Pandora
Market: United States
Overview
Pandora is a U.S. digital audio platform offering personalized internet radio and on-demand music streaming. Its Music Genome Project identifies up to 450 musicological attributes per track to power its radio stations.
Market / Platform Focus
Pandora is available in the United States only. It offers artist, song and genre radio stations alongside an on-demand Premium tier.
Yes — LabelGrid delivers your releases to Pandora. Distribution is included on every distribution plan, for record labels, distributors, and independent artists alike.
PANDORA AT A GLANCE
- Typical go-live: timing varies by platform — submit at least 2 weeks ahead.
- Audio accepted: LabelGrid accepts WAV or FLAC only (MP3 is not accepted as a master) — 44.1 kHz or higher, stereo; WAV at 16, 24 or 32-bit, FLAC at 16-bit.
- Discovery: the Music Genome Project identifies up to 450 musical attributes per song to power personalized radio — accurate metadata improves matching.
- Territory: United States only.
- Artist profile: claim and manage via Pandora AMP (Artist Marketing Platform) — analytics, Featured Tracks, and AMPcast.
- Royalties: tracked in LabelGrid’s royalty accounting with automated splits from the Basic plan up; US performance royalties are collected separately via SoundExchange.
LABELGRID
LabelGrid Integration
LabelGrid delivers your music to Pandora with complete metadata and lossless audio.
Getting Started
To release music on Pandora via LabelGrid, prepare your audio, artwork, and metadata according to our specifications. Select Pandora as a distribution partner when scheduling your release, and our system will ingest the files, verify them, and deliver them.
LabelGrid provides the tools you need beyond distribution: catalog management for your metadata and releases, royalty accounting with artist statements and automated royalty splits from the Basic plan up, and promotion tools including smart links and Spotify pre-saves.
Pandora delivery specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Audio formats accepted | WAV or FLAC only (MP3 is not accepted as a master) — 44.1 kHz or higher, stereo; WAV at 16, 24 or 32-bit, FLAC at 16-bit |
| Lossless / Hi-Res support | Verify current Pandora support |
| Music Genome Project | Up to 450 musical attributes identified per song to power personalized radio recommendations; accurate metadata improves matching |
| Artwork requirements | 3000px minimum, square (1:1), JPG or PNG, up to 30 MB |
| Metadata required | ISRC per track, UPC, accurate title/artist casing, album title matching the cover art exactly, genre, original release date, and explicit flag where applicable |
| Territory / availability | United States only (licensing restrictions) |
| Monetization model | Subscription and ad-supported streaming; US performance royalties via SoundExchange; royalties tracked in LabelGrid accounting with automated splits from the Basic plan up |
| Artist-profile linking | Pandora AMP (Artist Marketing Platform) — claim at amp.pandora.com, with analytics, Featured Tracks, and AMPcast |
| Pre-add / pre-order | Verify current Pandora support |
| Typical go-live after submission | Timing varies by platform — submit at least 2 weeks ahead |
| Delivery method | Delivery by LabelGrid |
Audio, artwork and metadata rows are LabelGrid’s ingest and review requirements, not a Pandora-published spec — requirements change, confirm current specs.
How long until my release is live on Pandora?
Go-live timing on Pandora varies. LabelGrid processes and reviews your release, then delivers it to Pandora. Pandora is available in the United States only. Planning a specific release date? Submit at least 2 weeks ahead of it.
Related: music distribution · royalty accounting · automated royalty splits · pricing · compare distributors · LabelGrid for labels · Pandora help article
WHY PANDORA
Artist Benefits
Distributing to Pandora lets new listeners find your music through its personalized radio stations, which match songs by their musical attributes rather than by what is trending alone.
Key Features
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Personalized radio powered by Music Genome Project
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Combines free ad-supported radio with premium on-demand streaming
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Genre, song, and artist-based station creation
DEEP DIVE
What You Should Know About Pandora
Platform Scale & Reach
Pandora is a U.S. streaming audio platform. It offers both its signature internet radio service (algorithm-driven stations) and Pandora Premium (on-demand streaming).
The Music Genome Project
Pandora's Music Genome Project identifies up to 450 musicological attributes per track. This analysis powers Pandora's personalized radio stations, where listeners create a station from an artist, song, or genre, and Pandora fills it with musically similar tracks, which can include yours.
How Pandora Pays Artists
Pandora pays for sound recordings through two channels. Plays on its non-interactive radio service fall under the US statutory licence and are paid through SoundExchange, which pays featured artists and sound-recording owners directly. On-demand Premium streams are covered by direct licences, and those royalties reach you through LabelGrid.
US Market Focus
Pandora is available in the United States only, so it matters most for artists targeting American listeners.
Tips for Success on Pandora
- Ensure your music is properly tagged with accurate genre metadata, which feeds Pandora's Music Genome analysis
- Register with SoundExchange to collect your digital performance royalties from Pandora radio plays
- Pandora's AMP (Artist Marketing Platform) lets you send audio messages and promote music to your listeners
- Focus on the US market when promoting your Pandora presence
- For detailed delivery guidelines, see our Pandora distribution guide
RESOURCES
Pandora Resources
Official Pandora tools and documentation.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Try LabelGrid?
Distribute your music to Pandora and all major platforms through LabelGrid. 7-day free trial. No charge until the trial ends.