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Pandora (internet radio)

Mike

Mike

Member
I'm curious about Pandora, and I wonder if anyone knows a lot about it. I'll explain if someone reading doesn't know about it. The concept is that you search for a band or artist you like and find their channel. On their channel you have their songs interspersed with similar artists. For instance, you search for Casting Crowns and get their channel. Then you'll hear Casting Crowns and maybe Mercy Me, Jeremy Camp, and other artists like them, all commercial free.

You can also listen to Christian rock and get Christian songs, which brings me to my question. How are the artists in a given niche determined? I ask because I listen to a Christian rock channel at work on my computer. Today I was listening and heard a song I thought sounded fantastic! It was called "Falls On Me" by a band called Fuel. I don't generally listen to hard rock, so I was unfamiliar with them, but I instantly loved this song. I did some searching on the net and found they are not a Christian band at all. In fact, the youtube video shows them in a studio, pouring drinks out of a pint of liquor and beer cans.

I'm not against listening to secular music, but if I'm purposely listening to a Christian channel, I expect to hear Christian artists. It got me to wondering why this song is on a Christian channel, what other non-Christian songs are on it, and of course, who determines which ones are. Is it somehow listener-determined, or does the company slot them?

Does anyone else like Pandora?
 
I love it, have the app right here. I think it's based off rhythm and tone of singer...I'm not sure though.
 
pandora groups bands in by genre. this is however determined by the record lables as well as fans. it also groups(this is becomming more what they are doing btw) music by what others favor that listen to the same bands.
 
You can actually go into your profile and then look at the specific musics that you had thumbed up and remove that thumb up if you don't want it to drive your Christian music focus off rail. Maybe you can even block the music? Pandora does arrange the music picks based on the sounds rather than by the label or anything like that.

(yes, I'm deaf. But it does not keep me from enjoying musics via my hearing aid. I just ignore the lyrics and enjoy the sound of the song)


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www.lost-ear-studio.com
 
Mike

Music caters to personal taste. Whether learned from culture or on one’s own. My own tastes tend to be eclectic according to what is musically pleasing to me as determined by the mood I’m in when listening, from Classical to whatever today is considered way out there. With that in mind.....

I’ve heard of Pandora, but haven’t been on it. I’ve recorded a lot of music off YouTube that I like and I listen to that. I have an eclectic taste. But radio presents too much music that I don’t like. I don’t like to listen to music I don’t like along with the music I do like. With the crossing of genre lines, there’s just too much music I do like to bother with the music I don’t. Not having actually experienced Pandora, from what has been said here, maybe I misunderstand it. The way it’s being described, it’s not like a typical radio station.

I rarely like modern Christian music because they just present a point of view. Mostly a shallow point of view. I can only assume that they’re trying to reach the unsaved. And as far as their music, I’ve heard better from secular bands.

My favorite modern Christian song is a devotional song “Another Hallelujah”, and then only in the live version as recorded on CD. Other versions I’ve heard on YouTube, even by Brewster, the one who first recorded it, are very inferior. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the music and even some of the words are based on a secular song. When I discovered that, my first thought was, “what is the Christian world coming to?” But I still like the song in its original Christian incarnation.

I had never heard Fuel before you mentioned them, so I checked them out, with the song you mentioned in mind. Fuel is a shadow of a much better band, Metallica. Even the style of the lead singer is like the lead singer on Metallica. If you like Fuel and haven’t listened to Metallica, you might find something there you like. Metallica has a wider range of music, has been around longer, and includes many pieces that aren’t quite as acid.

Fuel may be thought to be a Christian band because of one song called “Jesus or a Gun”. I can see no other reason. Sometimes the secular world only has to hear the name Jesus in a song to think a band is either Christian or is primarily a Christian oriented band. And a lot of what are now secular bands did have their origins in one of the Christian Churches.

Interestingly, Metallica has several pieces based on things in the bible. But I think my favorite Metallica song is the one called, “One”. It’s an anti-war song. Really brings out the misery of war. And I like the music itself. Anyone who likes to glorify war or the military should take a listen to that song. The military may be necessary due to nationalism, but we sure don't have to like it.

FC
 
Mike I used to listen to Pandora years ago, its pretty good and you get some variety of songs you may never hear on your local FM station.

Actually given a choice I rarely use my local stations as an option because of the limited song choices and the ads.

Usually I use a radio APP on my iPhone and listen when traveling and at home I Airplay it on the stereo via Apple TV off the phone through the wireless network.

Its so cool you search for whatever you are in the mood for in the radio search like jazz or chill out lounge, rock etc. Christian sermons and teaching or whatever interests you are on it too.

On the treadmill its UK ministry of sound radio.

Internet streaming radio is so cool.

I haven't bout much music in a long time because of it, I like variety.
 
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@ FC - I know I don't like Metallica's music in general, but for some reason, I do like "One". I can't say I'll be listening to much Metallica or Fuel.

But this isn't about specific bands.

@ Lostear - It does make sense that it would be driven by sound types, or why would some of this stuff be on a Christian channel. As for me removing my thumbs-up, I have my doubts that my singular vote would impact the programming very much.

@ Chris - This format is perfect for me, because if I'm in my car and want to listen to music, I rarely have the patience to sit through unfamiliar songs. I go to what I'm familiar with. When I'm at work, I put it on the computer and let it play. Since they generally play similar music to the style I like, I'm a captive audience and I get to know it. It's a good way to be introduced to new bands.

Thanks for the feedback! :)
 
Mike said:
@ FC - I know I don't like Metallica's music in general, but for some reason, I do like "One". I can't say I'll be listening to much Metallica or Fuel.

But this isn't about specific bands.

@ Lostear - It does make sense that it would be driven by sound types, or why would some of this stuff be on a Christian channel. As for me removing my thumbs-up, I have my doubts that my singular vote would impact the programming very much.

@ Chris - This format is perfect for me, because if I'm in my car and want to listen to music, I rarely have the patience to sit through unfamiliar songs. I go to what I'm familiar with. When I'm at work, I put it on the computer and let it play. Since they generally play similar music to the style I like, I'm a captive audience and I get to know it. It's a good way to be introduced to new bands.

Thanks for the feedback! :)
Click to expand...

It may not impact it too much but at the least it won't start drawing in non-christian music too much. Before I found out that I could remove the thumbs up or down, I had to delete all of my stations after a while cause it was getting out of line with the original focus of the station (like 'relaxation' eventually morphing into 'jazz'). Deleting thumbs-up may help keep it on track.

Keep it in mind in case you notice the musics is starting to go away from the original goal of the station.
 
Pandora themselves tells you how they classify music:

Since we started back in 2000, we have been hard at work on the Music Genome Project. It's the most comprehensive analysis of music ever undertaken.
Together our team of musician-analysts has been listening to music, one song at a time, studying and collecting literally hundreds of musical details on every track - melody, harmony, instrumentation, rhythm, vocals, lyrics ... and more!


We continue this work every day to keep up with the incredible flow of great new music coming from studios, stadiums and garages around the country.
With Pandora you can explore this vast trove of music to your heart's content. Just drop the name of one of your favorite songs, artists or genres into Pandora and let the Music Genome Project go. It will quickly scan its entire world of analyzed music, almost a century of popular recordings - new and old, well known and completely obscure - to find songs with interesting musical similarities to your choice.


Then sit back and enjoy as it creates a listening experience full of current and soon-to-be favorite songs for you.


I find it uncertain just how much weight they put on "Christian" in the process. I made a Jennifer Knapp channel and it plays only Christian songs for about the first 30 or 40 minutes... then I guess they run out of stuff that "fits" and they start playing non-Christian artists who sound a lot like Jennifer.
 
Pizzaguy said:
Pandora themselves tells you how they classify music:
Click to expand...

I'm that guy who starts messing with something before opening up the directions and then calls tech support. That guy that spends 10 minutes looking for someone to ask what aisle marshmallows are on before he ever looks for them himself? That's me!

So, why would I read what Pandora has to say? :D
 
Well, same here. Looks like we will get along great...haha I just trash instructions when making something..sometimes I have to go and get them back though :/
 
Good going Pizzaguy. Shows how much you're needed around here.

Mike and Jman96, LOL. Yeh, who reads that thing we have to accept every time we have to sign up for something?

FC
 
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