Pandora Has A 'Global Vision'

Tim Westergren

PANDORA Co-founder TIM WESTERGREN spoke YESTERDAY with USA TODAY, which noted the "personalized online radio service, has more than 125 million registered users, a huge jump from 75 million at the same time last year. PANDORA has expanded its reach into the car, with 16 alliances -- including new ones with KIA and ACURA -- compared with four car companies this time last year. Monthly listening, on average per user, is now at 18 hours, and shares of its stock are up 21% this year."

All that good news has WESTERGREN describing PANDORA as being at a "tipping point" of expanding beyond the early adopters into a mainstream service.

"The opportunity for us is global," said WESTERGREN. "That's the big vision."

"Radio is going through a massive change, which is irreversible and inevitable," he added. "Technology has allowed us to present an alternative."

Not everyone believes PANDORA's rise to the top is inevitable. CLEAR CHANNEL CEO BOB PITTMAN told USA TODAY there was "Not a chance in hell" that PANDORA would top radio. "Radio is doing very well. It's in every car and most homes. It's embedded in the world. If you want personalized radio, you have to be online, and not everybody can always be online."

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