Pandora

Pandora
http://www.pandora.com/

About
Pandora is based on the Music Genome Project, the most sophisticated taxonomy of musical information ever collected. It represents over eight years of analysis by a trained team of musicologists. Each song in the Music Genome Project is analyzed using up to 400 distinct musical characteristics by a trained music analyst. These attributes capture not only the musical identity of a song, but also the many significant qualities that are relevant to understanding the musical preferences of listeners. The typical music analyst working on the Music Genome Project has a four-year degree in music theory, composition or performance. To qualify for the work, analysts must have a firm grounding in music theory, including familiarity with a wide range of styles and sounds. All analysis is done on location. The Music Genome Project's database is built using a methodology that includes the use of precisely defined terminology, a consistent frame of reference, redundant analysis, and ongoing quality control to ensure that data integrity remains reliably high. Pandora does not use machine-listening or other forms of automated data extraction. The Music Genome Project is updated on a continual basis with the latest releases, emerging artists, and an ever-deepening collection of catalogue titles. By utilizing the wealth of musicological information stored in the Music Genome Project, Pandora recognizes and responds to each individual's tastes.

Review
Pandora is an automated internet radio service. This is an exciting website for tweens as this age group is particularly engaged by music. With Pandora one can explore a vast accumulation of music. The name of a song or artist is entered into Pandora and the Genome Project evaluates it. It will scan its entire world of analyzed music, almost a century of popular recordings - new and old, well known and completely obscure - to find songs with interesting musical similarities to the selection. One can create up to 100 unique "stations." Stations can be refined to improve the experience. While listening, users are offered the ability to buy the songs or albums at various online retailers. The service has two subscription plans: a free subscription supported by advertisements, and a fee-based subscription without ads. With the free version, one receives 40 hours of listening per month. A free account user may reach the streaming limit of 40 hours per month and continue unlimited streaming by paying $0.99. Pandora features social networking component. Users may become friends and listen to each other’s stations.

Genre: Digital Media - Website
Warnings: There is no censoring of lyrics.
Advertisements: Yes
Target Audience: Age 13 to Adult

Pandora is included because tweens love music. It is fun to create and share one's own readio stations.