Both Pandora and Spotify are free music streaming services that allow users to listen to music online without having to download or store songs. Pandora uses a music genome project to create personalized radio stations based on songs and artists input by the user, while Spotify allows users to search specific songs and playlists. Pandora offers ad-supported free listening with premium subscriptions available, while Spotify has both free and premium subscription options. The document provides details on the origins and features of each service.

1. Streaming MusicStreaming Music
Pandora & SpotifyPandora & Spotify
Irene E. McDermott
Interim City Librarian, Crowell Public Library
IMcDermott@CityofSanMarino.org
Author, Internet Book of Life (2011)

2. Pandora vs. SpotifyPandora vs. Spotify
Both are “free” services that “stream”
music to your computer or smart phone
over the internet.
Listen to music for hours over your
computer, smart phone, or wi-fi connected
tablet.
“Streaming” means that you must be
connected to the internet and you can’t
keep the songs.
Spotify and Pandora have distinct histories
and offer different experiences.

3. Pandora Internet RadioPandora Internet Radio
Pandora.com
founded by Tim
Westergren in 2005.
Based on his Music
Genome Project.
Categorizes music by
melody, harmony,
instrumentation, and
rhythm.

4. Pandora Music DiscoveryPandora Music Discovery
Type the name of a
song or an artist into
the search box.
Pandora will stream
music that is similar to
your choice for hours
for free (with
commercials.)
Up to 100 “stations.”
40 hours per month.

5. Pandora Genre StationsPandora Genre Stations
Explore new music
with genre stations.
Christian
contemporary, hip
hop, jazz, classical.
Particularly good for
holiday music!
If you like a song,
you can buy it for
download to your
device.

6. Pandora PremiumPandora Premium
Pandora One.
$36 per year.
No commercials.
Higher quality audio.

7. Spotify.comSpotify.com
Launched in October
2008 by Swedish
startup Spotify AB.
Daniel Ek, Martin
Lorentzon
Came to the U.S. in
2011.
Downloadable program
or app; not open web.

8. Spotify is socialSpotify is social
Free, but it really
wants you to sign up
with your Facebook
account.
Reports all your
music choices to
your Facebook page.
Allows you to get
ideas for new tunes
from your friends.

9. Spotify plays what you requestSpotify plays what you request
Streams songs or
entire albums.
Specialty: Playlists
compiled by you or
others.
Great way to
discover new music,
i.e. top 40.
Can import your
iTunes collection.

10. Spotify premium and mobileSpotify premium and mobile
$10 to play on phone.
Unlimited: about $60/year.
Premium: about $120/year. Can save music to
computer.
Advantage? Can play away from internet access.
Disadvantage? Uses hard drive space.

11. But if you really want to request a specific tune…
Stream it onYouTube.com!

12. Where to Learn MoreWhere to Learn More
Spotify vs. Pandora: Which Is Better?
http://mashable.com/2013/03/01/spotify-vs-
pandora/
Five Reasons to Love Pandora
http://hometheater.about.com/od/internethomet
heater2/a/All-About-Pandora-Pandora-
Basics.htm
Spotify for Dummies
http://www.dummies.com/how-
to/internet/Streaming-Content/Spotify.html

13. Questions?Questions?