The Truth on How to Get into Pandora

Musicians want their music in Pandora, it's a great service with great possibilities for exposure. We wanted to explore the possibilities of getting TuneCore artists' music into the Pandora service. From TuneCore CEO Jeff Price:

About three weeks ago, I met with Tim, the founder of Pandora, in hopes of exploring a way for TuneCore and Pandora to work together. I also spoke with them again, Monday, March 22nd, 2010, after I saw a recent claim by another digital distributor.

I can state to you with no hesitation or uncertainty based on my direct conversations with Pandora about this very issue that there is no distributor that is able to deliver music to Pandora for inclusion into the Pandora service. It simply does not exist, since Pandora makes it decisions editorially. 

[Here is how to get your music considered for the Pandora service: http://blog.pandora.com/faq/contents/31.html, directly from the Pandora founder's log, which outlines the step-by-step process.]

Anyone that states otherwise is either knowingly misrepresenting the truth or not educated.

TuneCore is the largest distributor of music in the world, whose artists collectively sold or streamed for payment over 61,000,000 songs in 2009, making over $32,000,000, representing one of the largest and highest revenue generating catalogs in the world. We are constantly approached, and are approaching, by stores or services looking to gain access to your music. So we're talking with Pandora and many services that we and our customers value, and we'll always do it honestly, with knowledge of the process.

And no matter what, we will never, ever, lie or misrepresent. Our mission is to inform and educate everyone, so they know how to thrive in this evolving business.

Jeff's right, and that's why it's more important than ever to put out there exactly how Pandora works and how to legitimately offer your music to them. 

You're eligible for consideration by Pandora if you have a CD for sale PHYSICALLY on Amazon. TuneCore can help:

1. Put your album into TuneCore (details here: http://www.tunecore.com).
2. When picking your stores, choose the Amazon-on-Demand store, either a-la-carte for $1.98 or INCLUDED FREE if you pre-buy distribution to all stores for our flat $46.99 offer (details here: http://www.tunecore.com/store/product/78).
3. When your CD becomes available shortly thereafter in Amazon-on-Demand, follow Pandora's own steps on how to qualify and submit (details here: http://blog.pandora.com/faq/contents/31.html)

Then it's up to Pandora, as it always has been.

--Peter

Peter Wells
Co-founder, TuneCore

Comments

[From cities to oceans]

I went thru this process not long ago, I eventually got the album up on pandora but I must admit that it was the most annoying process I've ever delt with. I realize that pandora probably doesn't want to be working with smaller acts, but they need not make it so difficult for the smaller acts.

[Jim]

They reject 95% of independent submissions anyway.

[Marina Tihvinskaya]

I submitted my music to Pandora about 2 months ago and I'm still waiting for their reply. How much time does it usually take?

[DD]

Is this a joke?

[Trance Fury]

THANK YOU!! I was extremely annoyed to see this other distributor claim Pandora access!! I've been been through this process, too and they reject a lot. It's not fair that they advertise and in small print say it's not guaranteed. Pandora should be on them for that. I can't say I agree with Pandora's approach for including albums but it took me a long time to finally undertand why. They are a unique service and without that uniqueness they are no different than any other station. This uniqueness is why they are profitable. I am glad, too because I just got my royalty statement and it was a nice deposit from Soundexchange. While I am upset they won't include my latest album I am thankful 1000% I got my older release in a few years ago. I am gaining fans by the day! They also said they do reserve the right to grab my new release if they get enough requests for it.

-TF

[red light driver]

Met all requirements, national retail distro, tour more than most bands, good run on college radio, etc... rejected. It made me a little sad but I got over it. You will too.

[CheekyKnight]

I submitted in January. Got my rejection in April. Some consolation I'm not alone :¬P
Anyone got any good tips for upping the odds?
Mine's a unique voice and professionally produced. Strikes me a bit like credit: sure you can have it but once you don't need it.

[Joselin Ramos]

I am an independent label and they accepted 100% of the albums I submitted. Sometimes takes weeks or months, but they do it.

[Jim Webb]

If Pandora really wants to be "music discovery" they aught to accept all professionally produced music, genome it, and let the up/down thumbs decide if it continues to get played. Small acts are where it's at after all.

[hmm]

I understand their intentions. No matter how good you may think your project is, maybe it's not...Pandora would suck if it was completely flooded with artists that nobody knew that weren't that good.

[FATIR HIDAYAT]

i use lastfm with no problem. Pandora is like the old radio station. They are full bulltwinky....XBOXLIVE, ANDROID PHONES, INTERNET.

[Mr. Eddie Donahoo]

Im Eddie Donahoo ownner of the record label council of divine being and tunecore has bent very soportive of me.

The help of carol kavosky has bent great.

[Boris Berlin]

I cannot get Pandora to recognize my UPC codes from TuneCore single releases, even though they are on Amazon Demand for CD. Does it have to do with them being single releases, not albums? Any advice appreciated!

[ryan maynes]

I found out recently that musicians all think they are way better than they really are. This information shocked me but it made a lot of sense. Now I see that I've wasted my life, I probably suck. Pandora will give me rejection in a few months and I'll spend the rest of my life wondering why when the truth is I'm probably not very good.

[Lior Magal (D-otherside Music Group)]

Anyone had success with Pandora submitting a single, not an album? thanks in advance.

[Albert cabrera]

Listeners should decide , I don't believe in A&R from 27 years In the business I believe in music testers .
We are all witnesses to what we thought
was crap that became huge .
One of my biggest records was the B side of a 12 inch vynil which the A&R hated .

[Byan]

Why wait for Pandora. They need you more than you need them. They are one outlet and are becoming more corporate by the day. Commercials anyone?? I say move on and support up and coming companies like a Slacker.com

It could be the 90's when your only shot was selling CD's in a record store. You've got the net at your disposal for crying out loud.

[John F Moon]

Last fm rocks. Pandora is a waste of time I dont care how crappy your music is. Some people like crap!

[Jack]

Why would you jump through hoops to get on the sinking ship Pandora? Just wait for Spotify and use all the other, better services out there for the time being.

[[email protected]]

Jeff's right, and that's why it's more important than ever to put out there exactly how Pandora works and how to legitimately offer your music to them.