By Rajvee Sanghavi

 

Advancements in web development have led to increased access to media that was once more costly and difficult to access. My go-to-site for music, Pandora Internet Radio is one of the many websites that caters to the public’s growing need for quick and easy entertainment by offering free service to its customers. This website plays music based on the listener’s selections with no extra downloads or plug-ins, which makes it one of the most popular music sites in the U.S. So what makes Pandora stand out amongst the plethora of music sites out there?

 

In 2000, founders Westergreen and Gaser commissioned a project (that was to become 

Pandora) through a massive undertaking known as the Music Genome Project. This pioneering project led to the creation of many fascinating features found in Pandora today, including the ability to personalize and continuously update user profiles. Each song on Pandora is analyzed according to a variety of technical elements such as melody, rhythm, and lyrics and separated into different categories. The results of these categorizations are then incorporated into a computerized algorithm that ultimately streams music in accordance to the listener’s ratings. A team of professional musicologists have also arranged a way to provide users with familiar favorites while introducing them to hidden jewels. I came across Medicine for the People, a political rap/alternative crew, while sifting through indie rock tracks. Their melodious tracks have now become my new study music. 

 

Sure, perhaps sites like Spotify allow its users to be more connected to social media applications, but Pandora caters to the individual’s personal interest. Pandora’s innovative approach to customized listener playlists combined with its social networking facility also contributes to a gratifying website experience. I think one of Pandora’s most remarkable qualities is that it attempts to cater to the individual rather than the populace. This company has created something close to a personal companion—it knows my tastes, my likes and dislikes. For music lovers like me, this characteristic feature is what sets Pandora apart from any other online music site.