Pandora is an internet radio and music streaming service developed by Pandora Media, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Oakland, California. The platform is known for its personalised recommendations and algorithms based on the Music Genome Project, which aims to provide users with a customised music experience.
Platform features
- Personalised radio stations: Users can type in their favourite songs or artists and Pandora will generate radio stations that are similar in style. The user's ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ feedback for each song influences the selection of tracks to be played.
- Music Genome Project: Pandora uses more than 450 musical attributes, such as tempo, key, and vocal harmony, to analyse and categorise songs to provide more accurate recommendations.
- Multiple Modes: Pandora offers different listening modes, including My Stations, Popular Songs, Deep Tracks, Discover, and My Stations. Discover,’ “New Releases,” and “Artists Only” modes, allowing users to choose what to listen to according to their needs.
- Podcasts: In addition to music, Pandora offers a wide range of podcasts, making it easy for users to find and listen to programmes of interest.
Subscription Mode.
Pandora offers two main subscription options:
- Pandora Free: a free version with ads and a 40 hour per month listening limit on mobile devices (this limit is subject to change under certain circumstances).
- Pandora Plus: about $5.99 per month, offers an ad-free experience, allows offline playback and unlimited song skipping.
- Pandora Premium: Approximately $9.99 per month, allows users to play any song on demand, create playlists and download music for offline listening.
