Pandora is going to be giving its customers an alternative to its Pandora One subscription plan, by allowing users to buy shorter passes. The streaming music service is planning a day pass system, which will offer a full 24-hour period of advertising-free music to buyers for $1, though there is also the chance Pandora may choose to provide longer passes, at different price points.
The plan was initially spotted by GigaOM as part of a presentation to investors, and was later confirmed to the report by a Pandora spokesperson. A statement admits the company recognizes “some consumers may want an ad-free experience but don’t necessarily want to commit to a subscription. This offering will allow consumers to choose and explore what is right for them, or suits a particular event or experience.” The spokesperson noted that “pricing and exact timing are yet to be determined,” but that it is expected to be available to users “later this year.”
At the moment, subscribers pay $5 per month to avoid advertising, and also receive more track “skips” than users of the free service. The $1 per day charge may seem steep compared to the monthly version, but it may convince users that the ad-free experience may well be worth subscribing to.
