Pandora will finally let free users listen to any song they want

If you don’t mind watching a short video ad every once in a while, Pandora will let free users listen to any song they want on demand.

Business Insider writes,

Here’s how it works: You watch a video ad, then you get access to on-demand (and other premium features) for a certain amount of time before Pandora transitions you back into its free version. The ad lengths will vary, though typically they will be 30 or 45 seconds, with a 15-second minimum watch time before you can skip it. And while Pandora is also testing out different lengths of “unlock” time, Pandora Chief Product Officer Chris Phillips told Business Insider that these tests will be in the realm of 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour. Phillips added that you would be able to use the unlock feature “multiple” times a day, though the upper limits are being tested as well.

This is huge. One of the biggest complaints users without a premium subscription had about the service was the inability to listen to a specific song they wanted to hear at that exact moment. This changes everything.

But, as with anything, there’s a catch. Sure, you’ll have to watch a quick ad. And let’s not forget, Pandora is going try to upsell you to its $10 premium service every chance they get. But for most people, listening to a short add isn’t a big deal. Everyone wins in this situation.

> Business Insider