Is Pandora Still Worth Saving?
Pandora has been a go-to for music lovers for years, offering free radio stations based on songs or artists you like. But with giants like Spotify taking over, many wonder if Pandora deserves another chance. Let’s look at what it’s doing right now and if it’s still a player worth rooting for.
First off, Pandora keeps things personal. Its Music Genome Project looks at your tastes and builds stations that evolve over time. You can thumbs up or down tracks to fine-tune what plays next. Free users get ads, but options like Pandora Plus at $5.99 a month or Premium at $10.99 bring ad-free listening, offline downloads, and on-demand songs. The app just updated on December 12, 2025, and it’s the number two top-grossing music app on Google Play, showing plenty of people still pay for it. For details, check the app page at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pandora.android&hl=en_US.
Pandora is also spotting new talent. On December 11, 2025, it dropped its Artists to Watch 2026 list, called the Pandora Ten. This picks ten up-and-coming acts across genres using listening data and expert picks. One example is Ian, an EDM artist discovered on Pandora’s MIXR station in 2023, now with millions of streams from collabs with big names like Galantis. It’s a sign Pandora invests in fresh music, not just old hits. More on that at https://investor.siriusxm.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/2226/pandora-reveals-artists-to-watch-2026-the-pandora-ten.
Year-end fun is coming too. Pandora’s community buzzes about Playback 2025, like Spotify Wrapped. On December 3, 2025, Pandora confirmed it’s on the way with listening stats and total music hours viewable in profiles. Users beg for it to share with friends, and Pandora listens. See the thread at https://community.pandora.com/t5/Account/Playback-2025-End-of-year-stats/td-p/179337.
Charts stay fresh with Pandora Charts showing top thumbed tracks from the last 30 days, like the Top Thumb Hundred for December 13, 2025. Visit https://pandoracharts.com to see what’s hot.
It’s not perfect. Pandora works best in the US, and folks outside might need a VPN for access, as some services test speeds for smooth streaming. Still, as SiriusXM’s ad-supported leader, it connects brands and listeners uniquely.
Pandora pushes discovery, supports new artists, and plans features fans crave. If you want simple radio that grows with you, it’s holding strong.
Sources
https://community.pandora.com/t5/Account/Playback-2025-End-of-year-stats/td-p/179337
https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/best-vpn-for-pandora/
https://investor.siriusxm.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/2226/pandora-reveals-artists-to-watch-2026-the-pandora-ten
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pandora.android&hl=en_US
https://community.pandora.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/16/user-messages-feed/participations
https://pandoracharts.com
