Matthew Jackson, Thesis Supervisor Matthew Jackson, Thesis Supervisor Krishna Prasad Jayakar, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Internet radio streaming music Pandora copyright royalties
Abstract:
The development of the Internet has dramatically altered the music industry. While the easy availability of MP3 music files have contributed to declining revenues for the industry as a whole, the U.S. Congress has passed legislation in an effort to protect the music industry from collapse. Websites that stream music online (Internet radio stations) now face a variety of fees and restrictions. One of the most popular Internet radio sites is Pandora. Unlike traditional radio stations, Pandora uses its “genome project,” an innovative system of algorithms and tags, to generate customized playlists for individual listeners based on their music preferences. This new use of technology raises important business and legal issues for Pandora and the future of Internet radio. This thesis explores the current legal, technical, and financial environment of Pandora, and discusses the likely long-term impact of Pandora on the music industry.
