Pandora Music, a true pioneer of online radio and music streaming, just announced its plans to shut down Australian and New Zealand operations to better compete with Spotify and Apple Music for subscribers.
This move means Pandora will soon only be offered in the United States, and the app and website will no longer be offered to its Aussie users.
A Spokesperson for Pandora kept the explanation simple, confirming to AdNews: “After analysis and consideration of external factors, we have decided to discontinue our operations in Australia and New Zealand and will shut down the service on July 31, 2017. While our experience in these markets reinforces the broader global opportunity long-term, in the short-term we must remain mindful and focused on the expansion of our core business in the United States.”
Pandora will be the 3rd streaming platform to cease local operations in this area — moves that Deezer and Guvera have already made — giving Australian users even less options when it comes to music streaming.
Recently, Pandora claimed 1.2 million active Australian users, and 80 million worldwide, but even those seemingly large numbers aren’t a match for music giants like Spotify.
Director of Business Development and Partnership Rick Gleave said: “I’d like to thank our employees as well as advertisers, automotive and consumer device partners for their support. And lastly, but perhaps most importantly, I’d like to thank our listeners for giving us the opportunity to connect them with the music they love.”
Source: News.Com.Au