Pandora Wants To Go Back To Europe

Online music service Pandora had to cut off service outside the US over royalty disagreements, but wants to head back to Europe.

Pandora misses Europe. The online music service has to close off its operations outside the US earlier in 2008 after it couldn’t reach an agreement on royalty rates with two major labels, but it still hopes things can be resolved and it can be heard in the old countries.

The company is hoping that a deal with US labels could set a precedent to make that possible, although company head Tim Westergren told Vnunet that he finds the current situation in Europe “frustrating,” and that the overall Internet radio situation is bleak, saying “there’s no business to be had there.”

"I would love to charge ten bucks a month for the service, but people won’t even pay three a month, we’ve tried it," he said.
"Advertising kicks out a certain amount a month and you can’t really beat that, you can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip. I think choice is either work within those constraints or say that you really are better off without it. If I’m a musician and that winds up being the conclusion, I am not going to be happy."