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?