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Pandora Loses 7 Million Listeners (siliconvalley.com)
An anonymous reader quotes the Bay Area Newsgroup:
So many listeners have turned off Pandora that Friday could have been called the day the music died for the internet radio streaming pioneer. Late Thursday, Pandora said it ended its third quarter with 73.7 million active listeners, a decline of more than 7 million listeners from the 81 million it had in the same quarter a year ago. Declining listener numbers, along with weaker-than-expected advertising revenue and a disappointing fourth-quarter forecast, had investors tuning Pandora out on Friday, as the company's shares fell by almost 25 percent, to close at $5.59.
Pandora still has more listeners than Apple Music, which has 27 million paying subscribers. But the Oakland-based music streaming business trails its other major rival, Spotify, which has 140 million active listeners, including 60 million who pay a monthly fee for on-demand streaming and to avoid listening to commercials with their music.
For comparision, Pandora now has just 5.19 million paying subscribers for its two ad-free streaming music services.
Pandora still has more listeners than Apple Music, which has 27 million paying subscribers. But the Oakland-based music streaming business trails its other major rival, Spotify, which has 140 million active listeners, including 60 million who pay a monthly fee for on-demand streaming and to avoid listening to commercials with their music.
For comparision, Pandora now has just 5.19 million paying subscribers for its two ad-free streaming music services.
The ads and the nag screens got to be too much. I barely use it anymore.
There's far too much rap and people don't want to support it. Most people don't want to listen to black racists rapping about how they don't like whites, how society is supposedly unfair to them, and their violent and drug-addicted behaviors. If people start creating better music, subscribers will come back.
What world did all of you come from? How is having over 73 million active listeners considered "the day the music died for (Pandora)"?!??!!?
At this moment, every comment is critical of pandora in some way. WTF? How are people leaping to that conclusion from these numbers:
Spotify: 140 million active listeners (60 million paying)
Pandora: 73.7 million active listeners (5.19 million paying)
Apple: 27 million users (all paying)
Sure, Pandora took a loss of 7 million users over the past year, but if they had not lost those, they'd simply be at 80.7 million active listeners. Maybe they're not first place, but they're the only one of those three that offer a service like theirs, and they have MILLIONS of users, and MILLIONS of paying users.
These comparisons on that level are just stupid. They say nothing about whether the company can be successful or not. FWIW, I'm not arguing that they are, or have been, successful/profitable/etc, but these numbers don't spell the end in any language. They're top of their class, and in the top 3 for internet streaming music. That should still be impressive, not a death knell.
I feel like things weren't always this way, and this is an internet age thing, where people feel only one or two companies/products can be even considered, and everything else is garbage (or, on the low end, everything is garbage and just buy the cheapest shitty stuff you can get your hands on). It's depressing that 3rd place no longer counts for anything.
When they jumped on board the SJW crap and came out in support of Black Lives Matter, that's when I canceled my subscription and closed my account.
I just want music on my music program. Keep your politics to yourself. When you decide to alienate half of the country, don't be surprised when they decide to part ways with your product.
Moved over to Spotify. No idea how they lean politically, because they just play music.
He who laughs last is at 300 baud.
and everyone forgeting that Pandora is only available in the U.S.