Pandora pulling out of Australia, New Zealand markets

Music streaming service Pandora is winding down its operations in Australia and New Zealand, it has announced.

Australia and New Zealand were the only territories that Pandora operated in, outside of its U.S. home, and it counts more than 5 million registered users there. It also has partnerships with Rolling Stone, Woolworths and others in the region.

Speaking to Billboard, a spokesman for Pandora confirmed the firm will exit the markets after much analysis.

"While our experience in these markets reinforces the broader global opportunity long-term, in the short-term we must remain laser-focused on the expansion of our core business in the United States," the representative said.

Pandora co-founder Tim Westergren stepped down as CEO earlier this week, while earlier this year the firm witnessed the departure of Jane Huxley, the director of its ANZ operations.

Written by: James Delahunty @ 28 Jun 2017 10:36

hearme0

I have used Pandora a great many times. I just don't know what the appeal is and frankly, I'm just flat out surprised they make any money. Listening to whatever THEY WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO and then subjecting the listener to commercials after skipping through a few of their crappily selected songs is lame.

No thanks. XM all the way, MP3's for everything else. I heart radio on rare occasion at home.

29.6.2017 12:29 #1

Bozobub

Yet, literally every free internet radio service on Earth follows just about the same model.

Hmm...

30.6.2017 16:09 #2

ChappyTTV

Originally posted by hearme0: I have used Pandora a great many times. I just don't know what the appeal is and frankly, I'm just flat out surprised they make any money. Listening to whatever THEY WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO and then subjecting the listener to commercials after skipping through a few of their crappily selected songs is lame.

No thanks. XM all the way, MP3's for everything else. I heart radio on rare occasion at home.
Hiya hearme0

I agree, I've heard Pandora a few times when I visited family in the US, but SiriusXM tops Pandora any day of the week. Like you, most of the time I'm listening to my own CD's (FLAC for me tho, MP3 if I must), but I keep XM for their classic rock stations, the new Beatles channel, and other specialty programming channels. Every now & then, I also love listening to some classical Masters stuff for awhile, Jazz and a few others, XM covers all my listening desires.
Cheers!

2.7.2017 17:15 #3

Bozobub

And? You're comparing apples and oranges; XM doesn't have a free service, that simple.

Personally, I'm not fond of Pandora but I like Slacker just fine (it has way more tracks, for one). I use internet radio to find *new* music; if I wanted to listen to what I already like, I would, because I already HAVE it.

2.7.2017 17:29 #4

ChappyTTV

2.7.2017 18:12 #5

Bozobub

Most of the "internet radio" services have an ad-based free service, as well, although NOT all (AFAIK Apple Music has no free version, for example).

2.7.2017 18:16 #6

hearme0

Originally posted by Bozobub: And? You're comparing apples and oranges; XM doesn't have a free service, that simple.

Personally, I'm not fond of Pandora but I like Slacker just fine (it has way more tracks, for one). I use internet radio to find *new* music; if I wanted to listen to what I already like, I would, because I already HAVE it.

I'm guessing it's Just Pandora that doesn't impress me. I heart seems to have a solid selection that auto plays and since I rarely use, I don't think I've ever skipped songs on that so I am uncertain of the result. Never used Slacker. Slacker and I Heart seem to have the most positive following from what I hear.

Again, I use very rarely.

6.7.2017 11:48 #7

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