Listen to Pandora, and It Listens Back

[Ah Pook]

Not surprising but a little disturbing.

I listen to Pandora a lot and if the ads I hear is the best they can do, they need to be rethinking the algorithms. Then again, the mute button is always handy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/technology/pandora-mines-users-data-to-better-target-ads.html?ref=technology&_r=1&

[trlcavscout]

I don't listen to Pandora, and I don't get paid to write so I can say this, NY times needs to spell check.

[kawiracer14]

I paid the $36. No ads.

[ZERO THEORY]

I'm a firm believer in laissez faire capitalism, and understand that marketing is instrumental in that, but Christ...I can't stand being FORCED to listen to uninteresting advertisements.

But alas, those are their terms and I agreed to them. Blast!

[Colorado_Outback]

They have been doing that at least since 08. Tons of Obama ad's on the hiphop stations, none on the classic rock stations...

[Gman]

I paid the $36. No ads.
Me too, for several years now. We use the daylights out of it and have multiple custom channels that we've tuned to play what we want. I've been exposed to many great artists through their music genome project that I never new existed previously.

[Zundfolge]

OMG!! A program that is designed to figure out what you like to listen to is listening to what you listen to to figuring out what you like to listen to!! [panic]

[brianakell]

Me too, for several years now. We use the daylights out of it and have multiple custom channels that we've tuned to play what we want. I've been exposed to many great artists through their music genome project that I never new existed previously.

x2

Ill bet I listen to pandora 60+ hours a week. And introduced me to several bands out there Id never heard of. I cant hardly stand listening to the radio in the car anymore. Bought a USB drive, and loaded it up, and I just forget turning on the ad dispencer that plays the same songs every hour, and the stupid DJ's who think theyre hilarious. [Rant1]

[tmleadr03]

x2

Ill bet I listen to pandora 60+ hours a week. And introduced me to several bands out there Id never heard of. I cant hardly stand listening to the radio in the car anymore. Bought a USB drive, and loaded it up, and I just forget turning on the ad dispencer that plays the same songs every hour, and the stupid DJ's who think theyre hilarious. [Rant1]

Typically have it playing at the shop.

[HoneyBadger]

I don't want to pay for it, but lately the ads have been infuriating... I have several stations that are quieter music for relaxing and then after 4 songs, an ad plays 50x louder than my music and almost blows my speakers and defeats the purpose of the relaxing music. [Rant1]

[Ah Pook]

Been listening to Jango this week. Seems to have more variety when you set up a station. Fewer audio commercials. On the PC there are a lot of ads and a large sign-in pop-up that keeps recurring. Ad Block won't get rid of them. No print ads or pop-ups with the Mac.

[hurley842002]

I pay the $10 a month subscription to Google play, unlimited access to any song/artist/album I want, I can also select random stations just like Pandora.

[T-Giv]

I just started using the paid Pandora subscription. I'm a huge fan thus far!

[Justin]

Spotify is superior to Pandora in every way possible.

[blacklabel]

I pay the $10 a month subscription to Google play, unlimited access to any song/artist/album I want, I can also select random stations just like Pandora.

I'm using it as well. I'm liking it over Pandora/Spotify.

[Guylee]

Call me crazy but the ads on Pandora don't really bother me...

Probably will now though. Thanks guys.

[Ah Pook]

I tried Spotify but the sign-in with FB and page covered in ads (PC) turned me off.

Still doing Jango and liking it. Seems to have more artist variety. There are usually two audio ads in the first hour. Non after that. The page (which I just hide) is covered in ads and Ad Block has no effect on removing them.

[Zundfolge]

Spotify is superior to Pandora in every way possible.

The requirement that you have a Facebook account and that you connect your Facebook account to your Spotify account disproves your thesis.

[tmleadr03]

I pay the $10 a month subscription to Google play, unlimited access to any song/artist/album I want, I can also select random stations just like Pandora.

10 a month vs 36 for the year.

[Justin]

The requirement that you have a Facebook account and that you connect your Facebook account to your Spotify account disproves your thesis.

Meh. Whatever. The NSA already knows about your music collection.

[Zundfolge]

Meh. Whatever. The NSA already knows about your music collection.

Its not about the NSA, its about the fact that I want to NOT have a Facebook account more than I want to have a Spotify account (although there is some workaround that involves registering your Spotify account via their German server and using a German postal code that allows you to sign up for Spotify without a Facebook account) ... besides, you know me, if I find a band I like I'll just download a torrent of their discography and be done with it :p