Pandora Media

I’ve used Pandora off and on for probably something like ten years, possibly more. I have fond memories of using it in High School. At the time, it was a free and easy to use alternative to CD’s. Pre Itunes, Pre Spotify, Pre Amazon Prime Music.
But the site hasn’t changed in any significant way in 15 years. Except they added more ads, so that’s something.
The user interface is very smash and grab. They’ve always touted it was a «project,» but the project never seemed to go anywhere. They never upgraded the code, nor the style with which they play music.
Some differences to note from it’s, and I hesitate to say competitors. Because Pandora is a «Radio Station…»
Spotify allows you to create playlists with songs you like. Pandora does not.
Itunes allows you to purchase songs you love and create playlists, Pandora… no.
Amazon Prime allows you to go back a song if you skipped it on the station… Spotify and Pandora… nope nope nope.
It really is an old school method to listen to music for people who can’t afford paid accounts or who are stuck using what they know. It works in browser, so when you leave your phone at home it’s what you tend to fall back to because you don’t need to download anything to play music — which may be possibly how it’s survived this long.
I really wish they would make a comeback because many Bay Area millennials know the brand — I just don’t think they will. And honestly, I’m not even sure they could.

There are some things that I like about Pandora. In spite of the fact that we do not pay to listen to it, the commercials are not overwhelmingly obnoxious in frequency. It would be nice if they weren’t the same two every time. I like being able to choose pretty much any genre of music for which I’m in the mood.
That being said, there are issues.
One of them is that not only does the station glitch a lot, but after you’ve had it on for a while, they just quit playing. When you finally get out of the pool or the car, or whatever, you have a message that wants to know if you’re still listening. Does that really make a difference to you? If I weren’t listening I’d turn it off!
Next, when I do choose a style I want, I get what seems to be a loop of music that plays over and over. Don’t tell me that there aren’t enough «Oldies» to play weeks on end without ever repeating a song, I’m not buying it. So, to hear the same things two or three times in a couple of hours is annoying. I know that if I keep giving the thumb up or down to the songs I hear, I’ll get a better selection over time. However, when I’m listening to the radio, I’m generally not anywhere that I can be doing that. So, just give me a good selection to start with.
Now my biggest «pet peeve.» Just because you choose a genre, that doesn’t mean that you’re going to get what you wanted. Today, I decided I wanted to listen to Christmas piano music, so that was the station I selected and yes, it was already there. I had it on for 40 minutes and got exactly 3 piano pieces. ALL the rest of the 30+ minutes were incredibly boring guitar solos! Really Pandora? Are you trying to tell me that there aren’t enough Christmas song played on the piano? Nope, not going for that. It’s safe to say that there are thousands of piano pieces for the holidays. While I realize that the guitar and the piano are both string instruments, this does not make them interchangeable, any more than you can inconspicuously switch a mouse and elephant on the grounds that the are both mammals.
All things considered, I am Siriusly thinking it’s time to switch to a better option.

I appreciate the music, but how is «today’s alternative music» station playing 20+ year old music? Not just the odd song here or there, but ½ the music is 20 years old.

I pay 4.99 month for no commercial. Many times Pandora will not load!
What’s their malfunction?

Some folks listen to Spotify, some prefer to stream Apple Music. I’m a fan of Pandora. I like that I can set up channels for my moods and rate the music. Sometimes, it’s spanish guitar. Sometimes, it’s dubsteb or EDM.
Great music, lovely service and not inexpensive at all. I’m a fan!

Just when I thought I was thinking outside of the box… Pandora’s box, that is, I see that SEVERRRAL others have «beat» me to the «track» and already created a profile for this joint.
Grrrr — -
Ya’ know, it’s becoming harder and harder to score an FTR these days! Hahah…
Moving forward however, I’ve been streaming from these guys for well over a decade. We’re talking prior to toddlers possessing cell phones and before you could Bluetooth them while trekking through your morning commute.
Unlike a previous reviewer, a few years back, I as well, noticed that I possessed multiple accounts and that an incorrect one had funds deducted. I simply e-​mailed em’ and this was resolved within a few hours. Misappropriated funds were restored and I even had the pleasure of meeting the VP (by way of e-​mail) who noticed and complimented the longevity within my tenure… he sent me a free t-​shirt.
#pandeezy-​luvvv
For those who’ve been hibernating let alone sleeping beneath a boulder, Pandora offers 2 versions; the most popular is incontestably the «free» version however consumers are limited to their number of skips and encounter somewhat frequent interruptions by way of advertisements having used that option. Some grow accustomed to it but frankly, if you’re a music enthusiasts as am I, it’s honestly enough to induce a migraine.
I opt for the fee based version and at $ 2 – 3.00/monthly (automatically debited from my Apple account), this, as I see it, is a definite worthwhile investment.
With attempt at providing further clarity, these guys have come a LONGGGGG way; thereon, so has technology so I suppose it’s to be expected.
I’ve literally got my Pandora account synced to my car, cell phone, office desktop and television at home (talk about being passionate) and you’d swear that I saunter around obliviously to the beat of Pharrell’s «Happy song»…after hours that beat is replaced and I become «Bootyliscious» but there I humbly digress. This ain’t that type of review!
As referenced by another reviewer, from time to time the algorithm tends to TOTALLY and unexpectedly veer to the left and I’ll go from smooth jazz and neo soul to country and/​or techno fusion. THIS — is resolved with relative ease by simply pressing the «thumbs DowNNNNN» option.
There are hundreds and we’re talking THOUSANDS of stations offered, from Gospel to the Grateful Dead, and from techno to «talk». There is seriously NO GOING WRONG here. I consider these guys a «one stop shop».
Having «tried» out the competition, as I see it, Spotify, Beats Music, Slacker and the other recent additions all boasting the same alleged bootlegg attributes that Pandora has been providing for years, for the most part, they all come up nothing short of flaccid in comparison.
#there-​are-​many-​replicas-​but-​ONLY-​ONE-​ORIGINAL!
To sum things up a bit and provide a much overdue conclusion, …if you’re looking to set the mood for a road trip, business excursion, a nice bubble bath, to obtain rest, while vacuuming, cook or do the dishes, to perform some work while at the office, to wine and dine that special someone… or even to breakup with em’!!!, haha, Pandeezy is guaranteed to Wet your whistle!

I hope that pandora karaōke spot in SF isn’t the same brand as you guys… They are giving you guys a bad name.

I used to really like Pandora until I found out that they had been charging me for 2 accounts for 2 years. Here’s the thing, normally when you bring a mistake up like that to a business, they credit you. Pandora’s attitude (after spending a week trying to reach them) was that they are keeping the money and Im lucky to get a 2 month credit. THAT IS SOOO SLEASY!!! Don’t even get me started on how badly they pay the talent that they make a living off of. I AM DONE WITH PANDORA!

Pandora is my editing buddy. There have been many a sleepless night when it was just the two of us, plugging away through photo and video files that had to be returned to clients STAT. Sometimes it’s little bit of the super-​curated «Alina’s Chillout Mix,» sometimes it’s my easy-​peasy Brazilian «Manha de Carnaval» and quite often it’s the «Stand Up Comedy» station. It’s all good. True, sometimes Pandora goes off in the weeds with its algorithm but it’s a quick thumbs-​down and we’re back on track.
Love this service. Not switching to any Spotify or Beats Music madness any time soon.

Love, Love, LOVE Pandora. I don’t know how it is they play only songs that I love, but they do! It gets kind of creepy some times… it’s like they’re inside my head.
I would like it if they played a few less commercials, but as my brother said to me: «You’re complaining about a few commercials when they play nothing but good songs?» Right. :)

Pandora is free and I am grateful so I can’t really complain.
I listen to it at work all day and love it. When I am on my smart phone, it starts to repeat the songs and on my Sarah Brightman station Pandora keeps playing sarah mclachlan, hello two very different ladies.
As for the Culture club station (that’s right beyotches I am that old) the first 5 songs were not from Culture club and after that I can’t skip or pass, what’s up with that.

Pandora is the best Free internet radio. I choose my artist or genre and Pandora will select songs for you. I always listen when I’m using the internet or playing games.
The free version has commercials after every few songs but that is no problem. You can also rate if you like the song or not. This helps to customize your listening preferences.
My friend has it hooked up in his car so he turns on Pandora from his iphone and it plays on car stereo. Pandora is way better than listening to the radio.

Oh Pandora. You are as diverse as my moods. As available as that needy ex. Accessible by phone, by computer, in my car, or at home.
I want to get sexy — I just hit the «XX» station.
Reading, writing — hit the classical, symphony station.
Working out. Hanging out. BBQing. Cleaning.
I’m never alone now that there’s you. And you’re based out of Oakland? 3 blocks away from me? Well now that’s just ridiculous.

«A long long time ago
I can still remember how
That music used to make me smile»
I miss the days of making mix tapes (cassettes!) and P2P file sharing. I thought that the industry had killed the music with lawsuits for copying mp3s. MTV wasn’t playing videos anymore and Vh1’s Popup Videos popped its last pop. I was in a state of desperation.
I needed new music! Music that was fresh. Stuff I could jam to, but how was I supposed to find new music if the radio was 90% commercials, talk radio, and top 40 crap? Venues were charging an arm and a leg for «convienece» fees, and much of that music sounded recycled. What was I to do? I felt defeated. Stuck listening to classic rock forever. I can only listen to oldies for so long.
One day I was saved from the perpetual nightmare. I discovered Pandora. From that day on I knew that Don McLean was wrong. The music didn’t die. It was alive and well. New music next to old music, the up-​and-​commers playing alongside the greats. I was elated to say the least. I wasn’t stuck having to hear five minutes of commercials every three songs, no more weather and traffic reports, and no more No Name.
I’ve used this service for a few years now, and love every moment of it. I can create play lists for any mood, genre, or artist style and it always belts out top notch music. I’ve found a lot of new stuff which gets me going to more concerts and festivals. Overall bettering my life as a whole.
I seriously love you Pandora, keep up the great work.