AfterDawn: News

Is Apple preparing to kill Pandora?

According to the WSJ, Apple is preparing to launch a streaming radio service similar to that of market leader Pandora.

Allegedly, the company is in talks with the music labels to get licensing agreements for the service.



As with all new Apple products, the service would work on all Macs and iOS devices and will likely work via Windows desktops, as well. The report says Microsoft and Android will be left out in the mobile market, however.

Pandora's stock collapsed 17 percent on the report, taking its market value from around $2 billion to about $1.75 billion.

If Apple is serious about such a service, it could certainly afford to buy Pandora outright, as the company still have $117 billion in cash.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 7 Sep 2012 17:27

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• 13 comments

• dali

  If it will work only on desktops and iOS, it won't kill anything. Has facetime killed Skype? This is the same thing. (I wouldn't use it, anyway, because, yes, I hate Crapple).
  

  "You know, it seems that quotes on the internet are becoming less and less reliable." -Abraham Lincoln.

  7.9.2012 17:50 #1

• KillerBug

  Same here...not that I use Pandora, but if I did, no Apple product would replace it. Heck, Apple could release Siri for android for free and I still wouldn't use it even if I wanted it...screw crApple.
  

  
  

  7.9.2012 18:29 #2

• deak91

  <The report says Microsoft and Android will be left out in the mobile market, however.>
  
  
  if I'm mistaken that would create a monopoly and the best they can do is offer a service but not tie the music labels to just apple and no other service but apples
  

  7.9.2012 19:53 #3

• Scaldari

  "If Apple is serious about such a service, it could certainly afford to buy Pandora outright, as the company still have $117 billion in cash."
  That is the line that Scares the Pants off me. I have stations i have been fine tuning for over 5 years now. I WiFi stream it to my blackberry at home and on open WiFi's abroad. I look forward to streaming it on my next device which will be an android tablet (Asus Transformer Prime)If Crapple Buys Pandora and shuts it down I will be heartbroken! There would have to be an anti-trust lawsuit or shareholder revolt! Apple cant buy a company outright if they retain 51% of their stock... Right?
  

  Account Created Saturday 12 January 2008. After 4 years I consider myself a Sr. Member no matter WHAT my post count says.

  7.9.2012 20:45 #4

• joebloe12

  Well that is ALL we need! Pandora is an excellent service and I would NEVER listen to something apple put up.
  
  I think Pandora should stay just the way it is, if apple gets hold of it, they will ruin it.

  8.9.2012 01:52 #5

• LordRuss

  Been saying it for quite some time... World domination... Bastards are out to do it, one business at a time.
  
  I'll starve before I eat Apple Butter, I tell you!
  

  http://onlyinrussellsworld.blogspot.com

  9.9.2012 15:51 #6

• salsa36

  I love Pandora but how do they make money?
  XM/Sirius need to reconsider their prices

  14.9.2012 09:13 #7

• Scaldari

  Originally posted by salsa36: I love Pandora but how do they make money?
  XM/Sirius need to reconsider their prices the yearly/monthly subscription or advertising sub. i plan on going pay this next week.
  

  Account Created Saturday 12 January 2008. After 4 years I consider myself a Sr. Member no matter WHAT my post count says.

  14.9.2012 12:02 #8

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by salsa36: I love Pandora but how do they make money?
  XM/Sirius need to reconsider their prices Agreed, Sirius prices are way too high. $10 a month is insane, especially for ad-supported radio. Their tuners are no bargain either...and the features are lackluster. I paid big bucks for the best unit they had available retail, it only records 30 minutes back and none of the color options match my dash. I'd go to free streaming, but it just isn't an option on the road...the data fees would kill me and there are a lot of places where there is either no internet or internet too slow to stream music.
  

  
  

  14.9.2012 12:11 #9

• voyager

  sour apples arrogants ,PANDORA is better.

  14.9.2012 18:05 #10

• Mez

  Originally posted by salsa36: I love Pandora but how do they make money?
  XM/Sirius need to reconsider their prices You can pay for a subscription and they get paid for adds. I haven't used the itunes genus yet but I am not sure but maybe it will be the next bing of the music streamers. Pandora is very high quality. I would pay for a subscription if I listened to music while I was on the computer.

  14.9.2012 19:34 #11

• ps355528

  I just listen to SomaFM .. XD
  

  
  
  ARR! Them pesky Navy! Get out of my sea!
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  14.9.2012 20:21 #12

• Mez

  Originally posted by ps355528: I just listen to SomaFM .. XD I will have to check it out...
  
  What I love about Pandora is the sophisticated way it can link tunes. I think they use over 120 different attributes. I listen to extremely diverse music, Classical to Melodic Death Metal. I enjoy it all but not at the same time. I have a dozen or so stations to fit different moods. I am surprised how quickly Pandora can lock into relatively dissimilar music but can select stuff I want to hear. I have yet to figure out if it has figured out some universal likes and dislikes and applies that to a new station or not.

  15.9.2012 12:49 #13