[Libs-Or] Tech-Talk: WEB TOOL - Music Streaming with Pandora

Tue Dec 24 10:28:04 PST 2024

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Listen to music while you work

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Webinars for You

NOTE: Webinars begin at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT / 1 pm MT / 12 Noon PT and are one hour long.

Jan 8: [MOBILE] WhatsApp: Stay Connected with This NO-Cost Mobile App. Why attend? Learn how this app can be a communications tool.

Jan 22: [EXCEL/G-Sheets] 9 Powerful Chart Types to Tell Your Story Why Attend? You want to spruce up your spreadsheet data with visuals.

Feb 12: [INTERNET] Simple Steps for Password Protection & Authentication Why attend? Learn more ways to protect your accounts.

Feb 26: [DESKTOP] 15 Productivity and Creativity Boosters: Tips, Techniques, and Tools Why attend? Learn shortcuts to save time.

View Webinars and Register Here<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001iVd3VskQOjriDlFlDo4U_6Sb_rZwgIrW-QRnBaVNdvtvjIWUzgupWt4LtVid8L4UsYPeom0Y-00qiVtfOb3qCNZXTTLyiorlC4-YQ8jqHxAGUYeeM9TUyH22NGozJFSbx_SOH3uAxmpuC2s--dEZnxncDxQX7qAHGLI0_g3IJk0=&c=McSYac-2EjN9fIU0rGIfCDXhTGtfeFzAEeBN7885KKE9FbsCYM5bKg==&ch=XaM_AWVJGPPzrA48xIu9dOTWA4tFvbZqfu1AYSt_Cm8sZ08mv1W0mw==>

WEB TOOL - Music Streaming with Pandora

Novice

Are you streaming a lot of music? Well, our readers are apparently! In last week's article we compared several different music platforms (read the article here<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001iVd3VskQOjriDlFlDo4U_6Sb_rZwgIrW-QRnBaVNdvtvjIWUzgupWktaW1OsKbI7K3ldACij6y_Tf2bSo7vJOVSyCQkEZvXjJsgeJznwmZyzc0gRJ1Mnnd_0N6oO-v39Iv0kWviDlVi2lxkpe8HGgw3JE30uuCwdFPTQW9ebWWn9PIyYcbt_5ewzO5n5wxrfH_a9oyBFiZQ3yHZKOgZILEMKza1QwLjB&c=McSYac-2EjN9fIU0rGIfCDXhTGtfeFzAEeBN7885KKE9FbsCYM5bKg==&ch=XaM_AWVJGPPzrA48xIu9dOTWA4tFvbZqfu1AYSt_Cm8sZ08mv1W0mw==>). However, we received some feedback from multiple subscribers that we didn't include Pandora in the list.

[Screenshot of Pandora's music player interface showing "Ambient Radio" with album art. Various station options and a "Tune Your Station" menu are visible.]

Pandora was among the first music streaming services, launching in 2000 with the ability to personalize the listening experience. We featured this new technology in a Tech-Talk article, of course. Today, other services have taken over the spotlight and garnered significantly more users with their extensive music libraries, personalized playlists, and exclusive content. Still, Pandora remains a significant player in the U.S. music streaming market.

Let's take a look at the key features and a bit on how to start rocking out with this music option.

Pandora Features

Pandora app users tend to be more casual listeners who prefer radio-style streaming. (This means users create "stations" based on a favorite artist, song, or genre, and Pandora picks the songs and generates a continuous playlist of similar music.)

Key Features:
·     Create personalized radio stations based on artist, song, or genre preferences.
·     Pandora Premium offers on-demand playback and playlist creation.
·     With Pandora Modes you can adjust station algorithms to emphasize new music, deeper cuts, or crowd favorites.

Pricing (As of 12/2024):
·     Free (ad-supported, limited skips).
·     Pandora Plus: $4.99/month (ad-free, offline radio, unlimited skips).
·     Pandora Premium: $9.99/month (on-demand streaming, offline playlists).

Strengths:
·     Intuitive recommendation engine.
·     Easy-to-use interface, great for discovering new music.

Weaknesses:
·     Limited catalog compared to competitors.
·     Lower audio quality (standard bitrate).

[Mobile app screens showing music and podcast features with options for personalized listening, recommendations, and collections.]

Set Up Your Pandora Account

Like other music streaming services, you can listen to music while you're working on a desktop or laptop or download the app to use on your mobile device.

First, Create an Account:

1.  Visit Pandora.com<https://opiayfbab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001iVd3VskQOjriDlFlDo4U_6Sb_rZwgIrW-QRnBaVNdvtvjIWUzgupWjGf6wRbuQjzdwkvlgWchLZe7WS-i5l4QAhAZW4cvBaPBed_HgTuEEpygWBtGMa6hR0elkLmPCRVv_Lbwc_rc3c9mOTgJNERnA==&c=McSYac-2EjN9fIU0rGIfCDXhTGtfeFzAEeBN7885KKE9FbsCYM5bKg==&ch=XaM_AWVJGPPzrA48xIu9dOTWA4tFvbZqfu1AYSt_Cm8sZ08mv1W0mw==> or download the Pandora app on your mobile device.
2.  Sign up with your email, or use your Google or Facebook account.
3.  Choose between free (ad-supported) or premium plans for ad-free listening and additional features.

Ways to Search for and Discover Music

You can click on any suggested songs, albums or stations that Pandora displays and listen. Or you can create either a Pandora Station or a Playlist. Stations are about discovery and dynamic listening, while Playlists offer a fixed, customized listening experience. Both serve different purposes, catering to different listening preferences.

Pandora Station

A station is a dynamically generated stream of music based on your input (e.g., an artist, song, or genre). Pandora uses its "Music Genome Project" to curate similar tracks, creating a personalized radio experience.

1.  You start by selecting an artist, song, or genre.
2.  Pandora plays tracks that match the style or mood of your selection.
3.  You can give thumbs up to songs you like (to hear more similar tracks) and thumbs down to those you dislike (to skip and avoid similar tracks).
4.  Stations evolve as you interact (thumbs up/down).
5.  You can add variety by including more artists, songs, or genres to the same station.
6.  Available in both free and premium versions.

[Pandora music player showing Dua Lipa's album with a song list and a menu for starting stations or sharing.]

Pandora Playlist

A playlist is a manually curated collection of specific songs chosen by YOU. Unlike stations, playlists do not adapt or generate new content automatically.

With playlists...
·     You select individual tracks to add to a playlist.
·     Playlists play in the exact order you arrange them or shuffle them if desired.
·     You have full control to add, remove, and rearrange songs.
·     No thumbs-up/down system – it's static content.

NOTE: Playlists are a Pandora Premium feature, meaning they are not available to free or Plus users.

Additional Features

·     Browse Genres & Curated Stations - Explore Pandora's curated stations and recommendations based on your listening history.
·     Listen on Connected Devices - Pandora is available on smart speakers (Alexa, Google Home), smart TVs, car systems, and other devices. Simply link your account and use voice commands or your device’s controls.
·     Offline Listening (a Premium feature) - Download your favorite playlists or stations for offline playback.

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Communications: Videos

How to approach a 1-Min Video

You can do a lot with 60 seconds in a video! It's a great vehicle to effectively convey a clear and focused message. Here are a few approaches to the type of content you may want to communicate in this short period of time.

·     Stories. These are always well received. You can share a brief personal anecdote, an impactful moment. People love this human approach.

·     Messages. Perhaps you have a key idea you want to get across such as, "Have you visited your local library lately?"

·     Call to Action (CTA): You could encourage people to sign up to an event, follow you on Facebook, or drop by to see what’s new.

·     Introduce Yourself. Why not tell the community what your organization stands for or share a friendly version of your mission.

·     Service or Product Teaser: You can quickly showcase a benefit you have to offer such as borrowing an iPad, using the 3D printer, watching a movie.

·     Educational Content. You can offer a solution to a specific problem, answer a frequent question, or clarify a common misconception.

·     Emotional Connection. Provide an inspirational or motivational moment. It's always popular to share an uplifting quote or thought to make them think or laugh.

While all this content is wonderful, be sure to add visual appeal. You want to be engaging by adding images, transitions and captions. This will help make your point concise and memorable - a perfect 1-min video.

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Cheers,
Darci Hanning, MLIS (she/her/hers)
Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator
Continuing Education Resources: https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/conted
State Library of Oregon | Library Support and Development Services
971-375-3491 | darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov> | www.oregon.gov/library<http://www.oregon.gov/library>

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