Way back when, I wrote about the future of radio (there was a Part Two as well), and I discussed how services like Pandora are opening up new ways to find cool new music. I also discussed some of the regulatory issues that make services like Pandora…frustrating. Let me quote from a Chicago Tribune article on the topic to remind of just a few:
As perfect as personalized radio sounds, there are limitations. Licensing prohibits sampling more than four songs by one artist in a three-hour period, and the sites can’t play songs on demand. There is also the issue of portability.
There were a few other issues mentioned in my original article as well — my challenge today is for us to spend some time using Pandora and report back on the good, the bad, and the “I can live with it” versus “That’s gonna make me crazy”.
I think services like Pandora provide a really beneficial service, but I also think the rules placed on listening to the service might be off-putting to users. But I was wrong once in 1989, and want to hear from others. To sweeten the deal, I’m going to draw a (random) name from the comments for a free Medialoper t-shirt. Also, the t-shirts are really cool and we want people to have them.
i love pandora. if you want songs on demand and several songs by the same artist in a three hour period get an ipod. the great thing about pandora is that you can listen to a genre you create yourself and never know what’s coming next. i like random. and i like to hear music from artists i’m not familiar with, especially when my radio station already knows that i’ll probably like it.
One issue raised by would-be Pandora lovers is the limited number of “skips” the service allows. Skips being the songs you don’t want to hear, and by agreement with the labels, these are vastly limited. How do you feel about the limiting of skips per hour?
Also, what about lack of streaming? I like randomness (a lot), but every now and then I want to hear a particular song and nothing but (and maybe want to hear it more than once…you know those songs!).
in my experience, the station i’ve custom designed rarely plays songs i want to skip. but occasionally it does happen. it’s not much of an aggravation. all mediums have their drawbacks. i consider this one to be minor.
there are other devices appropriate to other needs. if you want to listen to something familiar and predictable (as we all do from time to time) use your itunes/ipod or play one of those cd’s you made for yourself or turn on the radio.
I have to agree with drea. Pandora’s genre-matching is fantastic and it’s a great way to discover new music (and it’s absolutely free!). Although I find myself wanting to skip ahead more often than I’m allowed, I’m willing to accept that limitation. And, sure, it would be nice, but I don’t really expect a radio-like site to offer play-on-demand.