Digital DNA

I love Pandora. I know I can’t get it out here in the UK anymore, but I still love it (and when there’s a will, there’s a way – like using a service like Hotspot Shield). So, I was buoyed by the news that webcasters, artists and the record labels have reached an agreement on royalties for online radio (see the post on Pandora’s blog if you want to grasp how important this was to the company).

My understanding is that the level of royalties finally agreed is still higher than traditional radio, however, they will enable companies like Pandora to exist. They have said that they will have to start charging $0.99 for users who listen to more than 40 hours per month – a small price to pay for one of the best online radio services available.

This news has come off the back of changes in the PRS rates for interactive radio in the UK. So, big question is will we see Pandora back in the UK market any time soon? The gap that Pandora left here was significant – just look at the traction that We7 and Spotify have had in the UK in the last 12 months.