+// operator can see whether each recommendation surface is landing and tune the
+// taste weights. Source is stamped on play_events when a play is launched from
+// a recommendation surface; NULL means the user picked the track manually —
+// those rows are INCLUDED here as the baseline control group the surfaces are
+// judged against (milestone #127: delta-vs-baseline is what makes the numbers
+// actionable). Raw source strings are bucketed into stable surface families in
+// the Go handler; completion_n is carried so family merges can weight
+// avg_completion correctly.
+// Weekly per-source outcome series for the tuning lab's trend view
+// (#1251). Aggregated across ALL users: the tuning knobs are global,
+// so judging a knob turn needs global outcomes — rows carry rates
+// only, no track or user identity. NULL-source (manual) rows are
+// included as the baseline family.
+//
+// taste_hits counts plays whose track's artist has a positive weight
+// in that user's CURRENT taste profile — the "cheap recompute" option:
+// retroactive over the whole window, at the cost of drift (the profile
+// is today's, the play may be weeks old). Good enough to read whether
+// a surface is feeding taste-fitting tracks.
+// $1 window in weeks.
+func (q *Queries) RecommendationWeeklyTrends(ctx context.Context, weeks int32) ([]RecommendationWeeklyTrendsRow, error) {
+	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, recommendationWeeklyTrends, weeks)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var items []RecommendationWeeklyTrendsRow
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var i RecommendationWeeklyTrendsRow
+		if err := rows.Scan(
+			&i.WeekStart,
+			&i.Source,
+			&i.Plays,
+			&i.Skips,
+			&i.CompletionN,
+			&i.AvgCompletion,
+			&i.TasteHits,
+		); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		items = append(items, i)
+	}
+	if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return items, nil
+}

internal/db/dbq/recommendation_tuning.sql.go

@@ -0,0 +1,272 @@
+// Code generated by sqlc. DO NOT EDIT.
+// versions:
+//   sqlc v1.31.1
+// source: recommendation_tuning.sql
+
+package dbq
+
+import (
+	"context"
+)
+
+const getTasteTuning = `-- name: GetTasteTuning :one
+SELECT singleton, half_life_days, engagement_hard_skip, engagement_neutral, engagement_full, updated_at FROM taste_tuning WHERE singleton = true
+`
+
+func (q *Queries) GetTasteTuning(ctx context.Context) (TasteTuning, error) {
+	row := q.db.QueryRow(ctx, getTasteTuning)
+	var i TasteTuning
+	err := row.Scan(
+		&i.Singleton,
+		&i.HalfLifeDays,
+		&i.EngagementHardSkip,
+		&i.EngagementNeutral,
+		&i.EngagementFull,
+		&i.UpdatedAt,
+	)
+	return i, err
+}
+
+const insertTuningAudit = `-- name: InsertTuningAudit :exec
+INSERT INTO recommendation_tuning_audit (scope, action, changes)
+VALUES ($1, $2, $3)
+`
+
+type InsertTuningAuditParams struct {
+	Scope   string
+	Action  string
+	Changes []byte
+}
+
+// changes is a jsonb array of {field, old, new} objects.
+func (q *Queries) InsertTuningAudit(ctx context.Context, arg InsertTuningAuditParams) error {
+	_, err := q.db.Exec(ctx, insertTuningAudit, arg.Scope, arg.Action, arg.Changes)
+	return err
+}
+
+const listTuningAudit = `-- name: ListTuningAudit :many
+SELECT id, changed_at, scope, action, changes
+  FROM recommendation_tuning_audit
+ ORDER BY changed_at DESC, id DESC
+ LIMIT $1
+`
+
+// Newest first; consumed by the metrics trend view (#1251) to annotate
+// knob turns on the timeline.
+func (q *Queries) ListTuningAudit(ctx context.Context, limit int32) ([]RecommendationTuningAudit, error) {
+	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, listTuningAudit, limit)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var items []RecommendationTuningAudit
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var i RecommendationTuningAudit
+		if err := rows.Scan(
+			&i.ID,
+			&i.ChangedAt,
+			&i.Scope,
+			&i.Action,
+			&i.Changes,
+		); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		items = append(items, i)
+	}
+	if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return items, nil
+}
+
+const listWeightProfiles = `-- name: ListWeightProfiles :many
+SELECT profile, base_weight, like_boost, recency_weight, skip_penalty, jitter_magnitude, context_weight, similarity_weight, taste_weight, updated_at FROM recommendation_weight_profiles ORDER BY profile
+`
+
+func (q *Queries) ListWeightProfiles(ctx context.Context) ([]RecommendationWeightProfile, error) {
+	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, listWeightProfiles)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	var items []RecommendationWeightProfile
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var i RecommendationWeightProfile
+		if err := rows.Scan(
+			&i.Profile,
+			&i.BaseWeight,
+			&i.LikeBoost,
+			&i.RecencyWeight,
+			&i.SkipPenalty,
+			&i.JitterMagnitude,
+			&i.ContextWeight,
+			&i.SimilarityWeight,
+			&i.TasteWeight,
+			&i.UpdatedAt,
+		); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		items = append(items, i)
+	}
+	if err := rows.Err(); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return items, nil
+}
+
+const updateTasteTuning = `-- name: UpdateTasteTuning :one
+UPDATE taste_tuning
+   SET half_life_days       = $1,
+       engagement_hard_skip = $2,
+       engagement_neutral   = $3,
+       engagement_full      = $4,
+       updated_at           = now()
+ WHERE singleton = true
+RETURNING singleton, half_life_days, engagement_hard_skip, engagement_neutral, engagement_full, updated_at
+`
+
+type UpdateTasteTuningParams struct {
+	HalfLifeDays       float64
+	EngagementHardSkip float64
+	EngagementNeutral  float64
+	EngagementFull     float64
+}
+
+func (q *Queries) UpdateTasteTuning(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateTasteTuningParams) (TasteTuning, error) {
+	row := q.db.QueryRow(ctx, updateTasteTuning,
+		arg.HalfLifeDays,
+		arg.EngagementHardSkip,
+		arg.EngagementNeutral,
+		arg.EngagementFull,
+	)
+	var i TasteTuning
+	err := row.Scan(
+		&i.Singleton,
+		&i.HalfLifeDays,
+		&i.EngagementHardSkip,
+		&i.EngagementNeutral,
+		&i.EngagementFull,
+		&i.UpdatedAt,
+	)
+	return i, err
+}
+
+const updateWeightProfile = `-- name: UpdateWeightProfile :one
+UPDATE recommendation_weight_profiles
+   SET base_weight       = $2,
+       like_boost        = $3,
+       recency_weight    = $4,
+       skip_penalty      = $5,
+       jitter_magnitude  = $6,
+       context_weight    = $7,
+       similarity_weight = $8,
+       taste_weight      = $9,
+       updated_at        = now()
+ WHERE profile = $1
+RETURNING profile, base_weight, like_boost, recency_weight, skip_penalty, jitter_magnitude, context_weight, similarity_weight, taste_weight, updated_at
+`
+
+type UpdateWeightProfileParams struct {
+	Profile          string
+	BaseWeight       float64
+	LikeBoost        float64
+	RecencyWeight    float64
+	SkipPenalty      float64
+	JitterMagnitude  float64
+	ContextWeight    float64
+	SimilarityWeight float64
+	TasteWeight      float64
+}
+
+func (q *Queries) UpdateWeightProfile(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateWeightProfileParams) (RecommendationWeightProfile, error) {
+	row := q.db.QueryRow(ctx, updateWeightProfile,
+		arg.Profile,
+		arg.BaseWeight,
+		arg.LikeBoost,
+		arg.RecencyWeight,
+		arg.SkipPenalty,
+		arg.JitterMagnitude,
+		arg.ContextWeight,
+		arg.SimilarityWeight,
+		arg.TasteWeight,
+	)
+	var i RecommendationWeightProfile
+	err := row.Scan(
+		&i.Profile,
+		&i.BaseWeight,
+		&i.LikeBoost,
+		&i.RecencyWeight,
+		&i.SkipPenalty,
+		&i.JitterMagnitude,
+		&i.ContextWeight,
+		&i.SimilarityWeight,
+		&i.TasteWeight,
+		&i.UpdatedAt,
+	)
+	return i, err
+}
+
+const upsertTasteTuningDefaults = `-- name: UpsertTasteTuningDefaults :exec
+INSERT INTO taste_tuning (
+    singleton, half_life_days, engagement_hard_skip,
+    engagement_neutral, engagement_full
+) VALUES (true, $1, $2, $3, $4)
+ON CONFLICT (singleton) DO NOTHING
+`
+
+type UpsertTasteTuningDefaultsParams struct {
+	HalfLifeDays       float64
+	EngagementHardSkip float64
+	EngagementNeutral  float64
+	EngagementFull     float64
+}
+
+func (q *Queries) UpsertTasteTuningDefaults(ctx context.Context, arg UpsertTasteTuningDefaultsParams) error {
+	_, err := q.db.Exec(ctx, upsertTasteTuningDefaults,
+		arg.HalfLifeDays,
+		arg.EngagementHardSkip,
+		arg.EngagementNeutral,
+		arg.EngagementFull,
+	)
+	return err
+}
+
+const upsertWeightProfileDefaults = `-- name: UpsertWeightProfileDefaults :exec
+
+INSERT INTO recommendation_weight_profiles (
+    profile, base_weight, like_boost, recency_weight, skip_penalty,
+    jitter_magnitude, context_weight, similarity_weight, taste_weight
+) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9)
+ON CONFLICT (profile) DO NOTHING
+`
+
+type UpsertWeightProfileDefaultsParams struct {
+	Profile          string
+	BaseWeight       float64
+	LikeBoost        float64
+	RecencyWeight    float64
+	SkipPenalty      float64
+	JitterMagnitude  float64
+	ContextWeight    float64
+	SimilarityWeight float64
+	TasteWeight      float64
+}
+
+// Recommendation tuning lab queries (#1250). Seeding happens via the
+// recsettings boot reconcile; shipped defaults live in Go only.
+// Boot reconcile: insert the shipped defaults for a profile if the row
+// doesn't exist yet. Never overwrites operator-tuned values.
+func (q *Queries) UpsertWeightProfileDefaults(ctx context.Context, arg UpsertWeightProfileDefaultsParams) error {
+	_, err := q.db.Exec(ctx, upsertWeightProfileDefaults,
+		arg.Profile,
+		arg.BaseWeight,
+		arg.LikeBoost,
+		arg.RecencyWeight,
+		arg.SkipPenalty,
+		arg.JitterMagnitude,
+		arg.ContextWeight,
+		arg.SimilarityWeight,
+		arg.TasteWeight,
+	)
+	return err
+}

internal/db/dbq/system_mixes.sql.go

@@ -27,12 +27,20 @@ play_counts AS (
       FROM play_events
      WHERE user_id = $1 AND was_skipped = false
      GROUP BY track_id
+),
+skip_counts AS (
+    SELECT track_id, COUNT(*) AS c
+      FROM play_events
+     WHERE user_id = $1 AND was_skipped = true
+     GROUP BY track_id
 )
 SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id
   FROM tracks t
   JOIN affinity_artists aa ON aa.artist_id = t.artist_id
   LEFT JOIN play_counts pc ON pc.track_id = t.id
+  LEFT JOIN skip_counts sc ON sc.track_id = t.id
  WHERE COALESCE(pc.c, 0) <= 2
+   AND COALESCE(sc.c, 0) < 2
    AND NOT EXISTS (
        SELECT 1 FROM lidarr_quarantine q
         WHERE q.user_id = $1 AND q.track_id = t.id
@@ -60,6 +68,11 @@ type ListDeepCutsTracksRow struct {
 // gives per-play variety on top.
 // #419 Deep Cuts: low-play tracks (<=2 plays) from artists the user
 // has liked OR played heavily (>=5 non-skip plays across the artist).
+// Tracks the user has skipped twice or more don't qualify (#1257):
+// eligibility used to count only unskipped plays, so the most actively
+// rejected tracks read as "barely heard" and kept being re-offered.
+// Threshold 2 so a single accidental skip doesn't banish a track;
+// passive-signal only (no dislike UI, rule #101).
 // $1 user_id, $2 date string.
 func (q *Queries) ListDeepCutsTracks(ctx context.Context, arg ListDeepCutsTracksParams) ([]ListDeepCutsTracksRow, error) {
 	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, listDeepCutsTracks, arg.UserID, arg.Column2)
@@ -82,31 +95,49 @@ func (q *Queries) ListDeepCutsTracks(ctx context.Context, arg ListDeepCutsTracks
 }
 
 const listFirstListensTracks = `-- name: ListFirstListensTracks :many
-WITH heard_albums AS (
-    SELECT DISTINCT t.album_id
-      FROM play_events pe JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
-     WHERE pe.user_id = $1
+WITH attempted AS (
+    SELECT DISTINCT pe.track_id
+      FROM play_events pe
+     WHERE pe.user_id = $1 AND pe.duration_played_ms >= 30000
 ),
-played_artists AS (
+album_attempts AS (
+    SELECT t.album_id,
+           COUNT(a.track_id) AS attempted_count,
+           COUNT(*) AS track_count
+      FROM tracks t
+      LEFT JOIN attempted a ON a.track_id = t.id
+     GROUP BY t.album_id
+),
+attempted_artists AS (
     SELECT DISTINCT t.artist_id
-      FROM play_events pe JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
-     WHERE pe.user_id = $1
+      FROM attempted a JOIN tracks t ON t.id = a.track_id
+),
+albums_tiered AS (
+    SELECT aa.album_id,
+           CASE
+             WHEN aa.attempted_count = 0 THEN 1
+             WHEN aa.attempted_count::float / GREATEST(aa.track_count, 1) <= 0.25 THEN 2
+           END AS tier
+      FROM album_attempts aa
 )
-SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id
+SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id, alt.tier::int AS tier
   FROM tracks t
   JOIN albums al ON al.id = t.album_id
- WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM heard_albums h WHERE h.album_id = al.id)
+  JOIN albums_tiered alt ON alt.album_id = al.id
+ WHERE alt.tier IS NOT NULL
+   AND NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM attempted a WHERE a.track_id = t.id)
    AND NOT EXISTS (
        SELECT 1 FROM lidarr_quarantine q
         WHERE q.user_id = $1 AND q.track_id = t.id
    )
  ORDER BY
+   alt.tier,
    (CASE
       WHEN EXISTS (
         SELECT 1 FROM general_likes_artists gla
          WHERE gla.user_id = $1 AND gla.artist_id = al.artist_id
       ) THEN 0
-      WHEN al.artist_id IN (SELECT artist_id FROM played_artists) THEN 1
+      WHEN al.artist_id IN (SELECT artist_id FROM attempted_artists) THEN 1
       ELSE 2
     END),
    al.id, t.disc_number NULLS FIRST, t.track_number NULLS FIRST
@@ -117,12 +148,25 @@ type ListFirstListensTracksRow struct {
 	ID       pgtype.UUID
 	AlbumID  pgtype.UUID
 	ArtistID pgtype.UUID
+	Tier     int32
 }
 
-// #423 First Listens: albums the user has never played any track of.
-// Tiered: liked-artist albums first, then played-artist albums, then
-// the rest — album-coherent within each tier. Not diversity-capped
-// (whole-album discovery). $1 user_id.
+// #423 First Listens: songs the user has never heard or even
+// attempted. "Attempted" is track-level with a >=30s listen threshold
+// (#1268, operator decision 2026-07-03) — the old version disqualified
+// a whole album on ANY play_event, so a 2-second accidental brush
+// banished it permanently.
+//
+//	tier 1  the exact desire: albums with ZERO attempted tracks
+//	tier 2  step back: barely-attempted albums (<=25% of tracks
+//	        reached 30s) — brushed, never explored. The already-
+//	        attempted tracks themselves are excluded; they're not
+//	        first listens.
+//
+// Within each tier, affinity-ordered as before: liked artist, then
+// attempted-played artist (>=30s — skip-only contact isn't trust),
+// then the rest; album-coherent. The tier lands on
+// playlist_tracks.pick_kind via the producer. $1 user_id.
 func (q *Queries) ListFirstListensTracks(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID) ([]ListFirstListensTracksRow, error) {
 	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, listFirstListensTracks, userID)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -132,7 +176,12 @@ func (q *Queries) ListFirstListensTracks(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID
 	var items []ListFirstListensTracksRow
 	for rows.Next() {
 		var i ListFirstListensTracksRow
-		if err := rows.Scan(&i.ID, &i.AlbumID, &i.ArtistID); err != nil {
+		if err := rows.Scan(
+			&i.ID,
+			&i.AlbumID,
+			&i.ArtistID,
+			&i.Tier,
+		); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		items = append(items, i)
@@ -144,39 +193,76 @@ func (q *Queries) ListFirstListensTracks(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID
 }
 
 const listNewForYouTracks = `-- name: ListNewForYouTracks :many
-WITH affinity_artists AS (
-    SELECT artist_id FROM general_likes_artists WHERE user_id = $1
+WITH attempted AS (
+    SELECT DISTINCT pe.track_id
+      FROM play_events pe
+     WHERE pe.user_id = $1 AND pe.duration_played_ms >= 30000
+),
+consumed_albums AS (
+    SELECT DISTINCT t.album_id
+      FROM attempted a JOIN tracks t ON t.id = a.track_id
+),
+affinity_artists AS (
+    SELECT gla.artist_id FROM general_likes_artists gla WHERE gla.user_id = $1
     UNION
     SELECT t.artist_id
-      FROM play_events pe JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
-     WHERE pe.user_id = $1 AND pe.was_skipped = false
+      FROM attempted a JOIN tracks t ON t.id = a.track_id
      GROUP BY t.artist_id
     HAVING COUNT(*) >= 3
+),
+albums_tiered AS (
+    SELECT al.id AS album_id, al.created_at,
+           CASE
+             WHEN al.created_at >= now() - interval '30 days'
+                  AND al.artist_id IN (SELECT artist_id FROM affinity_artists) THEN 1
+             WHEN al.artist_id IN (SELECT artist_id FROM affinity_artists) THEN 2
+             ELSE 3
+           END AS tier
+      FROM albums al
+     WHERE al.created_at >= now() - interval '90 days'
+       AND al.id NOT IN (SELECT album_id FROM consumed_albums)
 )
-SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id
+SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id, alt.tier::int AS tier
   FROM tracks t
-  JOIN albums al ON al.id = t.album_id
-  JOIN affinity_artists aa ON aa.artist_id = al.artist_id
- WHERE al.created_at >= now() - interval '30 days'
-   AND NOT EXISTS (
+  JOIN albums_tiered alt ON alt.album_id = t.album_id
+ WHERE NOT EXISTS (
        SELECT 1 FROM lidarr_quarantine q
         WHERE q.user_id = $1 AND q.track_id = t.id
    )
- ORDER BY al.created_at DESC, t.disc_number NULLS FIRST, t.track_number NULLS FIRST
- LIMIT 200
+ ORDER BY alt.tier, alt.created_at DESC, t.album_id,
+          t.disc_number NULLS FIRST, t.track_number NULLS FIRST
+ LIMIT 300
 `
 
 type ListNewForYouTracksRow struct {
 	ID       pgtype.UUID
 	AlbumID  pgtype.UUID
 	ArtistID pgtype.UUID
+	Tier     int32
 }
 
-// #421 New for you: tracks from albums added in the last 30 days
-// whose artist the user has liked OR played (>=3 non-skip). Album-
-// coherent (newest album first, then disc/track) — the producer does
-// NOT diversity-cap these; they're meant as whole-album discovery.
-// $1 user_id.
+// #421 New for you, tiered per project rule #131 (#1267). The old
+// single hard rule (added <30d AND direct affinity) had two failure
+// modes with one root: no notion of consumption — the album you
+// devoured in week one crowded the mix for three more weeks, and
+// after a quiet month nothing qualified at all.
+//
+// "Consumed" = any track attempted for >=30s (the First Listens
+// threshold, #1268): once you've meaningfully engaged, the album is
+// no longer news. Applies to every tier — played albums leave the
+// mix the next build.
+//
+//	tier 1  the exact desire: unconsumed albums added <30d by
+//	        direct-affinity artists (liked, or >=3 attempted plays)
+//	tier 2  step back a little: unconsumed affinity albums from the
+//	        wider 30-90d window — added while you weren't looking
+//	tier 3  step back more: any unconsumed album added <90d
+//	        regardless of affinity, newest first
+//
+// Album-coherent within tiers (newest album first, then disc/track);
+// the producer fills top-down and rotates within tier blocks. The
+// tier lands on playlist_tracks.pick_kind so metrics can price what
+// each step-back trades away. $1 user_id.
 func (q *Queries) ListNewForYouTracks(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID) ([]ListNewForYouTracksRow, error) {
 	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, listNewForYouTracks, userID)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -186,7 +272,12 @@ func (q *Queries) ListNewForYouTracks(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID) (
 	var items []ListNewForYouTracksRow
 	for rows.Next() {
 		var i ListNewForYouTracksRow
-		if err := rows.Scan(&i.ID, &i.AlbumID, &i.ArtistID); err != nil {
+		if err := rows.Scan(
+			&i.ID,
+			&i.AlbumID,
+			&i.ArtistID,
+			&i.Tier,
+		); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		items = append(items, i)
@@ -203,7 +294,10 @@ WITH windowed AS (
       FROM play_events
      WHERE user_id = $1 AND was_skipped = false
        AND started_at < now() - interval '30 days'
-       AND ABS(EXTRACT(DOY FROM started_at) - EXTRACT(DOY FROM now())) <= 10
+       AND LEAST(
+           ABS(EXTRACT(DOY FROM started_at) - EXTRACT(DOY FROM $2::date)),
+           365 - ABS(EXTRACT(DOY FROM started_at) - EXTRACT(DOY FROM $2::date))
+       ) <= 10
      GROUP BY track_id
 )
 SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id
@@ -235,6 +329,13 @@ type ListOnThisDayTracksRow struct {
 // and window ±7→±10 so it surfaces on a months-old library instead
 // of needing a full year of history; still skips cleanly (no rows →
 // no playlist) when there's no qualifying history yet.
+// Day-of-year distance is circular (#1256): plain ABS made Dec 28 vs
+// Jan 3 read as 359 days apart, silently gutting the window for ~3
+// weeks around every New Year — precisely when holiday nostalgia is
+// the point. LEAST(d, 365-d) wraps the boundary; leap-year drift of
+// ±1 is absorbed by the ±10 window. The build date ($2, already here
+// for the md5 rotation) anchors "today" instead of now() so the
+// window is testable and consistent with the mix's daily determinism.
 // $1 user_id, $2 date string.
 func (q *Queries) ListOnThisDayTracks(ctx context.Context, arg ListOnThisDayTracksParams) ([]ListOnThisDayTracksRow, error) {
 	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, listOnThisDayTracks, arg.UserID, arg.Column2)
@@ -262,37 +363,32 @@ WITH stats AS (
       FROM play_events pe
      WHERE pe.user_id = $1 AND pe.was_skipped = false
      GROUP BY pe.track_id
-),
-deep AS (
-    SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id, s.c, 0 AS tier
-      FROM tracks t
-      JOIN stats s ON s.track_id = t.id
-     WHERE s.c >= 5
-       AND s.last_at <= now() - interval '6 months'
-       AND NOT EXISTS (
-           SELECT 1 FROM lidarr_quarantine q
-            WHERE q.user_id = $1 AND q.track_id = t.id
-       )
-),
-shallow AS (
-    SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id, s.c, 1 AS tier
-      FROM tracks t
-      JOIN stats s ON s.track_id = t.id
-     WHERE s.c >= 5
-       AND s.last_at <= now() - interval '30 days'
-       AND NOT EXISTS (
-           SELECT 1 FROM lidarr_quarantine q
-            WHERE q.user_id = $1 AND q.track_id = t.id
-       )
 )
-SELECT id, album_id, artist_id
-  FROM (
-    SELECT id, album_id, artist_id, c, tier FROM deep
-    UNION ALL
-    SELECT id, album_id, artist_id, c, tier FROM shallow
-     WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM deep)
-  ) u
- ORDER BY tier, c DESC, id
+SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id
+  FROM tracks t
+  JOIN stats s ON s.track_id = t.id
+ WHERE s.c >= 3
+   AND s.last_at <= now() - interval '30 days'
+   AND NOT EXISTS (
+       SELECT 1 FROM lidarr_quarantine q
+        WHERE q.user_id = $1 AND q.track_id = t.id
+   )
+   -- Declined-resurfacing cooldown (#1258): a skip on a
+   -- rediscover-sourced play is the user explicitly saying "I've moved
+   -- on" to the exact invitation this mix extends — such tracks sit
+   -- out ~90 days instead of re-qualifying the next day. Passive
+   -- signal only (rule #101).
+   AND NOT EXISTS (
+       SELECT 1 FROM play_events rp
+        WHERE rp.user_id = $1
+          AND rp.track_id = t.id
+          AND rp.source = 'rediscover'
+          AND rp.was_skipped = true
+          AND rp.started_at > now() - interval '90 days'
+   )
+ ORDER BY (s.last_at <= now() - interval '6 months') DESC,
+          (s.c >= 5) DESC,
+          s.c DESC, t.id
  LIMIT 200
 `
 
@@ -302,13 +398,17 @@ type ListRediscoverTracksRow struct {
 	ArtistID pgtype.UUID
 }
 
-// #420 Rediscover: tracks the user played a lot (>=5 non-skip) but
-// has drifted away from. Tiered so a young library still gets a mix:
-//
-//	tier 0  not played in the last 6 months (true rediscovery)
-//	tier 1  (only if tier 0 empty) not played in the last 30 days
-//
-// Ordered by historical affection. $1 user_id.
+// #420 Rediscover: tracks the user played a lot but has drifted away
+// from. One blended pool (issue #1246: the old two-tier UNION was
+// all-or-nothing — a single ">=6 months cold" row suppressed the whole
+// ">=30 days" tier, which is how a one-song playlist shipped; the 6mo
+// tier was also a strict subset of the 30d tier). Eligibility is >=3
+// non-skip plays and >=30 days cold; the bar sits at 3 rather than 5
+// so a weeks-old library still fields a pool — on young histories the
+// >=5-play tracks are precisely the ones still in rotation. Ordering
+// prefers true rediscoveries (>=6 months cold), then strong affection
+// (>=5 plays), then raw play count; the producer's minimum floor
+// decides whether the pool is big enough to ship at all. $1 user_id.
 func (q *Queries) ListRediscoverTracks(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID) ([]ListRediscoverTracksRow, error) {
 	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, listRediscoverTracks, userID)
 	if err != nil {

internal/db/dbq/system_playlists.sql.go

@@ -290,9 +290,13 @@ func (q *Queries) ListPlaylistsByUserAndKind(ctx context.Context, arg ListPlayli
 }
 
 const pickSeedArtists = `-- name: PickSeedArtists :many
-WITH plays AS (
+WITH liked AS (
+    SELECT gla.artist_id FROM general_likes_artists gla WHERE gla.user_id = $1
+),
+recent7 AS (
     SELECT t.artist_id,
-           COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE pe.was_skipped = false) AS play_count
+           COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE pe.was_skipped = false) AS play_count,
+           0 AS tier
       FROM play_events pe
       JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
      WHERE pe.user_id = $1
@@ -300,27 +304,79 @@ WITH plays AS (
        AND t.artist_id IS NOT NULL
      GROUP BY t.artist_id
 ),
-liked AS (
-    SELECT artist_id FROM general_likes_artists WHERE user_id = $1
+recent30 AS (
+    SELECT t.artist_id,
+           COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE pe.was_skipped = false) AS play_count,
+           1 AS tier
+      FROM play_events pe
+      JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
+     WHERE pe.user_id = $1
+       AND pe.started_at > now() - INTERVAL '30 days'
+       AND t.artist_id IS NOT NULL
+     GROUP BY t.artist_id
+),
+alltime AS (
+    SELECT t.artist_id,
+           COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE pe.was_skipped = false) AS play_count,
+           2 AS tier
+      FROM play_events pe
+      JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
+     WHERE pe.user_id = $1
+       AND t.artist_id IS NOT NULL
+     GROUP BY t.artist_id
+),
+likedonly AS (
+    SELECT l.artist_id, 0::bigint AS play_count, 3 AS tier
+      FROM liked l
+),
+chosen AS (
+    SELECT artist_id, play_count, tier FROM recent7
+    UNION ALL
+    SELECT artist_id, play_count, tier FROM recent30
+     WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM recent7)
+    UNION ALL
+    SELECT artist_id, play_count, tier FROM alltime
+     WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM recent7)
+       AND NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM recent30)
+    UNION ALL
+    SELECT artist_id, play_count, tier FROM likedonly
+     WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM recent7)
+       AND NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM recent30)
+       AND NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM alltime)
 )
-SELECT p.artist_id,
-       (p.play_count + CASE WHEN l.artist_id IS NOT NULL THEN 5 ELSE 0 END)::bigint AS score
-  FROM plays p
-  LEFT JOIN liked l ON l.artist_id = p.artist_id
- ORDER BY score DESC, p.artist_id
+SELECT c.artist_id,
+       (c.play_count + CASE WHEN l.artist_id IS NOT NULL THEN 5 ELSE 0 END)::bigint AS score,
+       c.tier::int AS tier
+  FROM chosen c
+  LEFT JOIN liked l ON l.artist_id = c.artist_id
+ ORDER BY score DESC, c.artist_id
  LIMIT 5
 `
 
 type PickSeedArtistsRow struct {
 	ArtistID pgtype.UUID
 	Score    int64
+	Tier     int32
 }
 
-// Top-5 most-engaged distinct artist candidates in the user's last 7
-// days. The Go-side picker (pickSeedArtistsForDay) shuffles these
-// daily-deterministically and takes the first 3 so the set of
-// "Songs like X" mixes rotates day-to-day.
-// Score = unskipped-play count + 5 if user has liked the artist.
+// Top-5 most-engaged distinct artist candidates, tiered so the
+// "Songs like X" mixes never silently vanish (#1255): the old hard
+// 7-day window emptied the seed pool after a quiet week, and the
+// daily atomic-replace build then deleted every existing mix until
+// the user played something again. Same fallback shape as
+// PickTopPlayedTracksForUser (For You's seeds):
+//
+//	tier 0  engagement in the last 7 days
+//	tier 1  (only if tier 0 empty) last 30 days
+//	tier 2  (only if tiers 0+1 empty) all-time
+//	tier 3  (only if 0-2 empty) liked artists with no play history
+//
+// All returned rows share one tier; produceSeedMixes maps it onto the
+// rule-#131 pick-kind ladder and stamps the built tracks, so metrics
+// can compare mixes seeded from fresh vs stale engagement.
+// Score = unskipped-play count + 5 if user has liked the artist. The
+// Go-side picker (pickSeedArtistsForDay) shuffles the 5
+// daily-deterministically and takes 3 so the mix set rotates.
 func (q *Queries) PickSeedArtists(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID) ([]PickSeedArtistsRow, error) {
 	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, pickSeedArtists, userID)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -330,7 +386,7 @@ func (q *Queries) PickSeedArtists(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID) ([]Pi
 	var items []PickSeedArtistsRow
 	for rows.Next() {
 		var i PickSeedArtistsRow
-		if err := rows.Scan(&i.ArtistID, &i.Score); err != nil {
+		if err := rows.Scan(&i.ArtistID, &i.Score, &i.Tier); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		items = append(items, i)
@@ -457,10 +513,10 @@ SELECT id
 //	tier 2  (only if tiers 0+1 empty) liked tracks
 //
 // Returns up to 5 ids; tie-break by track_id for determinism. The
-// Go-side picker (pickForYouSeedForDay) rotates one per day via
-// userIDHash. Widened from a hard 7-day window, which made For-You
-// disappear after a week of not listening and never recover on a
-// self-hosted library with sparse history.
+// Go-side picker (pickDailySeeds) draws the day's seeds from these.
+// Widened from a hard 7-day window, which made For-You disappear
+// after a week of not listening and never recover on a self-hosted
+// library with sparse history.
 func (q *Queries) PickTopPlayedTracksForUser(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID) ([]pgtype.UUID, error) {
 	rows, err := q.db.Query(ctx, pickTopPlayedTracksForUser, userID)
 	if err != nil {

internal/db/dbq/users.sql.go

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func (q *Queries) CountUsers(ctx context.Context) (int64, error) {
 const createUser = `-- name: CreateUser :one
 INSERT INTO users (username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, display_name)
 VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5)
-RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at
+RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at, debug_mode_enabled
 `
 
 type CreateUserParams struct {
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ func (q *Queries) CreateUser(ctx context.Context, arg CreateUserParams) (User, e
 		&i.Email,
 		&i.Timezone,
 		&i.TimezoneUpdatedAt,
+		&i.DebugModeEnabled,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ func (q *Queries) CreateUser(ctx context.Context, arg CreateUserParams) (User, e
 const createUserAdmin = `-- name: CreateUserAdmin :one
 INSERT INTO users (username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, display_name)
 VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5)
-RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at
+RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at, debug_mode_enabled
 `
 
 type CreateUserAdminParams struct {
@@ -134,6 +135,7 @@ func (q *Queries) CreateUserAdmin(ctx context.Context, arg CreateUserAdminParams
 		&i.Email,
 		&i.Timezone,
 		&i.TimezoneUpdatedAt,
+		&i.DebugModeEnabled,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
@@ -145,7 +147,7 @@ VALUES (
     (SELECT NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM users)),
     $4
 )
-RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at
+RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at, debug_mode_enabled
 `
 
 type CreateUserFirstAdminRaceParams struct {
@@ -191,6 +193,7 @@ func (q *Queries) CreateUserFirstAdminRace(ctx context.Context, arg CreateUserFi
 		&i.Email,
 		&i.Timezone,
 		&i.TimezoneUpdatedAt,
+		&i.DebugModeEnabled,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
@@ -237,7 +240,7 @@ func (q *Queries) GetListenBrainzConfig(ctx context.Context, id pgtype.UUID) (Ge
 }
 
 const getUserByAPIToken = `-- name: GetUserByAPIToken :one
-SELECT id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at FROM users WHERE api_token = $1
+SELECT id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at, debug_mode_enabled FROM users WHERE api_token = $1
 `
 
 func (q *Queries) GetUserByAPIToken(ctx context.Context, apiToken string) (User, error) {
@@ -258,12 +261,13 @@ func (q *Queries) GetUserByAPIToken(ctx context.Context, apiToken string) (User,
 		&i.Email,
 		&i.Timezone,
 		&i.TimezoneUpdatedAt,
+		&i.DebugModeEnabled,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
 
 const getUserByEmail = `-- name: GetUserByEmail :one
-SELECT id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at FROM users WHERE lower(email) = lower($1)
+SELECT id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at, debug_mode_enabled FROM users WHERE lower(email) = lower($1)
 `
 
 // Used by forgot-password lookup. Lowercase comparison both sides
@@ -287,12 +291,13 @@ func (q *Queries) GetUserByEmail(ctx context.Context, lower string) (User, error
 		&i.Email,
 		&i.Timezone,
 		&i.TimezoneUpdatedAt,
+		&i.DebugModeEnabled,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
 
 const getUserByID = `-- name: GetUserByID :one
-SELECT id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at FROM users WHERE id = $1
+SELECT id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at, debug_mode_enabled FROM users WHERE id = $1
 `
 
 func (q *Queries) GetUserByID(ctx context.Context, id pgtype.UUID) (User, error) {
@@ -313,12 +318,13 @@ func (q *Queries) GetUserByID(ctx context.Context, id pgtype.UUID) (User, error)
 		&i.Email,
 		&i.Timezone,
 		&i.TimezoneUpdatedAt,
+		&i.DebugModeEnabled,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
 
 const getUserByUsername = `-- name: GetUserByUsername :one
-SELECT id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at FROM users WHERE username = $1
+SELECT id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at, debug_mode_enabled FROM users WHERE username = $1
 `
 
 func (q *Queries) GetUserByUsername(ctx context.Context, username string) (User, error) {
@@ -339,6 +345,7 @@ func (q *Queries) GetUserByUsername(ctx context.Context, username string) (User,
 		&i.Email,
 		&i.Timezone,
 		&i.TimezoneUpdatedAt,
+		&i.DebugModeEnabled,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
@@ -382,7 +389,8 @@ func (q *Queries) ListActiveUsersWithTimezones(ctx context.Context) ([]ListActiv
 }
 
 const listUsers = `-- name: ListUsers :many
-SELECT id, username, display_name, is_admin, auto_approve_requests, created_at
+SELECT id, username, display_name, is_admin, auto_approve_requests,
+       debug_mode_enabled, created_at
   FROM users
  ORDER BY created_at DESC
 `
@@ -393,6 +401,7 @@ type ListUsersRow struct {
 	DisplayName         *string
 	IsAdmin             bool
 	AutoApproveRequests bool
+	DebugModeEnabled    bool
 	CreatedAt           pgtype.Timestamptz
 }
 
@@ -412,6 +421,7 @@ func (q *Queries) ListUsers(ctx context.Context) ([]ListUsersRow, error) {
 			&i.DisplayName,
 			&i.IsAdmin,
 			&i.AutoApproveRequests,
+			&i.DebugModeEnabled,
 			&i.CreatedAt,
 		); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -426,7 +436,7 @@ func (q *Queries) ListUsers(ctx context.Context) ([]ListUsersRow, error) {
 
 const regenerateApiToken = `-- name: RegenerateApiToken :one
 UPDATE users SET api_token = $2 WHERE id = $1
-RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at
+RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at, debug_mode_enabled
 `
 
 type RegenerateApiTokenParams struct {
@@ -454,6 +464,7 @@ func (q *Queries) RegenerateApiToken(ctx context.Context, arg RegenerateApiToken
 		&i.Email,
 		&i.Timezone,
 		&i.TimezoneUpdatedAt,
+		&i.DebugModeEnabled,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
@@ -478,6 +489,44 @@ func (q *Queries) ResetUserPassword(ctx context.Context, arg ResetUserPasswordPa
 	return err
 }
 
+const setDebugMode = `-- name: SetDebugMode :one
+UPDATE users
+   SET debug_mode_enabled = $2
+ WHERE id = $1
+RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at, debug_mode_enabled
+`
+
+type SetDebugModeParams struct {
+	ID               pgtype.UUID
+	DebugModeEnabled bool
+}
+
+// Toggle the per-account diagnostics/debug-reporting opt-in. Admin-driven
+// from /admin (flip remotely while a bug is live) or self-driven OFF from
+// the client. Returns the updated row so the handler can echo it.
+func (q *Queries) SetDebugMode(ctx context.Context, arg SetDebugModeParams) (User, error) {
+	row := q.db.QueryRow(ctx, setDebugMode, arg.ID, arg.DebugModeEnabled)
+	var i User
+	err := row.Scan(
+		&i.ID,
+		&i.Username,
+		&i.PasswordHash,
+		&i.ApiToken,
+		&i.IsAdmin,
+		&i.CreatedAt,
+		&i.SubsonicPassword,
+		&i.ListenbrainzToken,
+		&i.ListenbrainzEnabled,
+		&i.DisplayName,
+		&i.AutoApproveRequests,
+		&i.Email,
+		&i.Timezone,
+		&i.TimezoneUpdatedAt,
+		&i.DebugModeEnabled,
+	)
+	return i, err
+}
+
 const setListenBrainzEnabled = `-- name: SetListenBrainzEnabled :exec
 UPDATE users
 SET listenbrainz_enabled = $2
@@ -531,7 +580,7 @@ const updateUserAdmin = `-- name: UpdateUserAdmin :one
 UPDATE users
    SET is_admin = $2
  WHERE id = $1
-RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at
+RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at, debug_mode_enabled
 `
 
 type UpdateUserAdminParams struct {
@@ -559,6 +608,7 @@ func (q *Queries) UpdateUserAdmin(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateUserAdminParams
 		&i.Email,
 		&i.Timezone,
 		&i.TimezoneUpdatedAt,
+		&i.DebugModeEnabled,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
@@ -567,7 +617,7 @@ const updateUserAutoApprove = `-- name: UpdateUserAutoApprove :one
 UPDATE users
    SET auto_approve_requests = $2
  WHERE id = $1
-RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at
+RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at, debug_mode_enabled
 `
 
 type UpdateUserAutoApproveParams struct {
@@ -594,6 +644,7 @@ func (q *Queries) UpdateUserAutoApprove(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateUserAutoA
 		&i.Email,
 		&i.Timezone,
 		&i.TimezoneUpdatedAt,
+		&i.DebugModeEnabled,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }
@@ -603,7 +654,7 @@ UPDATE users
    SET display_name = $2,
        email        = $3
  WHERE id = $1
-RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at
+RETURNING id, username, password_hash, api_token, is_admin, created_at, subsonic_password, listenbrainz_token, listenbrainz_enabled, display_name, auto_approve_requests, email, timezone, timezone_updated_at, debug_mode_enabled
 `
 
 type UpdateUserProfileParams struct {
@@ -632,6 +683,7 @@ func (q *Queries) UpdateUserProfile(ctx context.Context, arg UpdateUserProfilePa
 		&i.Email,
 		&i.Timezone,
 		&i.TimezoneUpdatedAt,
+		&i.DebugModeEnabled,
 	)
 	return i, err
 }

internal/db/migrations/0036_diagnostics.down.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+ALTER TABLE users DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS debug_mode_enabled;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS diagnostic_events;

internal/db/migrations/0036_diagnostics.up.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+-- Device diagnostics / debug-reporting subsystem (M9).
+--
+-- When an account has users.debug_mode_enabled = true, that account's
+-- client(s) stream a timeseries of device state here: connectivity +
+-- server-health transitions (roaming / poor-data recovery), UPnP/Sonos
+-- sync events (locked-phone desync), and power/lifecycle state (Doze /
+-- battery-optimization, the prime suspect for the desync). The admin
+-- /admin/diagnostics view filters by account + device + time window and
+-- exports the slice as JSON for offline analysis.
+--
+-- `kind` is a COARSE category gated by a CHECK whitelist; the finer
+-- event discriminator + all event-specific fields live in the `payload`
+-- jsonb. This keeps the enum small and stable so new event variants
+-- don't require a migration (per the enum-CHECK-whitelist rule, only a
+-- new *category* would). If you add a category here, mirror it in the
+-- handler whitelist in internal/api/diagnostics.go.
+--
+-- Two timestamps on purpose: occurred_at is the client device clock
+-- (when the event happened on the phone — may be skewed/wrong, e.g. in
+-- a dead zone), received_at is the server clock at ingest. Retention
+-- pruning is keyed on received_at so a bad client clock can't keep rows
+-- alive forever.
+
+CREATE TABLE diagnostic_events (
+    id          uuid PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT gen_random_uuid(),
+    user_id     uuid NOT NULL REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+    client_id   text NOT NULL,
+    app_version text,
+    os_version  text,
+    kind        text NOT NULL,
+    payload     jsonb NOT NULL DEFAULT '{}'::jsonb,
+    occurred_at timestamptz NOT NULL,
+    received_at timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
+    CONSTRAINT diagnostic_events_kind_check
+        CHECK (kind IN (
+            'connectivity', 'upnp_sync', 'power', 'lifecycle',
+            'heartbeat', 'http'
+        ))
+);
+
+-- Admin reads filter by account then device, ordered newest-first.
+CREATE INDEX idx_diagnostic_events_user
+    ON diagnostic_events (user_id, occurred_at DESC);
+CREATE INDEX idx_diagnostic_events_client
+    ON diagnostic_events (client_id, occurred_at DESC);
+-- Retention pruner deletes by server-clock age.
+CREATE INDEX idx_diagnostic_events_received
+    ON diagnostic_events (received_at);
+
+-- Per-account opt-in for diagnostics reporting. Admin-set primarily
+-- (flip remotely while a bug is live); the client also exposes a local
+-- OFF switch. Default false: no account reports until explicitly enabled.
+ALTER TABLE users
+    ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS debug_mode_enabled boolean NOT NULL DEFAULT false;

internal/db/migrations/0037_diagnostics_playback_kind.down.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+-- Drop rows using the new value first so they don't violate the restored
+-- (narrower) constraint, then revert the whitelist.
+DELETE FROM diagnostic_events WHERE kind = 'playback';
+ALTER TABLE diagnostic_events DROP CONSTRAINT diagnostic_events_kind_check;
+ALTER TABLE diagnostic_events ADD CONSTRAINT diagnostic_events_kind_check
+    CHECK (kind IN (
+        'connectivity', 'upnp_sync', 'power', 'lifecycle',
+        'heartbeat', 'http'
+    ));

internal/db/migrations/0037_diagnostics_playback_kind.up.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+-- Add 'playback' to the diagnostic_events kind whitelist (M9 follow-up).
+--
+-- `route` and `player_state` events fire for EVERY output route (phone
+-- speaker, Bluetooth, UPnP/Sonos), so bucketing them under 'upnp_sync'
+-- was misleading — an operator on Bluetooth earbuds saw "upnp_sync"
+-- rows. 'upnp_sync' now means genuinely UPnP/Sonos-specific signal
+-- (drops, and future resync/desync); general playback + route telemetry
+-- moves to the new 'playback' kind.
+--
+-- Per the enum-CHECK-whitelist rule, the new value lands by dropping and
+-- re-adding the constraint in the same change. Existing rows tagged
+-- 'upnp_sync' stay as-is (debug telemetry on a 30-day retention).
+
+ALTER TABLE diagnostic_events DROP CONSTRAINT diagnostic_events_kind_check;
+ALTER TABLE diagnostic_events ADD CONSTRAINT diagnostic_events_kind_check
+    CHECK (kind IN (
+        'connectivity', 'upnp_sync', 'power', 'lifecycle',
+        'heartbeat', 'http', 'playback'
+    ));

internal/db/migrations/0038_for_you_pick_kind.down.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+ALTER TABLE play_events DROP COLUMN pick_kind;
+ALTER TABLE playlist_tracks DROP COLUMN pick_kind;

internal/db/migrations/0038_for_you_pick_kind.up.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+-- For You exploration attribution (milestone #127 step 2, Scribe #1249).
+--
+-- For You is deliberately composed of two populations: a head of
+-- top-scored similarity matches ("taste" picks) and a tail sampled from
+-- deeper in the candidate ranking ("fresh" picks — the freshness
+-- injection). Until now the metrics could only judge For You as one
+-- blob, so a high skip rate couldn't be read as "the taste engine is
+-- missing" vs "the freshness tax is too high".
+--
+-- Two denormalized columns, both nullable:
+--
+-- 1. playlist_tracks.pick_kind — stamped by the system-playlist builder
+--    at snapshot build time. NULL for manual playlists and for system
+--    variants that don't split (Discover, Songs like X, discovery
+--    mixes). System snapshots are atomically replaced daily, so the
+--    column never goes stale within a snapshot.
+--
+-- 2. play_events.pick_kind — stamped at play-ingestion time by looking
+--    the track up in the user's CURRENT For You snapshot. Attribution
+--    must be frozen at play time: For You rebuilds daily, so a 30-day
+--    metrics window spans ~30 snapshots and a join-at-read against the
+--    live snapshot would misattribute nearly everything. Plays that
+--    predate this feature (or whose track already rotated out, e.g. a
+--    late offline replay) stay NULL → reported as unattributed.
+
+ALTER TABLE playlist_tracks
+    ADD COLUMN pick_kind text
+    CONSTRAINT playlist_tracks_pick_kind_check
+        CHECK (pick_kind IN ('taste', 'fresh'));
+
+ALTER TABLE play_events
+    ADD COLUMN pick_kind text
+    CONSTRAINT play_events_pick_kind_check
+        CHECK (pick_kind IN ('taste', 'fresh'));

internal/db/migrations/0039_pick_kind_vocabulary.down.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+-- Rows stamped with the widened vocabulary must be cleared before the
+-- narrow CHECK can be re-added; NULL reads as "unattributed", which is
+-- the honest downgrade.
+UPDATE play_events SET pick_kind = NULL
+    WHERE pick_kind NOT IN ('taste', 'fresh');
+UPDATE playlist_tracks SET pick_kind = NULL
+    WHERE pick_kind NOT IN ('taste', 'fresh');
+
+ALTER TABLE play_events
+    DROP CONSTRAINT play_events_pick_kind_check;
+ALTER TABLE play_events
+    ADD CONSTRAINT play_events_pick_kind_check
+        CHECK (pick_kind IN ('taste', 'fresh'));
+
+ALTER TABLE playlist_tracks
+    DROP CONSTRAINT playlist_tracks_pick_kind_check;
+ALTER TABLE playlist_tracks
+    ADD CONSTRAINT playlist_tracks_pick_kind_check
+        CHECK (pick_kind IN ('taste', 'fresh'));

internal/db/migrations/0039_pick_kind_vocabulary.up.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+-- Provenance as standard (milestone #127, Scribe #1270).
+--
+-- #1249 introduced pick_kind as a For You one-off ('taste'/'fresh').
+-- The mechanism — stamp WHY a track is in the snapshot at build time,
+-- freeze it onto the play at ingestion, break it down in metrics — is
+-- now the standard for every system mix, so the CHECK vocabulary
+-- widens to cover:
+--
+--   taste / fresh          For You head vs freshness-injection tail
+--   dormant / cross_user / random
+--                          Discover's three candidate buckets — makes
+--                          the 40/30/30 allocation measurable instead
+--                          of a guess
+--   tier1 / tier2 / tier3  the tiered-eligibility ladder (project rule
+--                          #131): tier 1 pins the mix's exact desire,
+--                          each higher tier steps back a little. Tier
+--                          provenance is how we measure what the
+--                          step-back trades away.
+--
+-- Postgres CHECK whitelists can't be altered in place: DROP + re-ADD
+-- with the expanded list, in the same migration.
+
+ALTER TABLE playlist_tracks
+    DROP CONSTRAINT playlist_tracks_pick_kind_check;
+ALTER TABLE playlist_tracks
+    ADD CONSTRAINT playlist_tracks_pick_kind_check
+        CHECK (pick_kind IN (
+            'taste', 'fresh',
+            'dormant', 'cross_user', 'random',
+            'tier1', 'tier2', 'tier3'
+        ));
+
+ALTER TABLE play_events
+    DROP CONSTRAINT play_events_pick_kind_check;
+ALTER TABLE play_events
+    ADD CONSTRAINT play_events_pick_kind_check
+        CHECK (pick_kind IN (
+            'taste', 'fresh',
+            'dormant', 'cross_user', 'random',
+            'tier1', 'tier2', 'tier3'
+        ));

internal/db/migrations/0040_recommendation_tuning.down.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+DROP TABLE recommendation_tuning_audit;
+DROP TABLE taste_tuning;
+DROP TABLE recommendation_weight_profiles;

internal/db/migrations/0040_recommendation_tuning.up.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+-- Recommendation tuning lab (milestone #127, Scribe #1250).
+--
+-- The scoring weights move out of YAML (radio profile) and out of the
+-- systemMixWeights hard-code (daily_mix profile) into DB-backed
+-- settings with live effect — the defaults-discovery lab (decision
+-- #1247): the operator turns knobs here to FIND good values, which
+-- then get baked into shipped defaults; end users and other operators
+-- should never need this card.
+--
+-- Rows are seeded by the recsettings service's boot reconcile (the
+-- coverart SettingsService pattern), not by this migration, so shipped
+-- defaults live in exactly one place (Go).
+
+CREATE TABLE recommendation_weight_profiles (
+    profile           text PRIMARY KEY
+        CONSTRAINT recommendation_weight_profiles_profile_check
+        CHECK (profile IN ('radio', 'daily_mix')),
+    base_weight       double precision NOT NULL,
+    like_boost        double precision NOT NULL,
+    recency_weight    double precision NOT NULL,
+    skip_penalty      double precision NOT NULL,
+    jitter_magnitude  double precision NOT NULL,
+    context_weight    double precision NOT NULL,
+    similarity_weight double precision NOT NULL,
+    taste_weight      double precision NOT NULL,
+    updated_at        timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now()
+);
+
+-- Taste-profile build knobs: engagement half-life + the completion→
+-- engagement curve points (taste.Config's tunable subset).
+CREATE TABLE taste_tuning (
+    singleton            boolean PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT true
+        CONSTRAINT taste_tuning_singleton_check CHECK (singleton),
+    half_life_days       double precision NOT NULL,
+    engagement_hard_skip double precision NOT NULL,
+    engagement_neutral   double precision NOT NULL,
+    engagement_full      double precision NOT NULL,
+    updated_at           timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now()
+);
+
+-- Every knob turn writes one audit row; the metrics trend view
+-- (#1251) annotates these on its timeline so cause→effect is visible
+-- after a change. changes is a jsonb array of {field, old, new}.
+CREATE TABLE recommendation_tuning_audit (
+    id         bigserial PRIMARY KEY,
+    changed_at timestamptz NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
+    scope      text NOT NULL
+        CONSTRAINT recommendation_tuning_audit_scope_check
+        CHECK (scope IN ('radio', 'daily_mix', 'taste')),
+    action     text NOT NULL
+        CONSTRAINT recommendation_tuning_audit_action_check
+        CHECK (action IN ('update', 'reset')),
+    changes    jsonb NOT NULL
+);
+
+CREATE INDEX recommendation_tuning_audit_changed_at_idx
+    ON recommendation_tuning_audit (changed_at DESC);

internal/db/queries/diagnostics.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+-- name: InsertDiagnosticEvent :one
+-- Records one client-reported diagnostic event. The writer validates the
+-- `kind` category against its whitelist before this runs; the CHECK
+-- constraint is the belt-and-braces guard. payload carries the finer
+-- event discriminator + all event-specific fields. Returns received_at
+-- so the caller can confirm ingest.
+INSERT INTO diagnostic_events (
+    user_id, client_id, app_version, os_version, kind, payload, occurred_at
+)
+VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7)
+RETURNING id, received_at;
+
+-- name: ListAdminDiagnostics :many
+-- Admin timeline query. All filters are optional (NULL = no filter):
+-- account (user_id), device (client_id), category (kind), and the
+-- occurred_at window (from_ts/to_ts). Newest-first; the SPA reverses for
+-- a chronological timeline / export. Joined with users for the username
+-- so the view renders without a second round-trip.
+SELECT
+    de.id          AS id,
+    de.user_id     AS user_id,
+    u.username     AS username,
+    de.client_id   AS client_id,
+    de.app_version AS app_version,
+    de.os_version  AS os_version,
+    de.kind        AS kind,
+    de.payload     AS payload,
+    de.occurred_at AS occurred_at,
+    de.received_at AS received_at
+FROM diagnostic_events de
+JOIN users u ON u.id = de.user_id
+WHERE (sqlc.narg(user_id)::uuid   IS NULL OR de.user_id   = sqlc.narg(user_id)::uuid)
+  AND (sqlc.narg(client_id)::text IS NULL OR de.client_id = sqlc.narg(client_id)::text)
+  AND (sqlc.narg(kind)::text      IS NULL OR de.kind      = sqlc.narg(kind)::text)
+  AND (sqlc.narg(from_ts)::timestamptz IS NULL
+       OR de.occurred_at >= sqlc.narg(from_ts)::timestamptz)
+  AND (sqlc.narg(to_ts)::timestamptz IS NULL
+       OR de.occurred_at <= sqlc.narg(to_ts)::timestamptz)
+ORDER BY de.occurred_at DESC
+LIMIT sqlc.arg(lim)::int OFFSET sqlc.arg(off)::int;
+
+-- name: ListDiagnosticDevices :many
+-- Distinct devices that have reported, for the admin device filter +
+-- "who is currently reporting" overview. Optionally scoped to one account.
+SELECT
+    de.client_id            AS client_id,
+    de.user_id              AS user_id,
+    u.username              AS username,
+    max(de.app_version)::text        AS app_version,
+    max(de.os_version)::text         AS os_version,
+    max(de.occurred_at)::timestamptz AS last_seen,
+    count(*)                         AS event_count
+FROM diagnostic_events de
+JOIN users u ON u.id = de.user_id
+WHERE (sqlc.narg(user_id)::uuid IS NULL OR de.user_id = sqlc.narg(user_id)::uuid)
+GROUP BY de.client_id, de.user_id, u.username
+ORDER BY last_seen DESC;
+
+-- name: GcPruneDiagnostics :execrows
+-- Retention sweep for the gc worker. Deletes diagnostic_events older
+-- than 30 days by server clock (received_at) so a skewed client clock
+-- can't keep rows alive. Matches the other gc lifecycle sweeps'
+-- hardcoded-threshold style; diagnostics are debug telemetry, not user
+-- data, and 30 days is ample to investigate a live incident after the
+-- fact. Returns the affected row count for the sweep log line.
+DELETE FROM diagnostic_events WHERE received_at < now() - INTERVAL '30 days';

internal/db/queries/events.sql

@@ -24,11 +24,32 @@ ORDER BY started_at DESC
 LIMIT 1;
 
 -- name: InsertPlayEvent :one
+-- pick_kind is non-NULL only for system-playlist plays whose track was
+-- found (with a stamped kind) in the user's live snapshot for that
+-- variant at ingestion time (#1249, generalized in #1270).
 INSERT INTO play_events (
-    user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, client_id, source
-) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6)
+    user_id, track_id, session_id, started_at, client_id, source, pick_kind
+) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, sqlc.narg(pick_kind)::text)
 RETURNING *;
 
+-- name: GetSystemPickKindForTrack :one
+-- Looks a track up in the user's CURRENT snapshot of the given system
+-- variant and returns its pick_kind. Used at play-ingestion time to
+-- freeze provenance onto the play_event — snapshots rebuild daily, so
+-- attribution can't be reconstructed at read time (#1249/#1270). No
+-- row = track not in today's snapshot (caller stores NULL); a row with
+-- NULL pick_kind = the variant doesn't stamp (yet). songs_like_artist
+-- is non-singleton (up to 3 mixes/user); a track in two of them takes
+-- whichever LIMIT 1 hits — acceptable, tier stamps there describe the
+-- same eligibility ladder.
+SELECT pt.pick_kind
+FROM playlist_tracks pt
+JOIN playlists p ON p.id = pt.playlist_id
+WHERE p.user_id = $1
+  AND p.system_variant = $2
+  AND pt.track_id = $3
+LIMIT 1;
+
 -- name: UpdatePlayEventEnded :one
 -- Closes a play_event by id with the given ended_at, duration, and skip flag.
 -- completion_ratio is computed from duration_played_ms and the track duration

internal/db/queries/playlists.sql

@@ -68,8 +68,9 @@ ORDER BY pt.position;
 -- name: AppendPlaylistTrack :one
 -- Inserts at the next available position. Snapshot fields are copied
 -- from the tracks/albums/artists join at insert time. tracks.duration_ms
--- is converted to seconds for the snapshot.
-INSERT INTO playlist_tracks (playlist_id, position, track_id, title, artist_name, album_title, duration_sec)
+-- is converted to seconds for the snapshot. pick_kind is NULL for manual
+-- playlists; the For You builder stamps 'taste'/'fresh' (#1249).
+INSERT INTO playlist_tracks (playlist_id, position, track_id, title, artist_name, album_title, duration_sec, pick_kind)
 SELECT
     sqlc.arg(playlist_id)::uuid,
     COALESCE((SELECT MAX(position) + 1 FROM playlist_tracks WHERE playlist_id = sqlc.arg(playlist_id)::uuid), 0),
@@ -77,7 +78,8 @@ SELECT
     t.title,
     artists.name,
     albums.title,
-    (t.duration_ms / 1000)::integer
+    (t.duration_ms / 1000)::integer,
+    sqlc.narg(pick_kind)::text
 FROM tracks t
 JOIN albums  ON albums.id  = t.album_id
 JOIN artists ON artists.id = t.artist_id

internal/db/queries/recommendation_metrics.sql

@@ -1,22 +1,58 @@
 -- Recommendation observability (#796 phase 4). Per-source play outcomes so the
 -- operator can see whether each recommendation surface is landing and tune the
 -- taste weights. Source is stamped on play_events when a play is launched from
--- a system-playlist surface ('for_you' | 'discover' | the discovery mixes);
--- NULL for library / radio / user-playlist plays, which are excluded here.
+-- a recommendation surface; NULL means the user picked the track manually —
+-- those rows are INCLUDED here as the baseline control group the surfaces are
+-- judged against (milestone #127: delta-vs-baseline is what makes the numbers
+-- actionable). Raw source strings are bucketed into stable surface families in
+-- the Go handler; completion_n is carried so family merges can weight
+-- avg_completion correctly.
 
--- name: RecommendationSourceMetricsForUser :many
--- $1 user_id, $2 window_days. plays/skips are counts; avg_completion is the
--- mean completion ratio over plays that recorded one (0 when none did).
+-- name: RecommendationWeeklyTrends :many
+-- Weekly per-source outcome series for the tuning lab's trend view
+-- (#1251). Aggregated across ALL users: the tuning knobs are global,
+-- so judging a knob turn needs global outcomes — rows carry rates
+-- only, no track or user identity. NULL-source (manual) rows are
+-- included as the baseline family.
+--
+-- taste_hits counts plays whose track's artist has a positive weight
+-- in that user's CURRENT taste profile — the "cheap recompute" option:
+-- retroactive over the whole window, at the cost of drift (the profile
+-- is today's, the play may be weeks old). Good enough to read whether
+-- a surface is feeding taste-fitting tracks.
+-- $1 window in weeks.
 SELECT
+    date_trunc('week', pe.started_at)::date AS week_start,
     pe.source,
     count(*)::bigint AS plays,
     count(*) FILTER (WHERE pe.was_skipped)::bigint AS skips,
-    COALESCE(
-        avg(pe.completion_ratio) FILTER (WHERE pe.completion_ratio IS NOT NULL),
-        0)::float8 AS avg_completion
+    count(pe.completion_ratio)::bigint AS completion_n,
+    COALESCE(avg(pe.completion_ratio), 0)::float8 AS avg_completion,
+    count(*) FILTER (WHERE tpa.artist_id IS NOT NULL)::bigint AS taste_hits
+FROM play_events pe
+JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
+LEFT JOIN taste_profile_artists tpa
+       ON tpa.user_id = pe.user_id
+      AND tpa.artist_id = t.artist_id
+      AND tpa.weight > 0
+WHERE pe.started_at > now() - (sqlc.arg(weeks)::int * INTERVAL '1 week')
+GROUP BY 1, 2
+ORDER BY 1, 2;
+
+-- name: RecommendationSourceMetricsForUser :many
+-- $1 user_id, $2 window_days. plays/skips are counts; avg_completion is the
+-- mean completion ratio over the completion_n plays that recorded one.
+-- pick_kind splits For You plays into taste/fresh/unattributed (#1249);
+-- it is NULL for every other source, so those still group to one row.
+SELECT
+    pe.source,
+    pe.pick_kind,
+    count(*)::bigint AS plays,
+    count(*) FILTER (WHERE pe.was_skipped)::bigint AS skips,
+    count(pe.completion_ratio)::bigint AS completion_n,
+    COALESCE(avg(pe.completion_ratio), 0)::float8 AS avg_completion
 FROM play_events pe
 WHERE pe.user_id = $1
-  AND pe.source IS NOT NULL
   AND pe.started_at > now() - ($2::float8 * INTERVAL '1 day')
-GROUP BY pe.source
+GROUP BY pe.source, pe.pick_kind
 ORDER BY plays DESC;

internal/db/queries/recommendation_tuning.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+-- Recommendation tuning lab queries (#1250). Seeding happens via the
+-- recsettings boot reconcile; shipped defaults live in Go only.
+
+-- name: UpsertWeightProfileDefaults :exec
+-- Boot reconcile: insert the shipped defaults for a profile if the row
+-- doesn't exist yet. Never overwrites operator-tuned values.
+INSERT INTO recommendation_weight_profiles (
+    profile, base_weight, like_boost, recency_weight, skip_penalty,
+    jitter_magnitude, context_weight, similarity_weight, taste_weight
+) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9)
+ON CONFLICT (profile) DO NOTHING;
+
+-- name: ListWeightProfiles :many
+SELECT * FROM recommendation_weight_profiles ORDER BY profile;
+
+-- name: UpdateWeightProfile :one
+UPDATE recommendation_weight_profiles
+   SET base_weight       = $2,
+       like_boost        = $3,
+       recency_weight    = $4,
+       skip_penalty      = $5,
+       jitter_magnitude  = $6,
+       context_weight    = $7,
+       similarity_weight = $8,
+       taste_weight      = $9,
+       updated_at        = now()
+ WHERE profile = $1
+RETURNING *;
+
+-- name: UpsertTasteTuningDefaults :exec
+INSERT INTO taste_tuning (
+    singleton, half_life_days, engagement_hard_skip,
+    engagement_neutral, engagement_full
+) VALUES (true, $1, $2, $3, $4)
+ON CONFLICT (singleton) DO NOTHING;
+
+-- name: GetTasteTuning :one
+SELECT * FROM taste_tuning WHERE singleton = true;
+
+-- name: UpdateTasteTuning :one
+UPDATE taste_tuning
+   SET half_life_days       = $1,
+       engagement_hard_skip = $2,
+       engagement_neutral   = $3,
+       engagement_full      = $4,
+       updated_at           = now()
+ WHERE singleton = true
+RETURNING *;
+
+-- name: InsertTuningAudit :exec
+-- changes is a jsonb array of {field, old, new} objects.
+INSERT INTO recommendation_tuning_audit (scope, action, changes)
+VALUES ($1, $2, $3);
+
+-- name: ListTuningAudit :many
+-- Newest first; consumed by the metrics trend view (#1251) to annotate
+-- knob turns on the timeline.
+SELECT id, changed_at, scope, action, changes
+  FROM recommendation_tuning_audit
+ ORDER BY changed_at DESC, id DESC
+ LIMIT $1;

internal/db/queries/system_mixes.sql

@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@
 -- name: ListDeepCutsTracks :many
 -- #419 Deep Cuts: low-play tracks (<=2 plays) from artists the user
 -- has liked OR played heavily (>=5 non-skip plays across the artist).
+-- Tracks the user has skipped twice or more don't qualify (#1257):
+-- eligibility used to count only unskipped plays, so the most actively
+-- rejected tracks read as "barely heard" and kept being re-offered.
+-- Threshold 2 so a single accidental skip doesn't banish a track;
+-- passive-signal only (no dislike UI, rule #101).
 -- $1 user_id, $2 date string.
 WITH affinity_artists AS (
     SELECT artist_id FROM general_likes_artists WHERE user_id = $1
@@ -23,12 +28,20 @@ play_counts AS (
       FROM play_events
      WHERE user_id = $1 AND was_skipped = false
      GROUP BY track_id
+),
+skip_counts AS (
+    SELECT track_id, COUNT(*) AS c
+      FROM play_events
+     WHERE user_id = $1 AND was_skipped = true
+     GROUP BY track_id
 )
 SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id
   FROM tracks t
   JOIN affinity_artists aa ON aa.artist_id = t.artist_id
   LEFT JOIN play_counts pc ON pc.track_id = t.id
+  LEFT JOIN skip_counts sc ON sc.track_id = t.id
  WHERE COALESCE(pc.c, 0) <= 2
+   AND COALESCE(sc.c, 0) < 2
    AND NOT EXISTS (
        SELECT 1 FROM lidarr_quarantine q
         WHERE q.user_id = $1 AND q.track_id = t.id
@@ -37,76 +50,113 @@ SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id
  LIMIT 200;
 
 -- name: ListRediscoverTracks :many
--- #420 Rediscover: tracks the user played a lot (>=5 non-skip) but
--- has drifted away from. Tiered so a young library still gets a mix:
---   tier 0  not played in the last 6 months (true rediscovery)
---   tier 1  (only if tier 0 empty) not played in the last 30 days
--- Ordered by historical affection. $1 user_id.
+-- #420 Rediscover: tracks the user played a lot but has drifted away
+-- from. One blended pool (issue #1246: the old two-tier UNION was
+-- all-or-nothing — a single ">=6 months cold" row suppressed the whole
+-- ">=30 days" tier, which is how a one-song playlist shipped; the 6mo
+-- tier was also a strict subset of the 30d tier). Eligibility is >=3
+-- non-skip plays and >=30 days cold; the bar sits at 3 rather than 5
+-- so a weeks-old library still fields a pool — on young histories the
+-- >=5-play tracks are precisely the ones still in rotation. Ordering
+-- prefers true rediscoveries (>=6 months cold), then strong affection
+-- (>=5 plays), then raw play count; the producer's minimum floor
+-- decides whether the pool is big enough to ship at all. $1 user_id.
 WITH stats AS (
     SELECT pe.track_id, COUNT(*) AS c, MAX(pe.started_at) AS last_at
       FROM play_events pe
      WHERE pe.user_id = $1 AND pe.was_skipped = false
      GROUP BY pe.track_id
-),
-deep AS (
-    SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id, s.c, 0 AS tier
-      FROM tracks t
-      JOIN stats s ON s.track_id = t.id
-     WHERE s.c >= 5
-       AND s.last_at <= now() - interval '6 months'
-       AND NOT EXISTS (
-           SELECT 1 FROM lidarr_quarantine q
-            WHERE q.user_id = $1 AND q.track_id = t.id
-       )
-),
-shallow AS (
-    SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id, s.c, 1 AS tier
-      FROM tracks t
-      JOIN stats s ON s.track_id = t.id
-     WHERE s.c >= 5
-       AND s.last_at <= now() - interval '30 days'
-       AND NOT EXISTS (
-           SELECT 1 FROM lidarr_quarantine q
-            WHERE q.user_id = $1 AND q.track_id = t.id
-       )
-)
-SELECT id, album_id, artist_id
-  FROM (
-    SELECT id, album_id, artist_id, c, tier FROM deep
-    UNION ALL
-    SELECT id, album_id, artist_id, c, tier FROM shallow
-     WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM deep)
-  ) u
- ORDER BY tier, c DESC, id
- LIMIT 200;
-
--- name: ListNewForYouTracks :many
--- #421 New for you: tracks from albums added in the last 30 days
--- whose artist the user has liked OR played (>=3 non-skip). Album-
--- coherent (newest album first, then disc/track) — the producer does
--- NOT diversity-cap these; they're meant as whole-album discovery.
--- $1 user_id.
-WITH affinity_artists AS (
-    SELECT artist_id FROM general_likes_artists WHERE user_id = $1
-    UNION
-    SELECT t.artist_id
-      FROM play_events pe JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
-     WHERE pe.user_id = $1 AND pe.was_skipped = false
-     GROUP BY t.artist_id
-    HAVING COUNT(*) >= 3
 )
 SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id
   FROM tracks t
-  JOIN albums al ON al.id = t.album_id
-  JOIN affinity_artists aa ON aa.artist_id = al.artist_id
- WHERE al.created_at >= now() - interval '30 days'
+  JOIN stats s ON s.track_id = t.id
+ WHERE s.c >= 3
+   AND s.last_at <= now() - interval '30 days'
    AND NOT EXISTS (
        SELECT 1 FROM lidarr_quarantine q
         WHERE q.user_id = $1 AND q.track_id = t.id
    )
- ORDER BY al.created_at DESC, t.disc_number NULLS FIRST, t.track_number NULLS FIRST
+   -- Declined-resurfacing cooldown (#1258): a skip on a
+   -- rediscover-sourced play is the user explicitly saying "I've moved
+   -- on" to the exact invitation this mix extends — such tracks sit
+   -- out ~90 days instead of re-qualifying the next day. Passive
+   -- signal only (rule #101).
+   AND NOT EXISTS (
+       SELECT 1 FROM play_events rp
+        WHERE rp.user_id = $1
+          AND rp.track_id = t.id
+          AND rp.source = 'rediscover'
+          AND rp.was_skipped = true
+          AND rp.started_at > now() - interval '90 days'
+   )
+ ORDER BY (s.last_at <= now() - interval '6 months') DESC,
+          (s.c >= 5) DESC,
+          s.c DESC, t.id
  LIMIT 200;
 
+-- name: ListNewForYouTracks :many
+-- #421 New for you, tiered per project rule #131 (#1267). The old
+-- single hard rule (added <30d AND direct affinity) had two failure
+-- modes with one root: no notion of consumption — the album you
+-- devoured in week one crowded the mix for three more weeks, and
+-- after a quiet month nothing qualified at all.
+--
+-- "Consumed" = any track attempted for >=30s (the First Listens
+-- threshold, #1268): once you've meaningfully engaged, the album is
+-- no longer news. Applies to every tier — played albums leave the
+-- mix the next build.
+--
+--   tier 1  the exact desire: unconsumed albums added <30d by
+--           direct-affinity artists (liked, or >=3 attempted plays)
+--   tier 2  step back a little: unconsumed affinity albums from the
+--           wider 30-90d window — added while you weren't looking
+--   tier 3  step back more: any unconsumed album added <90d
+--           regardless of affinity, newest first
+--
+-- Album-coherent within tiers (newest album first, then disc/track);
+-- the producer fills top-down and rotates within tier blocks. The
+-- tier lands on playlist_tracks.pick_kind so metrics can price what
+-- each step-back trades away. $1 user_id.
+WITH attempted AS (
+    SELECT DISTINCT pe.track_id
+      FROM play_events pe
+     WHERE pe.user_id = $1 AND pe.duration_played_ms >= 30000
+),
+consumed_albums AS (
+    SELECT DISTINCT t.album_id
+      FROM attempted a JOIN tracks t ON t.id = a.track_id
+),
+affinity_artists AS (
+    SELECT gla.artist_id FROM general_likes_artists gla WHERE gla.user_id = $1
+    UNION
+    SELECT t.artist_id
+      FROM attempted a JOIN tracks t ON t.id = a.track_id
+     GROUP BY t.artist_id
+    HAVING COUNT(*) >= 3
+),
+albums_tiered AS (
+    SELECT al.id AS album_id, al.created_at,
+           CASE
+             WHEN al.created_at >= now() - interval '30 days'
+                  AND al.artist_id IN (SELECT artist_id FROM affinity_artists) THEN 1
+             WHEN al.artist_id IN (SELECT artist_id FROM affinity_artists) THEN 2
+             ELSE 3
+           END AS tier
+      FROM albums al
+     WHERE al.created_at >= now() - interval '90 days'
+       AND al.id NOT IN (SELECT album_id FROM consumed_albums)
+)
+SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id, alt.tier::int AS tier
+  FROM tracks t
+  JOIN albums_tiered alt ON alt.album_id = t.album_id
+ WHERE NOT EXISTS (
+       SELECT 1 FROM lidarr_quarantine q
+        WHERE q.user_id = $1 AND q.track_id = t.id
+   )
+ ORDER BY alt.tier, alt.created_at DESC, t.album_id,
+          t.disc_number NULLS FIRST, t.track_number NULLS FIRST
+ LIMIT 300;
+
 -- name: ListOnThisDayTracks :many
 -- #422 On This Day: tracks the user played around this calendar date
 -- (±10 day-of-year) in the past, excluding the very recent (>30 days
@@ -115,13 +165,23 @@ SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id
 -- and window ±7→±10 so it surfaces on a months-old library instead
 -- of needing a full year of history; still skips cleanly (no rows →
 -- no playlist) when there's no qualifying history yet.
+-- Day-of-year distance is circular (#1256): plain ABS made Dec 28 vs
+-- Jan 3 read as 359 days apart, silently gutting the window for ~3
+-- weeks around every New Year — precisely when holiday nostalgia is
+-- the point. LEAST(d, 365-d) wraps the boundary; leap-year drift of
+-- ±1 is absorbed by the ±10 window. The build date ($2, already here
+-- for the md5 rotation) anchors "today" instead of now() so the
+-- window is testable and consistent with the mix's daily determinism.
 -- $1 user_id, $2 date string.
 WITH windowed AS (
     SELECT track_id, COUNT(*) AS c
       FROM play_events
      WHERE user_id = $1 AND was_skipped = false
        AND started_at < now() - interval '30 days'
-       AND ABS(EXTRACT(DOY FROM started_at) - EXTRACT(DOY FROM now())) <= 10
+       AND LEAST(
+           ABS(EXTRACT(DOY FROM started_at) - EXTRACT(DOY FROM $2::date)),
+           365 - ABS(EXTRACT(DOY FROM started_at) - EXTRACT(DOY FROM $2::date))
+       ) <= 10
      GROUP BY track_id
 )
 SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id
@@ -135,35 +195,65 @@ SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id
  LIMIT 200;
 
 -- name: ListFirstListensTracks :many
--- #423 First Listens: albums the user has never played any track of.
--- Tiered: liked-artist albums first, then played-artist albums, then
--- the rest — album-coherent within each tier. Not diversity-capped
--- (whole-album discovery). $1 user_id.
-WITH heard_albums AS (
-    SELECT DISTINCT t.album_id
-      FROM play_events pe JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
-     WHERE pe.user_id = $1
+-- #423 First Listens: songs the user has never heard or even
+-- attempted. "Attempted" is track-level with a >=30s listen threshold
+-- (#1268, operator decision 2026-07-03) — the old version disqualified
+-- a whole album on ANY play_event, so a 2-second accidental brush
+-- banished it permanently.
+--
+--   tier 1  the exact desire: albums with ZERO attempted tracks
+--   tier 2  step back: barely-attempted albums (<=25% of tracks
+--           reached 30s) — brushed, never explored. The already-
+--           attempted tracks themselves are excluded; they're not
+--           first listens.
+--
+-- Within each tier, affinity-ordered as before: liked artist, then
+-- attempted-played artist (>=30s — skip-only contact isn't trust),
+-- then the rest; album-coherent. The tier lands on
+-- playlist_tracks.pick_kind via the producer. $1 user_id.
+WITH attempted AS (
+    SELECT DISTINCT pe.track_id
+      FROM play_events pe
+     WHERE pe.user_id = $1 AND pe.duration_played_ms >= 30000
 ),
-played_artists AS (
+album_attempts AS (
+    SELECT t.album_id,
+           COUNT(a.track_id) AS attempted_count,
+           COUNT(*) AS track_count
+      FROM tracks t
+      LEFT JOIN attempted a ON a.track_id = t.id
+     GROUP BY t.album_id
+),
+attempted_artists AS (
     SELECT DISTINCT t.artist_id
-      FROM play_events pe JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
-     WHERE pe.user_id = $1
+      FROM attempted a JOIN tracks t ON t.id = a.track_id
+),
+albums_tiered AS (
+    SELECT aa.album_id,
+           CASE
+             WHEN aa.attempted_count = 0 THEN 1
+             WHEN aa.attempted_count::float / GREATEST(aa.track_count, 1) <= 0.25 THEN 2
+           END AS tier
+      FROM album_attempts aa
 )
-SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id
+SELECT t.id, t.album_id, t.artist_id, alt.tier::int AS tier
   FROM tracks t
   JOIN albums al ON al.id = t.album_id
- WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM heard_albums h WHERE h.album_id = al.id)
+  JOIN albums_tiered alt ON alt.album_id = al.id
+ WHERE alt.tier IS NOT NULL
+   AND NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM attempted a WHERE a.track_id = t.id)
    AND NOT EXISTS (
        SELECT 1 FROM lidarr_quarantine q
         WHERE q.user_id = $1 AND q.track_id = t.id
    )
  ORDER BY
+   alt.tier,
    (CASE
       WHEN EXISTS (
         SELECT 1 FROM general_likes_artists gla
          WHERE gla.user_id = $1 AND gla.artist_id = al.artist_id
       ) THEN 0
-      WHEN al.artist_id IN (SELECT artist_id FROM played_artists) THEN 1
+      WHEN al.artist_id IN (SELECT artist_id FROM attempted_artists) THEN 1
       ELSE 2
     END),
    al.id, t.disc_number NULLS FIRST, t.track_number NULLS FIRST

internal/db/queries/system_playlists.sql

@@ -47,14 +47,29 @@ UPDATE system_playlist_runs
 UPDATE system_playlist_runs SET in_flight = false WHERE in_flight = true;
 
 -- name: PickSeedArtists :many
--- Top-5 most-engaged distinct artist candidates in the user's last 7
--- days. The Go-side picker (pickSeedArtistsForDay) shuffles these
--- daily-deterministically and takes the first 3 so the set of
--- "Songs like X" mixes rotates day-to-day.
--- Score = unskipped-play count + 5 if user has liked the artist.
-WITH plays AS (
+-- Top-5 most-engaged distinct artist candidates, tiered so the
+-- "Songs like X" mixes never silently vanish (#1255): the old hard
+-- 7-day window emptied the seed pool after a quiet week, and the
+-- daily atomic-replace build then deleted every existing mix until
+-- the user played something again. Same fallback shape as
+-- PickTopPlayedTracksForUser (For You's seeds):
+--   tier 0  engagement in the last 7 days
+--   tier 1  (only if tier 0 empty) last 30 days
+--   tier 2  (only if tiers 0+1 empty) all-time
+--   tier 3  (only if 0-2 empty) liked artists with no play history
+-- All returned rows share one tier; produceSeedMixes maps it onto the
+-- rule-#131 pick-kind ladder and stamps the built tracks, so metrics
+-- can compare mixes seeded from fresh vs stale engagement.
+-- Score = unskipped-play count + 5 if user has liked the artist. The
+-- Go-side picker (pickSeedArtistsForDay) shuffles the 5
+-- daily-deterministically and takes 3 so the mix set rotates.
+WITH liked AS (
+    SELECT gla.artist_id FROM general_likes_artists gla WHERE gla.user_id = $1
+),
+recent7 AS (
     SELECT t.artist_id,
-           COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE pe.was_skipped = false) AS play_count
+           COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE pe.was_skipped = false) AS play_count,
+           0 AS tier
       FROM play_events pe
       JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
      WHERE pe.user_id = $1
@@ -62,14 +77,52 @@ WITH plays AS (
        AND t.artist_id IS NOT NULL
      GROUP BY t.artist_id
 ),
-liked AS (
-    SELECT artist_id FROM general_likes_artists WHERE user_id = $1
+recent30 AS (
+    SELECT t.artist_id,
+           COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE pe.was_skipped = false) AS play_count,
+           1 AS tier
+      FROM play_events pe
+      JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
+     WHERE pe.user_id = $1
+       AND pe.started_at > now() - INTERVAL '30 days'
+       AND t.artist_id IS NOT NULL
+     GROUP BY t.artist_id
+),
+alltime AS (
+    SELECT t.artist_id,
+           COUNT(*) FILTER (WHERE pe.was_skipped = false) AS play_count,
+           2 AS tier
+      FROM play_events pe
+      JOIN tracks t ON t.id = pe.track_id
+     WHERE pe.user_id = $1
+       AND t.artist_id IS NOT NULL
+     GROUP BY t.artist_id
+),
+likedonly AS (
+    SELECT l.artist_id, 0::bigint AS play_count, 3 AS tier
+      FROM liked l
+),
+chosen AS (
+    SELECT artist_id, play_count, tier FROM recent7
+    UNION ALL
+    SELECT artist_id, play_count, tier FROM recent30
+     WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM recent7)
+    UNION ALL
+    SELECT artist_id, play_count, tier FROM alltime
+     WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM recent7)
+       AND NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM recent30)
+    UNION ALL
+    SELECT artist_id, play_count, tier FROM likedonly
+     WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM recent7)
+       AND NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM recent30)
+       AND NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM alltime)
 )
-SELECT p.artist_id,
-       (p.play_count + CASE WHEN l.artist_id IS NOT NULL THEN 5 ELSE 0 END)::bigint AS score
-  FROM plays p
-  LEFT JOIN liked l ON l.artist_id = p.artist_id
- ORDER BY score DESC, p.artist_id
+SELECT c.artist_id,
+       (c.play_count + CASE WHEN l.artist_id IS NOT NULL THEN 5 ELSE 0 END)::bigint AS score,
+       c.tier::int AS tier
+  FROM chosen c
+  LEFT JOIN liked l ON l.artist_id = c.artist_id
+ ORDER BY score DESC, c.artist_id
  LIMIT 5;
 
 -- name: PickTopPlayedTracksForUser :many
@@ -78,10 +131,10 @@ SELECT p.artist_id,
 --   tier 1  (only if tier 0 empty) all-time top non-skip plays
 --   tier 2  (only if tiers 0+1 empty) liked tracks
 -- Returns up to 5 ids; tie-break by track_id for determinism. The
--- Go-side picker (pickForYouSeedForDay) rotates one per day via
--- userIDHash. Widened from a hard 7-day window, which made For-You
--- disappear after a week of not listening and never recover on a
--- self-hosted library with sparse history.
+-- Go-side picker (pickDailySeeds) draws the day's seeds from these.
+-- Widened from a hard 7-day window, which made For-You disappear
+-- after a week of not listening and never recover on a self-hosted
+-- library with sparse history.
 WITH recent AS (
     SELECT t.id, COUNT(*) AS c, 0 AS tier
       FROM play_events pe

internal/db/queries/users.sql

@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ WHERE id = $1;
 
 -- name: ListUsers :many
 -- Admin user-management list. Sort newest-first.
-SELECT id, username, display_name, is_admin, auto_approve_requests, created_at
+SELECT id, username, display_name, is_admin, auto_approve_requests,
+       debug_mode_enabled, created_at
   FROM users
  ORDER BY created_at DESC;
 
@@ -115,6 +116,15 @@ UPDATE users
  WHERE id = $1
 RETURNING *;
 
+-- name: SetDebugMode :one
+-- Toggle the per-account diagnostics/debug-reporting opt-in. Admin-driven
+-- from /admin (flip remotely while a bug is live) or self-driven OFF from
+-- the client. Returns the updated row so the handler can echo it.
+UPDATE users
+   SET debug_mode_enabled = $2
+ WHERE id = $1
+RETURNING *;
+
 -- name: ChangeUserPassword :exec
 -- Self-service password change. Caller (HTTP handler) verifies the
 -- current password before calling this. Distinct from

internal/dbtest/reset.go

@@ -62,6 +62,11 @@ var dataTables = []string{
 	// (never recreates the singleton, seeded once by 0018); ResetDB
 	// resets its counter via UPDATE below instead.
 	"cover_art_provider_settings",
+	// recsettings.New reconciles shipped defaults on every construction
+	// (#1250), so truncating gives each test pristine tuning values.
+	"recommendation_weight_profiles",
+	"taste_tuning",
+	"recommendation_tuning_audit",
 	"tracks",
 	"albums",
 	"artists",

internal/gc/worker.go

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 //   - GcExpireScrobbleQueueFailedRows (#567)
 //   - GcResetStuckSystemPlaylistRuns (#574)
 //   - GcDeleteExpiredPasswordResets   (#575)
+//   - GcPruneDiagnostics              (M9 — diagnostics 30d retention)
 package gc
 
 import (
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ func (w *Worker) tickOnce(ctx context.Context) {
 	w.runSweep(ctx, "expire_scrobble_failed", q.GcExpireScrobbleQueueFailedRows)
 	w.runSweep(ctx, "reset_stuck_system_runs", q.GcResetStuckSystemPlaylistRuns)
 	w.runSweep(ctx, "delete_expired_password_resets", q.GcDeleteExpiredPasswordResets)
+	w.runSweep(ctx, "prune_diagnostics", q.GcPruneDiagnostics)
 }
 
 // runSweep is a small adapter so each sweep call site is a one-liner

internal/playevents/writer.go

@@ -97,6 +97,36 @@ var systemPlaylistSources = map[string]bool{
 	"songs_like_artist": true,
 }
 
+// lookupSystemPickKind resolves a system-playlist play's pick_kind
+// (taste/fresh, Discover's bucket, or a rule-#131 tier) from the user's
+// live snapshot of that variant at ingestion time. Attribution must be
+// frozen now — snapshots rebuild daily, so it can't be reconstructed at
+// metrics-read time (#1249, generalized in #1270). Source strings
+// double as system_variant values (see systemPlaylistSources). Returns
+// nil (unattributed) when the track isn't in the current snapshot —
+// plays predating the feature, or an offline replay arriving after the
+// track rotated out — and when the variant doesn't stamp yet. Real DB
+// errors propagate and fail the caller's transaction.
+func lookupSystemPickKind(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	q *dbq.Queries,
+	userID, trackID pgtype.UUID,
+	variant string,
+) (*string, error) {
+	kind, err := q.GetSystemPickKindForTrack(ctx, dbq.GetSystemPickKindForTrackParams{
+		UserID:        userID,
+		SystemVariant: &variant,
+		TrackID:       trackID,
+	})
+	if errors.Is(err, pgx.ErrNoRows) {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return kind, nil
+}
+
 // RecordPlayStartedWithSource is RecordPlayStarted plus a `source`
 // tag identifying which surface the play came from. When source is a
 // known system-playlist kind the track is appended to that user's
@@ -127,6 +157,13 @@ func (w *Writer) RecordPlayStartedWithSource(
 		if source != "" {
 			sourcePtr = &source
 		}
+		var pickKind *string
+		if systemPlaylistSources[source] {
+			pickKind, err = lookupSystemPickKind(ctx, q, userID, trackID, source)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
 		ev, err := q.InsertPlayEvent(ctx, dbq.InsertPlayEventParams{
 			UserID:    userID,
 			TrackID:   trackID,
@@ -134,6 +171,7 @@ func (w *Writer) RecordPlayStartedWithSource(
 			StartedAt: pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: at, Valid: true},
 			ClientID:  clientIDPtr,
 			Source:    sourcePtr,
+			PickKind:  pickKind,
 		})
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -395,6 +433,13 @@ func (w *Writer) RecordOfflinePlay(
 		if source != "" {
 			sourcePtr = &source
 		}
+		var pickKind *string
+		if systemPlaylistSources[source] {
+			pickKind, err = lookupSystemPickKind(ctx, q, userID, trackID, source)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
 		ev, err := q.InsertPlayEvent(ctx, dbq.InsertPlayEventParams{
 			UserID:    userID,
 			TrackID:   trackID,
@@ -402,6 +447,7 @@ func (w *Writer) RecordOfflinePlay(
 			StartedAt: pgtype.Timestamptz{Time: at, Valid: true},
 			ClientID:  clientIDPtr,
 			Source:    sourcePtr,
+			PickKind:  pickKind,
 		})
 		if err != nil {
 			return err

internal/playevents/writer_test.go

@@ -488,3 +488,123 @@ func TestRecordPlayStarted_NoRotationWithoutSource(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("expected no rotation row for a source-less play")
 	}
 }
+
+// seedSystemSnapshot creates a system playlist of the given variant
+// containing the fixture track with the given pick_kind, mimicking
+// what the builder persists (#1249, generalized #1270).
+func seedSystemSnapshot(t *testing.T, f fixture, variant, pickKind string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	pl, err := f.q.CreateSystemPlaylist(context.Background(), dbq.CreateSystemPlaylistParams{
+		UserID: f.user, Name: variant, SystemVariant: &variant,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("CreateSystemPlaylist: %v", err)
+	}
+	if _, err := f.q.AppendPlaylistTrack(context.Background(), dbq.AppendPlaylistTrackParams{
+		PlaylistID: pl.ID, TrackID: f.track, PickKind: &pickKind,
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("AppendPlaylistTrack: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRecordPlayStartedWithSource_StampsForYouPickKind(t *testing.T) {
+	f := newFixture(t, 200_000)
+	seedSystemSnapshot(t, f, "for_you", "fresh")
+	res, err := f.w.RecordPlayStartedWithSource(
+		context.Background(), f.user, f.track, "c", "for_you", time.Now().UTC(),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RecordPlayStartedWithSource: %v", err)
+	}
+	got, err := f.q.GetPlayEventByID(context.Background(), res.PlayEventID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("get: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.PickKind == nil || *got.PickKind != "fresh" {
+		t.Errorf("pick_kind = %v, want fresh (frozen from live snapshot)", got.PickKind)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRecordPlayStartedWithSource_NoSnapshotMatch_PickKindNull(t *testing.T) {
+	// A for_you play whose track isn't in the current snapshot (rotated
+	// out, or no snapshot exists) stays unattributed rather than guessing.
+	f := newFixture(t, 200_000)
+	res, err := f.w.RecordPlayStartedWithSource(
+		context.Background(), f.user, f.track, "c", "for_you", time.Now().UTC(),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RecordPlayStartedWithSource: %v", err)
+	}
+	got, err := f.q.GetPlayEventByID(context.Background(), res.PlayEventID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("get: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.PickKind != nil {
+		t.Errorf("pick_kind = %q, want NULL (track not in snapshot)", *got.PickKind)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRecordPlayStartedWithSource_CrossVariant_PickKindNull(t *testing.T) {
+	// Attribution is variant-scoped: even with a For You snapshot
+	// containing the track, a play from a different surface must not
+	// pick up For You's stamp — it reads its OWN variant's snapshot,
+	// which here doesn't exist.
+	f := newFixture(t, 200_000)
+	seedSystemSnapshot(t, f, "for_you", "taste")
+	res, err := f.w.RecordPlayStartedWithSource(
+		context.Background(), f.user, f.track, "c", "discover", time.Now().UTC(),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RecordPlayStartedWithSource: %v", err)
+	}
+	got, err := f.q.GetPlayEventByID(context.Background(), res.PlayEventID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("get: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.PickKind != nil {
+		t.Errorf("pick_kind = %q, want NULL for a cross-variant play", *got.PickKind)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRecordPlayStartedWithSource_StampsDiscoverBucket(t *testing.T) {
+	// Discover stamps its candidate bucket (#1270); a discover play whose
+	// track is in the live snapshot freezes that bucket onto the play.
+	f := newFixture(t, 200_000)
+	seedSystemSnapshot(t, f, "discover", "dormant")
+	res, err := f.w.RecordPlayStartedWithSource(
+		context.Background(), f.user, f.track, "c", "discover", time.Now().UTC(),
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RecordPlayStartedWithSource: %v", err)
+	}
+	got, err := f.q.GetPlayEventByID(context.Background(), res.PlayEventID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("get: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got.PickKind == nil || *got.PickKind != "dormant" {
+		t.Errorf("pick_kind = %v, want dormant (frozen from live snapshot)", got.PickKind)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRecordOfflinePlay_StampsForYouPickKind(t *testing.T) {
+	// The offline replay path threads source the same way; a replayed
+	// for_you play whose track is still in the snapshot gets attributed.
+	f := newFixture(t, 200_000)
+	seedSystemSnapshot(t, f, "for_you", "taste")
+	at := time.Now().UTC().Add(-time.Hour)
+	if err := f.w.RecordOfflinePlay(
+		context.Background(), f.user, f.track, "c", "for_you", at, 180_000,
+	); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("RecordOfflinePlay: %v", err)
+	}
+	var pickKind *string
+	if err := f.pool.QueryRow(context.Background(),
+		`SELECT pick_kind FROM play_events WHERE user_id = $1 AND track_id = $2`,
+		f.user, f.track,
+	).Scan(&pickKind); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("select: %v", err)
+	}
+	if pickKind == nil || *pickKind != "taste" {
+		t.Errorf("pick_kind = %v, want taste", pickKind)
+	}
+}

internal/playlists/discover.go

@@ -20,11 +20,15 @@ const (
 
 // discoverTrack is the common shape used by the bucket allocator. The
 // three sqlc-generated row types collapse into this internal struct so
-// downstream functions don't need to be generic over them.
+// downstream functions don't need to be generic over them. PickKind is
+// the originating bucket (dormant/cross_user/random, #1270), stamped in
+// the row adapters so it survives the interleave — bucket identity is
+// what makes the 40/30/30 allocation measurable in the metrics.
 type discoverTrack struct {
 	ID       pgtype.UUID
 	AlbumID  pgtype.UUID
 	ArtistID pgtype.UUID
+	PickKind string
 }
 
 // buildDiscoverCandidates assembles the Discover playlist track list.
@@ -91,7 +95,7 @@ func buildDiscoverCandidates(ctx context.Context, q *dbq.Queries, logger *slog.L
 	// already gave us the ranking.
 	ranked := make([]rankedCandidate, 0, len(out))
 	for _, t := range out {
-		ranked = append(ranked, rankedCandidate{TrackID: t.ID})
+		ranked = append(ranked, rankedCandidate{TrackID: t.ID, PickKind: t.PickKind})
 	}
 	return ranked, nil
 }
@@ -99,7 +103,10 @@ func buildDiscoverCandidates(ctx context.Context, q *dbq.Queries, logger *slog.L
 func dormantRowsToTracks(rows []dbq.ListDormantArtistTracksForDiscoverRow) []discoverTrack {
 	out := make([]discoverTrack, len(rows))
 	for i, r := range rows {
-		out[i] = discoverTrack{ID: r.ID, AlbumID: r.AlbumID, ArtistID: r.ArtistID}
+		out[i] = discoverTrack{
+			ID: r.ID, AlbumID: r.AlbumID, ArtistID: r.ArtistID,
+			PickKind: pickKindDormant,
+		}
 	}
 	return out
 }
@@ -107,7 +114,10 @@ func dormantRowsToTracks(rows []dbq.ListDormantArtistTracksForDiscoverRow) []dis
 func crossUserRowsToTracks(rows []dbq.ListCrossUserLikedTracksForDiscoverRow) []discoverTrack {
 	out := make([]discoverTrack, len(rows))
 	for i, r := range rows {
-		out[i] = discoverTrack{ID: r.ID, AlbumID: r.AlbumID, ArtistID: r.ArtistID}
+		out[i] = discoverTrack{
+			ID: r.ID, AlbumID: r.AlbumID, ArtistID: r.ArtistID,
+			PickKind: pickKindCrossUser,
+		}
 	}
 	return out
 }
@@ -115,7 +125,10 @@ func crossUserRowsToTracks(rows []dbq.ListCrossUserLikedTracksForDiscoverRow) []
 func randomRowsToTracks(rows []dbq.ListRandomUnheardTracksForDiscoverRow) []discoverTrack {
 	out := make([]discoverTrack, len(rows))
 	for i, r := range rows {
-		out[i] = discoverTrack{ID: r.ID, AlbumID: r.AlbumID, ArtistID: r.ArtistID}
+		out[i] = discoverTrack{
+			ID: r.ID, AlbumID: r.AlbumID, ArtistID: r.ArtistID,
+			PickKind: pickKindRandom,
+		}
 	}
 	return out
 }

internal/playlists/discover_test.go

@@ -161,3 +161,27 @@ func TestInterleaveBuckets_DedupsAcrossBuckets(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestInterleaveBuckets_PreservesBucketPickKind(t *testing.T) {
+	// Bucket provenance (#1270) is stamped on discoverTrack before the
+	// interleave and must survive it — including dedup, where a track in
+	// two buckets keeps the stamp of the bucket it was taken from.
+	dormant := []discoverTrack{
+		{ID: uuidN(1), PickKind: pickKindDormant},
+		{ID: uuidN(2), PickKind: pickKindDormant},
+	}
+	random := []discoverTrack{
+		{ID: uuidN(1), PickKind: pickKindRandom}, // shared with dormant
+		{ID: uuidN(3), PickKind: pickKindRandom},
+	}
+	got := interleaveBuckets(dormant, nil, random)
+	if len(got) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("len = %d, want 3", len(got))
+	}
+	want := map[byte]string{1: pickKindDormant, 2: pickKindDormant, 3: pickKindRandom}
+	for _, tr := range got {
+		if w := want[tr.ID.Bytes[15]]; tr.PickKind != w {
+			t.Errorf("track %d pick_kind = %q, want %q", tr.ID.Bytes[15], tr.PickKind, w)
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/playlists/foryou_test.go

@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func TestPickHeadAndTail_SmallPool(t *testing.T) {
 		makeCand(2, 11, 101, 0.9),
 		makeCand(3, 12, 102, 0.8),
 	}
-	got := pickHeadAndTail(in, testUserID, "2026-05-07", time.Now(), 5, 2)
+	got := pickHeadAndTail(in, nil, 1, testUserID, "2026-05-07", time.Now(), 5, 2)
 	if len(got) != 3 {
 		t.Errorf("len = %d, want 3 (pool too small for head/tail split)", len(got))
 	}
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ func TestPickHeadAndTail_ExactlyTotal(t *testing.T) {
 	for i := 0; i < 7; i++ {
 		in = append(in, makeCand(i+1, i+1, i+1, float64(7-i)))
 	}
-	got := pickHeadAndTail(in, testUserID, "2026-05-07", time.Now(), 5, 2)
+	got := pickHeadAndTail(in, nil, 1, testUserID, "2026-05-07", time.Now(), 5, 2)
 	if len(got) != 7 {
 		t.Errorf("len = %d, want 7 (pool == total)", len(got))
 	}
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func TestPickHeadAndTail_HeadAndTailSplit(t *testing.T) {
 	for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
 		in = append(in, makeCand(i+1, i+1, i+1, float64(100-i)))
 	}
-	got := pickHeadAndTail(in, testUserID, "2026-05-07", time.Now(), 20, 5)
+	got := pickHeadAndTail(in, nil, 1, testUserID, "2026-05-07", time.Now(), 20, 5)
 	if len(got) != 25 {
 		t.Errorf("len = %d, want 25 (20 head + 5 tail)", len(got))
 	}
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@ func TestPickHeadAndTail_Determinism(t *testing.T) {
 		in = append(in, makeCand(i+1, i+1, i+1, float64(100-i)))
 	}
 	now := time.Now()
-	got1 := pickHeadAndTail(in, testUserID, "2026-05-07", now, 20, 5)
-	got2 := pickHeadAndTail(in, testUserID, "2026-05-07", now, 20, 5)
+	got1 := pickHeadAndTail(in, nil, 1, testUserID, "2026-05-07", now, 20, 5)
+	got2 := pickHeadAndTail(in, nil, 1, testUserID, "2026-05-07", now, 20, 5)
 	if len(got1) != len(got2) {
 		t.Fatalf("len mismatch: %d vs %d", len(got1), len(got2))
 	}
@@ -161,8 +161,8 @@ func TestPickHeadAndTail_HeadStable_TailVariesAcrossDays(t *testing.T) {
 		in = append(in, makeCand(i+1, i+1, i+1, float64(100-i)))
 	}
 	now := time.Now()
-	day1 := pickHeadAndTail(in, testUserID, "2026-05-07", now, 20, 5)
-	day2 := pickHeadAndTail(in, testUserID, "2026-05-08", now, 20, 5)
+	day1 := pickHeadAndTail(in, nil, 1, testUserID, "2026-05-07", now, 20, 5)
+	day2 := pickHeadAndTail(in, nil, 1, testUserID, "2026-05-08", now, 20, 5)
 	if len(day1) != 25 || len(day2) != 25 {
 		t.Fatalf("len mismatch: day1=%d day2=%d", len(day1), len(day2))
 	}
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ func TestPickHeadAndTail_TailFromBeyond2xHeadN(t *testing.T) {
 		sim := float64(50 - i)
 		in = append(in, makeCand(i+1, i+1, i+1, sim))
 	}
-	got := pickHeadAndTail(in, testUserID, "2026-05-07", time.Now(), 5, 3)
+	got := pickHeadAndTail(in, nil, 1, testUserID, "2026-05-07", time.Now(), 5, 3)
 	if len(got) != 8 {
 		t.Fatalf("len = %d, want 8 (5 head + 3 tail)", len(got))
 	}
@@ -243,3 +243,190 @@ func TestPickTopN_DiversityCap(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("len = %d, want 3 (artist 100 capped at 3)", len(got))
 	}
 }
+
+func TestPickHeadAndTail_MarksPickKinds(t *testing.T) {
+	// 100-deep pool with headN=20, tailN=5: the 20 head entries are the
+	// taste picks, the 5 tail entries the freshness injection (#1249).
+	in := make([]recommendation.Candidate, 0, 100)
+	for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
+		in = append(in, makeCand(i+1, i+1, i+1, float64(100-i)))
+	}
+	got := pickHeadAndTail(in, nil, 1, testUserID, "2026-05-07", time.Now(), 20, 5)
+	if len(got) != 25 {
+		t.Fatalf("len = %d, want 25", len(got))
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < 20; i++ {
+		if got[i].PickKind != pickKindTaste {
+			t.Errorf("head[%d].PickKind = %q, want %q", i, got[i].PickKind, pickKindTaste)
+		}
+	}
+	for i := 20; i < 25; i++ {
+		if got[i].PickKind != pickKindFresh {
+			t.Errorf("tail[%d].PickKind = %q, want %q", i-20, got[i].PickKind, pickKindFresh)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPickHeadAndTail_SmallPoolAllTaste(t *testing.T) {
+	// The small-pool fallback is pure top-N-by-score — that IS the taste
+	// mechanism, so nothing on this path is an exploration pick.
+	in := []recommendation.Candidate{
+		makeCand(1, 10, 100, 1.0),
+		makeCand(2, 11, 101, 0.9),
+		makeCand(3, 12, 102, 0.8),
+	}
+	got := pickHeadAndTail(in, nil, 1, testUserID, "2026-05-07", time.Now(), 5, 2)
+	for i, rc := range got {
+		if rc.PickKind != pickKindTaste {
+			t.Errorf("got[%d].PickKind = %q, want %q (fallback is all taste)",
+				i, rc.PickKind, pickKindTaste)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPickTopN_NoPickKind(t *testing.T) {
+	// Songs-like-X and the discovery mixes don't split; their rows must
+	// persist pick_kind NULL (empty string here).
+	in := []recommendation.Candidate{makeCand(1, 10, 100, 1.0)}
+	got := pickTopN(in, testUserID, "2026-05-07", time.Now(), 25)
+	if len(got) != 1 || got[0].PickKind != "" {
+		t.Errorf("pickTopN PickKind = %q, want empty (persists as NULL)", got[0].PickKind)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHeadQuotas(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		seeds, headN int
+		want         []int
+	}{
+		{1, 50, []int{50}},
+		{2, 50, []int{30, 20}},
+		{3, 50, []int{25, 15, 10}},
+		{3, 7, []int{4, 2, 1}}, // rounding remainder → primary seed
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		got := headQuotas(c.seeds, c.headN)
+		if len(got) != len(c.want) {
+			t.Fatalf("headQuotas(%d, %d) len = %d, want %d", c.seeds, c.headN, len(got), len(c.want))
+		}
+		sum := 0
+		for i := range got {
+			sum += got[i]
+			if got[i] != c.want[i] {
+				t.Errorf("headQuotas(%d, %d)[%d] = %d, want %d", c.seeds, c.headN, i, got[i], c.want[i])
+			}
+		}
+		if sum != c.headN {
+			t.Errorf("headQuotas(%d, %d) sums to %d, want %d", c.seeds, c.headN, sum, c.headN)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPickQuotaHead_BlendsSeeds(t *testing.T) {
+	// Seed 0's neighborhood out-scores everything (#1269): without
+	// quotas the head would be all seed-0. With headN=10 and quotas
+	// [5,3,2], the walk takes the best 5 from seed 0, then seeds 1 and
+	// 2 get their guaranteed slots from deeper ranks.
+	in := make([]recommendation.Candidate, 0, 30)
+	seedOf := map[pgtype.UUID]int{}
+	for i := 0; i < 30; i++ {
+		c := makeCand(i+1, i+1, i+1, float64(30-i))
+		si := 0
+		if i >= 20 && i < 25 {
+			si = 1
+		} else if i >= 25 {
+			si = 2
+		}
+		seedOf[c.Track.ID] = si
+		in = append(in, c)
+	}
+	// Input is already score-descending and cap-free.
+	head := pickQuotaHead(in, seedOf, 3, 10)
+	if len(head) != 10 {
+		t.Fatalf("head len = %d, want 10", len(head))
+	}
+	want := []byte{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27}
+	for i, w := range want {
+		if head[i].Track.ID.Bytes[15] != w {
+			t.Errorf("head[%d] = track %d, want %d", i, head[i].Track.ID.Bytes[15], w)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPickQuotaHead_ThinSeedSpillsBestFirst(t *testing.T) {
+	// Seed 1 has a single candidate; its unfilled quota goes to the
+	// best remaining candidates regardless of seed.
+	in := make([]recommendation.Candidate, 0, 12)
+	seedOf := map[pgtype.UUID]int{}
+	for i := 0; i < 12; i++ {
+		c := makeCand(i+1, i+1, i+1, float64(12-i))
+		si := 0
+		if i == 11 {
+			si = 1 // the worst-ranked candidate is seed 1's only one
+		}
+		seedOf[c.Track.ID] = si
+		in = append(in, c)
+	}
+	head := pickQuotaHead(in, seedOf, 2, 10)
+	if len(head) != 10 {
+		t.Fatalf("head len = %d, want 10", len(head))
+	}
+	// Quotas [6,4]: seed 0 fills 6 (tracks 1-6), seed 1 fills 1
+	// (track 12), spill tops up with tracks 7-9.
+	got := map[byte]bool{}
+	for _, c := range head {
+		got[c.Track.ID.Bytes[15]] = true
+	}
+	for _, w := range []byte{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12} {
+		if !got[w] {
+			t.Errorf("head missing track %d (spill should fill best-first)", w)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPickWeightedTail_PrefersEarlyRanks(t *testing.T) {
+	// The fresh tail's sample is rank-weighted (#1269): across many
+	// days, the mean selected rank must sit well below the uniform
+	// draw's ~99.5 for a 200-deep pool.
+	pool := make([]recommendation.Candidate, 0, 200)
+	for i := 0; i < 200; i++ {
+		c := makeCand(1, i+1, i+1, 1.0)
+		// Distinct track IDs beyond one byte: bytes wrap at 256.
+		c.Track.ID.Bytes[14] = byte(i / 200)
+		c.Track.ID.Bytes[15] = byte(i % 200)
+		pool = append(pool, c)
+	}
+	rankOf := map[pgtype.UUID]int{}
+	for i, c := range pool {
+		rankOf[c.Track.ID] = i
+	}
+	totalRank, picks := 0, 0
+	for day := 1; day <= 28; day++ {
+		got := pickWeightedTail(pool, "2026-06-"+twoDigits(day), 10)
+		if len(got) != 10 {
+			t.Fatalf("day %d: len = %d, want 10", day, len(got))
+		}
+		for _, c := range got {
+			totalRank += rankOf[c.Track.ID]
+			picks++
+		}
+	}
+	mean := float64(totalRank) / float64(picks)
+	if mean > 80 {
+		t.Errorf("mean selected rank = %.1f; want well below uniform ~99.5", mean)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPickWeightedTail_DeterministicWithinDay(t *testing.T) {
+	pool := make([]recommendation.Candidate, 0, 60)
+	for i := 0; i < 60; i++ {
+		pool = append(pool, makeCand(i+1, i+1, i+1, 1.0))
+	}
+	a := pickWeightedTail(pool, "2026-06-05", 8)
+	b := pickWeightedTail(pool, "2026-06-05", 8)
+	for i := range a {
+		if a[i].Track.ID != b[i].Track.ID {
+			t.Fatal("weighted tail must be deterministic within a day")
+		}
+	}
+}

internal/playlists/scheduler.go

@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ func (s *Scheduler) runStartupCatchUp(ctx context.Context, users []dbq.ListActiv
 // build can read a fresh profile (phase-2 consumption); both steps are
 // best-effort and a failure in one is logged without blocking the other.
 func (s *Scheduler) rebuildUserDaily(ctx context.Context, userID pgtype.UUID, now time.Time) {
-	if err := taste.BuildTasteProfile(ctx, s.pool, s.logger, userID, taste.DefaultConfig()); err != nil {
+	if err := taste.BuildTasteProfile(ctx, s.pool, s.logger, userID, currentTasteConfig()); err != nil {
 		s.logger.Warn("scheduler: taste profile rebuild failed",
 			"user_id", uuidStringPL(userID), "err", err)
 	}

internal/playlists/seed_selection_test.go

@@ -46,6 +46,26 @@ func TestPickSeedArtistsFromRows_Empty(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestPickKindForSeedTier(t *testing.T) {
+	// The seed query's fallback tiers map onto the rule-#131 ladder:
+	// fresh 7-day engagement is the exact desire, everything past the
+	// 30-day step-back collapses into the far tier (#1255).
+	cases := []struct {
+		tier int32
+		want string
+	}{
+		{0, pickKindTier1},
+		{1, pickKindTier2},
+		{2, pickKindTier3},
+		{3, pickKindTier3},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		if got := pickKindForSeedTier(c.tier); got != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("pickKindForSeedTier(%d) = %q, want %q", c.tier, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // userIDHash is the per-user, per-day hash that drives the daily-
 // determinism RNGs. Same family as tieBreakHash, just keyed on user
 // ID instead of track ID.
@@ -76,60 +96,65 @@ func TestUserIDHash_DifferentUserChangesHash(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// pickForYouSeedForDay rotates the chosen For-You seed across the
-// user's top-played candidates using userIDHash. Verifies the picker
-// is deterministic within a day, varies across days, and degrades
-// gracefully when fewer than 5 candidates exist.
+// pickDailySeeds shuffles the candidate pool daily-deterministically
+// and takes up to n — For-You uses n=forYouSeedCount for its
+// multi-seed blend (#1269), Songs-like uses n=3 via the
+// pickSeedArtistsForDay wrapper. Verifies determinism within a day,
+// variation across days, and graceful degradation on small pools.
 
-func TestPickForYouSeedForDay_DeterministicWithinDay(t *testing.T) {
+func TestPickDailySeeds_DeterministicWithinDay(t *testing.T) {
 	u := pgtype.UUID{Bytes: [16]byte{1}, Valid: true}
-	seeds := []pgtype.UUID{
+	pool := []pgtype.UUID{
 		{Bytes: [16]byte{10}, Valid: true},
 		{Bytes: [16]byte{20}, Valid: true},
 		{Bytes: [16]byte{30}, Valid: true},
 		{Bytes: [16]byte{40}, Valid: true},
 		{Bytes: [16]byte{50}, Valid: true},
 	}
-	a := pickForYouSeedForDay(seeds, u, "2026-05-04")
-	b := pickForYouSeedForDay(seeds, u, "2026-05-04")
-	if a != b {
-		t.Fatalf("same day should pick same seed; got %v then %v", a, b)
+	a := pickDailySeeds(pool, u, "2026-05-04", 3)
+	b := pickDailySeeds(pool, u, "2026-05-04", 3)
+	if len(a) != 3 || len(b) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("lens = %d, %d; want 3, 3", len(a), len(b))
+	}
+	for i := range a {
+		if a[i] != b[i] {
+			t.Fatalf("same day should pick same seeds; got %v then %v", a, b)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
-func TestPickForYouSeedForDay_VariesAcrossDays(t *testing.T) {
+func TestPickDailySeeds_VariesAcrossDays(t *testing.T) {
 	u := pgtype.UUID{Bytes: [16]byte{1}, Valid: true}
-	seeds := []pgtype.UUID{
+	pool := []pgtype.UUID{
 		{Bytes: [16]byte{10}, Valid: true},
 		{Bytes: [16]byte{20}, Valid: true},
 		{Bytes: [16]byte{30}, Valid: true},
 		{Bytes: [16]byte{40}, Valid: true},
 		{Bytes: [16]byte{50}, Valid: true},
 	}
-	picks := map[[16]byte]bool{}
+	firstPicks := map[[16]byte]bool{}
 	for i := 1; i <= 30; i++ {
 		date := "2026-05-" + twoDigits(i)
-		picks[pickForYouSeedForDay(seeds, u, date).Bytes] = true
+		firstPicks[pickDailySeeds(pool, u, date, 3)[0].Bytes] = true
 	}
-	if len(picks) < 2 {
-		t.Errorf("expected >=2 distinct seeds across 30 days; got %d", len(picks))
+	if len(firstPicks) < 2 {
+		t.Errorf("expected >=2 distinct lead seeds across 30 days; got %d", len(firstPicks))
 	}
 }
 
-func TestPickForYouSeedForDay_SingleCandidate(t *testing.T) {
+func TestPickDailySeeds_SmallPool(t *testing.T) {
 	u := pgtype.UUID{Bytes: [16]byte{1}, Valid: true}
 	only := pgtype.UUID{Bytes: [16]byte{99}, Valid: true}
-	got := pickForYouSeedForDay([]pgtype.UUID{only}, u, "2026-05-04")
-	if got != only {
-		t.Errorf("single-seed pool should return that seed; got %v", got)
+	got := pickDailySeeds([]pgtype.UUID{only}, u, "2026-05-04", 3)
+	if len(got) != 1 || got[0] != only {
+		t.Errorf("single-entry pool should return just that entry; got %v", got)
 	}
 }
 
-func TestPickForYouSeedForDay_EmptyPool(t *testing.T) {
+func TestPickDailySeeds_EmptyPool(t *testing.T) {
 	u := pgtype.UUID{Bytes: [16]byte{1}, Valid: true}
-	got := pickForYouSeedForDay(nil, u, "2026-05-04")
-	if got.Valid {
-		t.Errorf("empty pool should return zero UUID; got %v", got)
+	if got := pickDailySeeds(nil, u, "2026-05-04", 3); len(got) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("empty pool should return nothing; got %v", got)
 	}
 }
 

internal/playlists/system.go

@@ -12,8 +12,10 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"log/slog"
+	"math"
 	"math/rand"
 	"sort"
+	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5"
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/db/dbq"
 	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/recommendation"
+	"git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/internal/taste"
 )
 
 // seedArtistRow mirrors the sqlc-generated PickSeedArtistsRow shape.
@@ -83,32 +86,15 @@ func userIDHash(userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr string) uint64 {
 	return binary.BigEndian.Uint64(sum[:8])
 }
 
-// pickForYouSeedForDay picks one of the user's top-played candidate
-// tracks as today's For-You seed. With 5 candidates and SHA-256-based
-// rotation, each candidate gets picked roughly 1 day in 5; the chosen
-// seed drives the similarity candidate pool, so the resulting mix is
-// substantially different across days for a user with diverse top-N
-// plays.
-//
-// Degrades gracefully: 1 candidate → returns it; 0 → returns zero UUID
-// (caller treats as "no seed available" and skips For-You).
-func pickForYouSeedForDay(seeds []pgtype.UUID, userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr string) pgtype.UUID {
-	if len(seeds) == 0 {
-		return pgtype.UUID{}
-	}
-	idx := int(userIDHash(userID, dateStr) % uint64(len(seeds)))
-	return seeds[idx]
-}
-
-// pickSeedArtistsForDay takes a candidate pool of up to N artists and
-// returns up to 3 of them, daily-deterministically shuffled. Each day
-// gets a different ordering / selection, but within-day stability is
-// preserved (same inputs always produce the same output).
+// pickDailySeeds takes a candidate pool of UUIDs and returns up to n
+// of them, daily-deterministically shuffled. Each day gets a different
+// ordering / selection, but within-day stability is preserved (same
+// inputs always produce the same output).
 //
 // Uses Fisher-Yates over a copy of the input, seeded by userIDHash.
-// Degrades gracefully: <3 candidates returns whatever is available in
+// Degrades gracefully: <n candidates returns whatever is available in
 // shuffled order.
-func pickSeedArtistsForDay(pool []pgtype.UUID, userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr string) []pgtype.UUID {
+func pickDailySeeds(pool []pgtype.UUID, userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr string, n int) []pgtype.UUID {
 	if len(pool) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -118,41 +104,137 @@ func pickSeedArtistsForDay(pool []pgtype.UUID, userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr strin
 	rng.Shuffle(len(shuffled), func(i, j int) {
 		shuffled[i], shuffled[j] = shuffled[j], shuffled[i]
 	})
-	n := 3
 	if len(shuffled) < n {
 		n = len(shuffled)
 	}
 	return shuffled[:n]
 }
 
+// pickSeedArtistsForDay picks up to 3 seed artists for the Songs-like
+// mixes; For-You uses pickDailySeeds directly with forYouSeedCount.
+func pickSeedArtistsForDay(pool []pgtype.UUID, userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr string) []pgtype.UUID {
+	return pickDailySeeds(pool, userID, dateStr, 3)
+}
+
 // rankedCandidate is a (track_id, score) pair used during in-memory
 // sorting before insert into playlist_tracks. T5 fills these from
-// recommendation.Candidate scores.
+// recommendation.Candidate scores. PickKind is the track's provenance
+// within its mix — For-You's head/tail split (#1249) and Discover's
+// buckets (#1270); empty persists as NULL (variant doesn't stamp yet).
 type rankedCandidate struct {
-	TrackID pgtype.UUID
-	Score   float64
+	TrackID  pgtype.UUID
+	Score    float64
+	PickKind string
+}
+
+// Pick kinds, persisted on playlist_tracks.pick_kind so plays can
+// attribute skips to the population that sourced the track — For You's
+// "taste engine missing" vs "freshness tax", Discover's three buckets
+// (#1270). Values mirror the CHECK in migration 0039; the tier1-3
+// values there land with the tiered-mix rebuilds.
+const (
+	pickKindTaste     = "taste"
+	pickKindFresh     = "fresh"
+	pickKindDormant   = "dormant"
+	pickKindCrossUser = "cross_user"
+	pickKindRandom    = "random"
+	pickKindTier1     = "tier1"
+	pickKindTier2     = "tier2"
+	pickKindTier3     = "tier3"
+)
+
+// pickKindForSeedTier maps PickSeedArtists' seed-pool fallback tier
+// onto the rule-#131 pick-kind ladder: fresh 7-day engagement pins the
+// mix's exact desire (tier1), the 30-day window steps back a little
+// (tier2), and all-time / liked-only seeds are the far fallback
+// (tier3). Stamped mix-wide — seed staleness is a property of the
+// whole build, and it's what the metrics breakdown attributes skips to.
+func pickKindForSeedTier(tier int32) string {
+	switch tier {
+	case 0:
+		return pickKindTier1
+	case 1:
+		return pickKindTier2
+	default:
+		return pickKindTier3
+	}
+}
+
+// pickKindForMixTier maps a tiered mix query's 1-based tier column
+// (numbered to match rule #131's ladder directly) onto the pick-kind
+// vocabulary. Distinct from pickKindForSeedTier, whose 0-based tiers
+// count fallback steps of the seed pool rather than eligibility rungs.
+func pickKindForMixTier(tier int32) string {
+	switch tier {
+	case 1:
+		return pickKindTier1
+	case 2:
+		return pickKindTier2
+	default:
+		return pickKindTier3
+	}
 }
 
 const systemMixLength = 25
 
-// systemMixWeights are the fixed scoring weights used by the cron worker.
+// systemMixWeights are the scoring weights used by the daily builds.
 // JitterMagnitude is small (0.1) and combined with a userIDHash-seeded
 // RNG (see scoreAndSortCandidates) — same (user, day) produces same
 // scores within a day, but near-tied candidates reshuffle across days
 // so the playlist doesn't feel frozen.
-var systemMixWeights = recommendation.ScoringWeights{
-	BaseWeight:       1.0,
-	LikeBoost:        2.0,
-	RecencyWeight:    1.0,
-	SkipPenalty:      2.0,
-	JitterMagnitude:  0.1,
-	ContextWeight:    0.5,
-	SimilarityWeight: 1.5,
-	// Taste profile (#796 phase 2): the daily mixes are the primary
-	// taste-driven surface, so they lean on it. TasteMatchScore is in
-	// [-1,+1], so 1.5 makes a strong taste fit comparable to a like boost
-	// while passive avoidance (negative) gently demotes.
-	TasteWeight: 1.5,
+//
+// DB-tunable since #1250: the recsettings service pushes the current
+// daily_mix profile via SetSystemMixWeights at boot and on every admin
+// change (coverart Configure() pattern — no signature threading, live
+// effect without restart). The literal here is only the pre-push
+// value; shipped defaults live in recsettings.ShippedDailyMixWeights,
+// which must stay in sync with it.
+var (
+	systemTuningMu   sync.RWMutex
+	systemMixWeights = recommendation.ScoringWeights{
+		BaseWeight:       1.0,
+		LikeBoost:        2.0,
+		RecencyWeight:    1.0,
+		SkipPenalty:      2.0,
+		JitterMagnitude:  0.1,
+		ContextWeight:    0.5,
+		SimilarityWeight: 1.5,
+		// Taste profile (#796 phase 2): the daily mixes are the primary
+		// taste-driven surface, so they lean on it. TasteMatchScore is in
+		// [-1,+1], so 1.5 makes a strong taste fit comparable to a like boost
+		// while passive avoidance (negative) gently demotes.
+		TasteWeight: 1.5,
+	}
+	systemTasteConfig = taste.DefaultConfig()
+)
+
+// SetSystemMixWeights installs the current daily_mix scoring weights.
+// Called by the recsettings service at boot and on admin updates.
+func SetSystemMixWeights(w recommendation.ScoringWeights) {
+	systemTuningMu.Lock()
+	defer systemTuningMu.Unlock()
+	systemMixWeights = w
+}
+
+// SetTasteConfig installs the taste-profile build configuration
+// (half-life + engagement curve, #1250). Same push model as
+// SetSystemMixWeights.
+func SetTasteConfig(c taste.Config) {
+	systemTuningMu.Lock()
+	defer systemTuningMu.Unlock()
+	systemTasteConfig = c
+}
+
+func currentSystemMixWeights() recommendation.ScoringWeights {
+	systemTuningMu.RLock()
+	defer systemTuningMu.RUnlock()
+	return systemMixWeights
+}
+
+func currentTasteConfig() taste.Config {
+	systemTuningMu.RLock()
+	defer systemTuningMu.RUnlock()
+	return systemTasteConfig
 }
 
 // forYouHeadN is the number of top-scored tracks that anchor the For-You
@@ -175,6 +257,122 @@ const (
 	forYouTailN = 50
 )
 
+// forYouSeedCount is how many of the user's top-5 tracks seed each
+// day's build (#1269). A single rotating seed made the mix bipolar
+// day-to-day — swinging whole neighborhoods as the rotation moved
+// between dissimilar anchors; blending 3 spans neighborhoods within
+// one day and smooths the swing across days.
+const forYouSeedCount = 3
+
+// headQuotas fixes each seed's share of the For-You head so one
+// neighborhood can't monopolize it even when its candidates out-score
+// the others (#1269): 50/30/20 for three seeds, 60/40 for two, all of
+// it for one. Rounding remainder goes to the primary seed; a thin
+// seed's unfilled quota spills best-first in pickQuotaHead.
+func headQuotas(numSeeds, headN int) []int {
+	if numSeeds <= 1 {
+		return []int{headN}
+	}
+	fractions := []float64{0.5, 0.3, 0.2}
+	if numSeeds == 2 {
+		fractions = []float64{0.6, 0.4}
+	}
+	if numSeeds > len(fractions) {
+		// Not reachable at forYouSeedCount = 3; even split keeps any
+		// future seed-count change from silently starving seeds.
+		fractions = make([]float64, numSeeds)
+		for i := range fractions {
+			fractions[i] = 1.0 / float64(numSeeds)
+		}
+	}
+	quotas := make([]int, numSeeds)
+	assigned := 0
+	for i := 0; i < numSeeds; i++ {
+		quotas[i] = int(float64(headN) * fractions[i])
+		assigned += quotas[i]
+	}
+	quotas[0] += headN - assigned
+	return quotas
+}
+
+// pickQuotaHead walks the score-sorted capped pool best-first, taking
+// candidates whose originating seed still has head quota; slots a thin
+// seed can't fill spill best-first regardless of seed in a second
+// pass. A nil seedOf (single-seed path, tests) attributes everything
+// to seed 0, which reduces to plain top-headN.
+func pickQuotaHead(capped []recommendation.Candidate, seedOf map[pgtype.UUID]int, numSeeds, headN int) []recommendation.Candidate {
+	quotas := headQuotas(numSeeds, headN)
+	taken := make([]int, len(quotas))
+	inHead := make(map[pgtype.UUID]bool, headN)
+	head := make([]recommendation.Candidate, 0, headN)
+	for _, c := range capped {
+		if len(head) >= headN {
+			break
+		}
+		si := seedOf[c.Track.ID]
+		if si < 0 || si >= len(quotas) {
+			si = 0
+		}
+		if taken[si] >= quotas[si] {
+			continue
+		}
+		taken[si]++
+		head = append(head, c)
+		inHead[c.Track.ID] = true
+	}
+	for _, c := range capped {
+		if len(head) >= headN {
+			break
+		}
+		if inHead[c.Track.ID] {
+			continue
+		}
+		head = append(head, c)
+		inHead[c.Track.ID] = true
+	}
+	return head
+}
+
+// forYouTailHalfLifeRanks tunes the fresh tail's rank bias (#1269): a
+// candidate's sampling weight halves every 50 ranks, so the 101st-best
+// candidate is far likelier than the 401st-best instead of equal —
+// freshness keeps its "you'll probably enjoy this" half.
+const forYouTailHalfLifeRanks = 50.0
+
+// tailSampleUniverse quantizes tieBreakHash into a uniform (0,1] draw
+// for the weighted sample; 1e6 buckets is plenty of resolution for
+// pools of a few hundred.
+const tailSampleUniverse uint64 = 1_000_000
+
+// pickWeightedTail samples up to tailN candidates from the rank-
+// ordered tail pool with exponentially rank-decaying weights, using
+// deterministic Efraimidis-Spirakis keys (u^(1/w), u derived from
+// tieBreakHash): same (track, day) → same key, so the sample is stable
+// within a day and rotates across days. Replaces the uniform daily
+// draw where rank 380 had the same chance as rank 101.
+func pickWeightedTail(tailPool []recommendation.Candidate, dateStr string, tailN int) []recommendation.Candidate {
+	if len(tailPool) <= tailN {
+		return tailPool
+	}
+	type keyed struct {
+		c   recommendation.Candidate
+		key float64
+	}
+	keys := make([]keyed, len(tailPool))
+	for i, c := range tailPool {
+		u := (float64(tieBreakHash(c.Track.ID, dateStr)%tailSampleUniverse) + 1) /
+			float64(tailSampleUniverse+1)
+		w := math.Exp2(-float64(i) / forYouTailHalfLifeRanks)
+		keys[i] = keyed{c: c, key: math.Pow(u, 1/w)}
+	}
+	sort.SliceStable(keys, func(i, j int) bool { return keys[i].key > keys[j].key })
+	out := make([]recommendation.Candidate, tailN)
+	for i := 0; i < tailN; i++ {
+		out[i] = keys[i].c
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 // scoreAndSortCandidates scores every candidate with recommendation.Score
 // and returns a new slice sorted by score DESC (ties broken by
 // tieBreakHash). The scoring RNG is seeded by userIDHash so jitter is
@@ -199,9 +397,10 @@ func scoreAndSortCandidates(cands []recommendation.Candidate, userID pgtype.UUID
 	sort.SliceStable(ordered, func(i, j int) bool {
 		return uuidLessPL(ordered[i].Track.ID, ordered[j].Track.ID)
 	})
+	weights := currentSystemMixWeights()
 	pairs := make([]scored, len(ordered))
 	for i, c := range ordered {
-		pairs[i] = scored{c: c, score: recommendation.Score(c.Inputs, systemMixWeights, now, rng.Float64)}
+		pairs[i] = scored{c: c, score: recommendation.Score(c.Inputs, weights, now, rng.Float64)}
 	}
 	sort.SliceStable(pairs, func(i, j int) bool {
 		if pairs[i].score != pairs[j].score {
@@ -336,10 +535,11 @@ func systemForYouSourceLimits() recommendation.CandidateSourceLimits {
 	}
 }
 
-// produceForYou: today's seed from the user's top-5 played tracks
-// (rotates daily via userIDHash), similarity candidate pool, head+
-// tail composition. The base seed query failing is fatal; a
-// candidate-load failure is logged and yields no For-You.
+// produceForYou: blend candidate pools from up to forYouSeedCount of
+// the user's top-5 played tracks (rotating daily via pickDailySeeds),
+// then head+tail composition with per-seed head quotas (#1269). The
+// base seed query failing is fatal; a per-seed candidate-load failure
+// is logged and that seed just contributes nothing.
 func produceForYou(
 	ctx context.Context, q *dbq.Queries, logger *slog.Logger,
 	userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr string, now time.Time,
@@ -348,24 +548,40 @@ func produceForYou(
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("pick for-you seed candidates: %w", err)
 	}
-	forYouSeed := pickForYouSeedForDay(forYouSeeds, userID, dateStr)
-	if !forYouSeed.Valid {
+	seeds := pickDailySeeds(forYouSeeds, userID, dateStr, forYouSeedCount)
+	if len(seeds) == 0 {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
 	zeroVec := recommendation.SessionVector{Seed: true}
-	cands, cerr := recommendation.LoadCandidatesFromSimilarity(
-		ctx, q, userID, forYouSeed,
-		1, // recentlyPlayedHours — small to avoid filtering the seed's recent neighbourhood
-		zeroVec,
-		[]pgtype.UUID{forYouSeed},
-		systemForYouSourceLimits(),
-	)
-	if cerr != nil {
-		logger.Warn("system playlist: for-you candidates load failed; skipping",
-			"user_id", uuidStringPL(userID), "err", cerr)
+	// Merge per-seed pools; first-seen wins on dedup, and seedOf
+	// remembers which seed sourced each track for the head quotas.
+	var merged []recommendation.Candidate
+	seedOf := map[pgtype.UUID]int{}
+	for i, seed := range seeds {
+		cands, cerr := recommendation.LoadCandidatesFromSimilarity(
+			ctx, q, userID, seed,
+			1, // recentlyPlayedHours — small to avoid filtering the seed's recent neighbourhood
+			zeroVec,
+			seeds,
+			systemForYouSourceLimits(),
+		)
+		if cerr != nil {
+			logger.Warn("system playlist: for-you candidates load failed for seed; continuing",
+				"user_id", uuidStringPL(userID), "seed", uuidStringPL(seed), "err", cerr)
+			continue
+		}
+		for _, c := range cands {
+			if _, seen := seedOf[c.Track.ID]; seen {
+				continue
+			}
+			seedOf[c.Track.ID] = i
+			merged = append(merged, c)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(merged) == 0 {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
-	tracks := pickHeadAndTail(cands, userID, dateStr, now, forYouHeadN, forYouTailN)
+	tracks := pickHeadAndTail(merged, seedOf, len(seeds), userID, dateStr, now, forYouHeadN, forYouTailN)
 	if len(tracks) == 0 {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
@@ -373,8 +589,11 @@ func produceForYou(
 }
 
 // produceSeedMixes: up to 3 "Songs like {artist}" mixes. Seed
-// artists rotate daily-deterministically. The base seed-artist
-// query failing is fatal; per-artist failures are logged + skipped.
+// artists rotate daily-deterministically; the seed query falls back
+// through widening engagement windows (#1255) and every returned row
+// shares the winning tier, stamped onto the built tracks as their
+// pick_kind. The base seed-artist query failing is fatal; per-artist
+// failures are logged + skipped.
 func produceSeedMixes(
 	ctx context.Context, q *dbq.Queries, logger *slog.Logger,
 	userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr string, now time.Time,
@@ -383,6 +602,10 @@ func produceSeedMixes(
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("pick seed artists: %w", err)
 	}
+	seedTierKind := ""
+	if len(seedRows) > 0 {
+		seedTierKind = pickKindForSeedTier(seedRows[0].Tier)
+	}
 	seedRowsLocal := make([]seedArtistRow, 0, len(seedRows))
 	for _, r := range seedRows {
 		seedRowsLocal = append(seedRowsLocal, seedArtistRow{
@@ -427,6 +650,9 @@ func produceSeedMixes(
 		if len(tracks) == 0 {
 			continue
 		}
+		for i := range tracks {
+			tracks[i].PickKind = seedTierKind
+		}
 		out = append(out, builtPlaylist{
 			Name:         fmt.Sprintf("Songs like %s", artistRow.Name),
 			Variant:      "songs_like_artist",
@@ -601,20 +827,22 @@ func pickTopN(cands []recommendation.Candidate, userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr stri
 		capped = capped[:n]
 	}
 	rng := rand.New(rand.NewSource(int64(userIDHash(userID, dateStr))))
+	weights := currentSystemMixWeights()
 	out := make([]rankedCandidate, len(capped))
 	for i, c := range capped {
 		out[i] = rankedCandidate{
 			TrackID: c.Track.ID,
-			Score:   recommendation.Score(c.Inputs, systemMixWeights, now, rng.Float64),
+			Score:   recommendation.Score(c.Inputs, weights, now, rng.Float64),
 		}
 	}
 	return out
 }
 
-// pickHeadAndTail picks headN from the score-sorted head plus tailN from
-// positions 2*headN onward (the tail), with the tail sampled
-// daily-deterministically via tieBreakHash. Caps applied before the
-// head/tail split. Used by For-You only.
+// pickHeadAndTail picks headN taste anchors from the score-sorted pool
+// (under per-seed quotas when seedOf/numSeeds describe a multi-seed
+// blend, #1269) plus tailN freshness picks sampled rank-weighted from
+// positions 2*headN onward. Caps applied before the head/tail split.
+// Used by For-You only.
 //
 // The "tail" — candidates ranked beyond 2*headN — is still similarity-
 // related (every candidate passed the similarity filter) but isn't among
@@ -624,58 +852,76 @@ func pickTopN(cands []recommendation.Candidate, userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr stri
 // Falls back to standard pickTopN behavior when the candidate pool is too
 // small to support a meaningful head/tail split (capped pool <=
 // headN+tailN, or no candidates at or beyond position 2*headN).
-func pickHeadAndTail(cands []recommendation.Candidate, userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr string, now time.Time, headN, tailN int) []rankedCandidate {
+func pickHeadAndTail(
+	cands []recommendation.Candidate, seedOf map[pgtype.UUID]int, numSeeds int,
+	userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr string, now time.Time, headN, tailN int,
+) []rankedCandidate {
 	sorted := scoreAndSortCandidates(cands, userID, dateStr, now)
 	capped := capCandidatesByAlbumAndArtist(sorted)
 	rng := rand.New(rand.NewSource(int64(userIDHash(userID, dateStr))))
+	weights := currentSystemMixWeights()
 
 	total := headN + tailN
 	if len(capped) <= total {
 		// Pool too small for a head/tail split — return up to total entries.
+		// All marked taste: top-N-by-score IS the taste mechanism; no
+		// exploration sampling happens on this path.
 		if len(capped) < total {
 			total = len(capped)
 		}
 		out := make([]rankedCandidate, total)
 		for i := 0; i < total; i++ {
 			out[i] = rankedCandidate{
-				TrackID: capped[i].Track.ID,
-				Score:   recommendation.Score(capped[i].Inputs, systemMixWeights, now, rng.Float64),
+				TrackID:  capped[i].Track.ID,
+				Score:    recommendation.Score(capped[i].Inputs, weights, now, rng.Float64),
+				PickKind: pickKindTaste,
 			}
 		}
 		return out
 	}
 
-	head := capped[:headN]
+	head := pickQuotaHead(capped, seedOf, numSeeds, headN)
+	inHead := make(map[pgtype.UUID]bool, len(head))
+	for _, c := range head {
+		inHead[c.Track.ID] = true
+	}
 
 	tailStart := 2 * headN
 	if tailStart >= len(capped) {
 		tailStart = headN
 	}
 
-	// Defensive copy so that sorting the tail pool does not mutate capped.
-	tailPool := append([]recommendation.Candidate{}, capped[tailStart:]...)
-
-	// Sort tail pool by tieBreakHash (daily-deterministic), take tailN.
-	// Sample is stable across requests within a day but varies across days.
-	sort.SliceStable(tailPool, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return tieBreakHash(tailPool[i].Track.ID, dateStr) < tieBreakHash(tailPool[j].Track.ID, dateStr)
-	})
-	tail := tailPool
-	if len(tail) > tailN {
-		tail = tail[:tailN]
+	// The tail pool keeps its rank order (position drives the sampling
+	// weight); head members are excluded — a quota walk can reach past
+	// tailStart when a seed's candidates rank deep.
+	tailPool := make([]recommendation.Candidate, 0, len(capped)-tailStart)
+	for _, c := range capped[tailStart:] {
+		if inHead[c.Track.ID] {
+			continue
+		}
+		tailPool = append(tailPool, c)
 	}
+	tail := pickWeightedTail(tailPool, dateStr, tailN)
 
-	// Combine: head order preserved (score-sorted), tail in tieBreakHash
-	// order. "First similar, then surprise" reads naturally in playback.
+	// Combine: head first (score-sorted under quotas), then the fresh
+	// sample. "First similar, then surprise" reads naturally in
+	// playback. Head entries are the taste picks; tail entries are the
+	// freshness injection (#1249) — the split the metrics page
+	// attributes skips to.
 	combined := make([]recommendation.Candidate, 0, len(head)+len(tail))
 	combined = append(combined, head...)
 	combined = append(combined, tail...)
 
 	out := make([]rankedCandidate, len(combined))
 	for i, c := range combined {
+		kind := pickKindTaste
+		if i >= len(head) {
+			kind = pickKindFresh
+		}
 		out[i] = rankedCandidate{
-			TrackID: c.Track.ID,
-			Score:   recommendation.Score(c.Inputs, systemMixWeights, now, rng.Float64),
+			TrackID:  c.Track.ID,
+			Score:    recommendation.Score(c.Inputs, weights, now, rng.Float64),
+			PickKind: kind,
 		}
 	}
 	return out
@@ -709,9 +955,15 @@ func insertSystemPlaylist(ctx context.Context, qtx *dbq.Queries, userID pgtype.U
 	}
 
 	for _, t := range tracks {
+		var pickKind *string
+		if t.PickKind != "" {
+			k := t.PickKind
+			pickKind = &k
+		}
 		if _, err := qtx.AppendPlaylistTrack(ctx, dbq.AppendPlaylistTrackParams{
 			PlaylistID: p.ID,
 			TrackID:    t.TrackID,
+			PickKind:   pickKind,
 		}); err != nil {
 			// Track may have been deleted between candidate-load and insert;
 			// skip silently rather than failing the whole build.

internal/playlists/system_mixes.go

@@ -40,6 +40,17 @@ import (
 // Discover so shuffle-on-play has a varied pool within a day.
 const discoveryMixLen = 100
 
+// Minimum viable mix sizes (issue #1246): below the floor the variant
+// is withheld entirely so Home renders its "listen more to unlock"
+// placeholder — a playlist with a couple of songs reads as a build
+// bug, not a mix. Album-coherent mixes (NewForYou / FirstListens) get
+// a lower floor because one legitimate new album (~5+ tracks) is a
+// useful mix on its own; the scattered mixes need more to feel real.
+const (
+	discoveryMixMinLen      = 15
+	discoveryMixMinLenAlbum = 5
+)
+
 // discoveryMixSpec describes one discovery mix. The unified producer
 // reads the spec and runs a single code path for all variants.
 type discoveryMixSpec struct {
@@ -55,6 +66,11 @@ type discoveryMixSpec struct {
 	// or when day-over-day stability is the intended UX (NewForYou).
 	dailyRotate bool
 
+	// minLen is the minimum viable mix size: a finished pool below it
+	// is withheld (no playlist row) so the client renders the locked
+	// placeholder instead of a mix that looks built-wrong (#1246).
+	minLen int
+
 	// fetch returns the raw ranked rows. dateStr is supplied for
 	// queries that accept it (passed as the second positional arg
 	// historically); queries that don't accept it ignore the param.
@@ -79,25 +95,49 @@ func produceDiscoveryMix(spec discoveryMixSpec) systemPlaylistProducer {
 		if spec.dailyRotate {
 			pool = rotateForDay(pool, userID, dateStr)
 		}
-		return emit(spec.name, spec.variant, finishMix(pool, spec.diversify)), nil
+		tracks := finishMix(pool, spec.diversify)
+		if len(tracks) < spec.minLen {
+			logger.Info("system playlist: "+spec.variant+" below minimum viable size; withholding",
+				"user_id", uuidStringPL(userID), "pool", len(tracks), "min", spec.minLen)
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+		return emit(spec.name, spec.variant, tracks), nil
 	}
 }
 
-// rotateForDay rotates pool left by a daily-deterministic offset so
-// each day's downstream truncate-to-N surfaces a different slice of
-// the pool while contiguous-block ordering inside the slice is
-// preserved. Empty / single-element pools pass through unchanged.
+// rotateForDay rotates the pool left by a daily-deterministic offset
+// so each day's downstream truncate-to-N surfaces a different slice
+// while contiguous-block ordering inside the slice is preserved.
+//
+// Rotation happens WITHIN each contiguous same-pick-kind block
+// (#1267): tiered mixes arrive tier-ordered, and a whole-pool
+// rotation would hoist tier-3 filler above tier-1's exact fits.
+// Untiered pools are a single block, which reduces to the original
+// whole-pool rotation (same seed, same first draw). Empty /
+// single-element pools pass through unchanged.
 func rotateForDay(pool []discoverTrack, userID pgtype.UUID, dateStr string) []discoverTrack {
 	n := len(pool)
 	if n <= 1 {
 		return pool
 	}
 	rng := rand.New(rand.NewSource(int64(userIDHash(userID, dateStr))))
-	offset := rng.Intn(n)
-	rotated := make([]discoverTrack, 0, n)
-	rotated = append(rotated, pool[offset:]...)
-	rotated = append(rotated, pool[:offset]...)
-	return rotated
+	out := make([]discoverTrack, 0, n)
+	for start := 0; start < n; {
+		end := start + 1
+		for end < n && pool[end].PickKind == pool[start].PickKind {
+			end++
+		}
+		block := pool[start:end]
+		if len(block) > 1 {
+			offset := rng.Intn(len(block))
+			out = append(out, block[offset:]...)
+			out = append(out, block[:offset]...)
+		} else {
+			out = append(out, block...)
+		}
+		start = end
+	}
+	return out
 }
 
 // discoveryMixSpecs is the concrete spec list used by the registry in
@@ -109,6 +149,7 @@ var discoveryMixSpecs = []discoveryMixSpec{
 	{
 		name: "Deep Cuts", variant: "deep_cuts",
 		diversify: true, dailyRotate: false, // SQL day-keys via md5(id||$2)
+		minLen: discoveryMixMinLen,
 		fetch: func(ctx context.Context, q *dbq.Queries, uid pgtype.UUID, ds string) ([]discoverTrack, error) {
 			rows, err := q.ListDeepCutsTracks(ctx, dbq.ListDeepCutsTracksParams{
 				UserID: uid, Column2: ds,
@@ -126,6 +167,7 @@ var discoveryMixSpecs = []discoveryMixSpec{
 	{
 		name: "Rediscover", variant: "rediscover",
 		diversify: true, dailyRotate: true, // SQL has no date arg
+		minLen: discoveryMixMinLen,
 		fetch: func(ctx context.Context, q *dbq.Queries, uid pgtype.UUID, _ string) ([]discoverTrack, error) {
 			rows, err := q.ListRediscoverTracks(ctx, uid)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -141,6 +183,7 @@ var discoveryMixSpecs = []discoveryMixSpec{
 	{
 		name: "New for you", variant: "new_for_you",
 		diversify: true, dailyRotate: true, // operator wants daily rotation on all deterministic mixes
+		minLen: discoveryMixMinLenAlbum,
 		fetch: func(ctx context.Context, q *dbq.Queries, uid pgtype.UUID, _ string) ([]discoverTrack, error) {
 			rows, err := q.ListNewForYouTracks(ctx, uid)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -148,7 +191,10 @@ var discoveryMixSpecs = []discoveryMixSpec{
 			}
 			out := make([]discoverTrack, len(rows))
 			for i, r := range rows {
-				out[i] = discoverTrack{ID: r.ID, AlbumID: r.AlbumID, ArtistID: r.ArtistID}
+				out[i] = discoverTrack{
+					ID: r.ID, AlbumID: r.AlbumID, ArtistID: r.ArtistID,
+					PickKind: pickKindForMixTier(r.Tier),
+				}
 			}
 			return out, nil
 		},
@@ -156,6 +202,7 @@ var discoveryMixSpecs = []discoveryMixSpec{
 	{
 		name: "On this day", variant: "on_this_day",
 		diversify: true, dailyRotate: false, // SQL day-keys via md5(id||$2)
+		minLen: discoveryMixMinLen,
 		fetch: func(ctx context.Context, q *dbq.Queries, uid pgtype.UUID, ds string) ([]discoverTrack, error) {
 			rows, err := q.ListOnThisDayTracks(ctx, dbq.ListOnThisDayTracksParams{
 				UserID: uid, Column2: ds,
@@ -173,6 +220,7 @@ var discoveryMixSpecs = []discoveryMixSpec{
 	{
 		name: "First listens", variant: "first_listens",
 		diversify: true, dailyRotate: true, // SQL has no date arg; daily rotate + diversity top-up
+		minLen: discoveryMixMinLenAlbum,
 		fetch: func(ctx context.Context, q *dbq.Queries, uid pgtype.UUID, _ string) ([]discoverTrack, error) {
 			rows, err := q.ListFirstListensTracks(ctx, uid)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -180,7 +228,10 @@ var discoveryMixSpecs = []discoveryMixSpec{
 			}
 			out := make([]discoverTrack, len(rows))
 			for i, r := range rows {
-				out[i] = discoverTrack{ID: r.ID, AlbumID: r.AlbumID, ArtistID: r.ArtistID}
+				out[i] = discoverTrack{
+					ID: r.ID, AlbumID: r.AlbumID, ArtistID: r.ArtistID,
+					PickKind: pickKindForMixTier(r.Tier),
+				}
 			}
 			return out, nil
 		},
@@ -217,7 +268,7 @@ func finishMix(rows []discoverTrack, diversify bool) []rankedCandidate {
 	}
 	tracks := make([]rankedCandidate, len(pool))
 	for i, t := range pool {
-		tracks[i] = rankedCandidate{TrackID: t.ID}
+		tracks[i] = rankedCandidate{TrackID: t.ID, PickKind: t.PickKind}
 	}
 	return tracks
 }