Pandora launches full service in Australia, New Zealand
updated 08:40 pm EST, Mon December 10, 2012
Mobile app for Android, iOS plus web browser access commences
Pandora, the leading internet radio service in the US, is now fully live in Australia and New Zealand, marking the first time the service has been available outside the United States. Following a web browser-only soft launch, the personalized radio service can now be accessed in full with smartphone apps for iOS and Android devices, in addition to the Web-based player.
As part of Pandora's desire to personalize content for local listeners, the service will offer curated genre stations of Australian- and New Zealand-specific music across a variety of genres, including today's hits; singer-songwriter; roots and reggae dub; indigenous; classic pub rock, and more. These genre stations complement Pandora's existing catalog ranging from jazz, blues and classical to pop, punk, reggae, electronica and more.
Users can create their own "stations" by selecting an artist or song they like, similar to the function of the "Genius" feature in iTunes. While listening, users can give a "thumbs up" or "down" to tracks Pandora selects, which helps it narrow the focus of the station and helps users discover new artists that are similar to the ones they already like.
Pandora is holding listener "Town Hall" events December 10 in Auckland, December 11 in Melbourne and December 12 in Sydney, where CEO Tim Westergren and Jane Huxley will meet Pandora users and fans. They will talk about the local service and Pandora's on mobile in Australia. Of Pandora's 55 million registered users in the US, a majority are now accessing the radio service through smartphone apps. More than 75 percent of Pandora listening now occurs on mobile, according to the company.
