Pandora Moves Closer to On-Demand Streaming
September 13 2016 - 9:30AM
Dow Jones News
Pandora Media Inc. has signed direct licensing agreements with
major record labels, in a move seen pushing the streaming music
provider closer to offering an on-demand service.
Pandora on Tuesday said it reached deals with Sony Corp.'s Sony
Music, Vivendi SA's Universal Music Group and Merlin Network, a
digital rights agency for independent labels.
Until now, the 16-year-old outfit hasn't had to secure
permission from individual record labels to use their music because
it doesn't let users listen to particular tunes on demand, instead
paying fixed rates set by the federal Copyright Royalty Board.
However, as Pandora works to compete with fast-growing on-demand
streaming service from Spotify AB and Apple Inc.'s Apple Music,
direct licensing agreements could potentially allow for Pandora to
launch its own on-demand tier.
Pandora shares rose 3.9% to $14.85 in premarket trading.
Details of the new agreements weren't immediately disclosed, but
The Wall Street Journal last month reported that Pandora was close
to reaching deals with record companies to allow it to launch a new
on-demand music streaming paid tier in both the U.S. and
internationally.
However, the deals announced Tuesday only apply to U.S.-based
listening. Currently, Pandora is limited to the U.S., Australia and
New Zealand--the few countries that make music licensing
essentially automatic for internet-radio firms, as long as they pay
the mandated rates.
Neither of Pandora's free or paid offerings allow users to
select specific songs to listen to. Users instead are able to chose
a custom "station" that includes music similar to their initial
choice. The new agreements might allow Pandora to let users chose
to listen to songs on demand.
"This was a truly collaborative attempt to find a solution that
would support artists while profitably growing our respective
businesses," Pandora Chief Executive Tim Westergren said.
Write to Austen Hufford at austen.hufford@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 13, 2016 09:15 ET (13:15 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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