Does this meen my version of p has been updated automatically?

i will assume yes...i which case might isuggest you add some new and expensive box set tracks to existing stations ie nirvana out of the light etc my statons dont seem to have updated in any way?

MATB

My young son and I were listening to your station when one of your selected songs came up with explicit lyrics.

I don't listen to that kind of music, never selected any artists with explicit lyrics, and never want to hear artists that use obscenties. I know that you don't want to censor artists who use explicit lyrics, but you give no option to those of us who don't share your sentiment on that one.

Why can't you add a checkbox to a user account that says: "Never play songs with explicit lyrics"?

Seems like a very simple thing to do. Otherwise, I'm going to have to stop using your service and tell all those people that I told about Pandora of the problems I've had with inappropriate stuff being played.

Thanks!

DLE, the other option of course is to not listen with your son.

Hi

I am interested in subscribing but becaue I live outside the US I cannot. When will you launch a worldwide version?

I just discovered pandora.com - fantastic, one of the most exciting things I've ever found on the internet. But the previous comment regarding explicit lyrics makes me hesitate to share this with my kids. I don't object to the very occasional four-letter word, but I draw the line at some of the hyper-sexual lyrics of certain popular music. My youngest daughter has some rap-leanings (where did I go wrong?), but that's her business. She'll avoid the truly nasty stuff given a chance, but Pandora currently offers no way to do that.

Dave

I also wish there was a feature to opt out of listening to music containing explicit lyrics. To many people, this is just as important as the musical style.

I'd like to add my voice to those asking for a way to opt out of receiving songs with explicit lyrics. Certainly don't want to keep others from receiving anything they want. But I'd prefer not to get those songs. Anything possible in that regard?

Thanks. Love the site.

Hi,

I have been using this site for a couple of months and I think it is fantastic. In the last couple of days I have noticed that when I click on a song to either state that I enjoy it or I don't care for it, there is no reply, or I have to hit it multiple times. Is this something with my computer or is there some kind of bug they are working out?

Thanks,

Jake
P.S. Keep it up. This thing is awesome!

Awesome! You guys are gonna make a mint! Good luck!

How are you proposing "explicit" lyrics be defined? Do you want just one checkbox? If so, what gets censored? Songs about sex? Songs about Violence? Songs with allegorical themes about sex or violence? Songs about kissing?

Where is the line drawn? What if you are okay with songs with sexual lyrics but don't want to hear songs with violent lyrics?

Perhaps a set of questions relating to this when you create a new user account, and using that to take recommendations into account? I think that would be a better alternative than just a checkbox. It's a more "intelligent" filter, which fits with a site that is all about intelligent recommendation.

I shudder at the thought of the cost of the administrative overhead that Pandora would incur if they were to censor certain content.

Who decides what is "explicit"? Is there a central repository of "naughty words"? Is "shit" on that list? What about "damn" or "hell"? What about phrases like "blow me" or "screw it"?

What about content that uses no words commonly considered vulgar, but nonetheless invokes strong imagery? (For example, a song about the horrors of war.)

I have a 3-year-old daughter, but I still strongly support the choice that Pandora made when they decided to use songs with explicit content. It's not that I want my little girl hearing curse words--I don't. I simply listen only when she's not around.

And if she does accidentally overhear explicit lyrics, it's not nearly as bad as her catching a glimpse of the awful things shown on the nightly news.

Now is it?

Some of us don't watch the nightly news for exactly that reason. We also don't watch talk shows or "this season's new #1 hit drama" because we prefer that our entertainment make us happy instead of sad.

Pandora obviously has lyrical data already. Go create a station with "Bring It All Back", "Wonderful (Chunky Style)" and "Second Star to the Right". It will play a few songs with downbeat lyrics at first, but give them a thumbs down and then it will mostly play upbeat lyrics.

However, it's not always so easy. Those three songs work well, but pick three songs that you like that have upbeat lyrics, put them into Pandora, and try to make it only play songs that you like which also have upbeat lyrics. It's very difficult.

Since Pandora is playing songs that have upbeat lyrics, any song you hear that you don't like will have upbeat lyrics. So if you thumb it down, then Pandora will think that upbeat lyrics aren't so important to you. However, if you don't thumb it down, then you're stuck listening to music that you don't really like. It's difficult to win.

I think a simple "lyrical content is very important to me" checkbox on the "edit this station" screen would fix things up easily. Then you just put in a few songs you like, and Pandora only plays songs with similar lyrics, even if you've thumbed down songs with similar lyrics. If you don't want this feature, you don't check that box. Everybody wins.

Pandora obviously already knows a lot about lyrics. It's told me many times that it's playing songs because of "upbeat lyrics", "romantic lyrics", "religous lyrics" and a few times even "political lyrics", "angry lyrics" and "offensive lyrics". So I don't think that the administrative overhead that Pandora would incur would be anything to shudder at the thought of the cost of. Most of the work is already done.

I would love to be able to go back and listen to a track again (the full track and not just 30 seconds). Would this be a thing to consider in the future? It is depressing to hear a good song and for it to disappear again. We do not always want to buy the complete album!

Gawd,
Please do not filter songs with out an option. Half of my favourite tunes have the "F" word. From the Who, Tragicly Hip, Green Day, Patti Smith, etc.

I am more interested in a "music from what years" option. I enjoy to have my stations reflect different times in my life. Now this may not go down well with advertisers, because we wouldn't get, "maybe you will like Jack Johnson, because you like James Taylor", however it would make for improved listener control.

Richard, you are oversimplifying it. It is easy to imagine a song that has "upbeat lyrics" but also has some cursing in it. Being "upbeat", "romantic", or even "religious" doesn't mean "no cursing". The problem of censoring "explicit lyrics" remains.

Oh... Everyone's talking about explicit lyrics, aren't they? I guess I'm too interested in my own agenda to notice what people are talking about.

However, there does seem to be a strong correlation between upbeat lyrics and inexplicit lyrics, wether it's because it's difficult to curse in an upbeat song or because artist simply don't choose to do so I can't say. Even a filter that is only 90% effective would make the Pandora experience ten times better for those who don't want explicit lyrics.

I've been told via email "...something that we're strongly considering, which is to give a listener the option to specify not only which song they like, but also what they like ABOUT the song." I think that would obsolete a checkbox. In any event, the Pandora team is probably working on something already that's better than anything we'll think of here. They seem quite dedicated to making everyone happy.

There is far too much censorship in the world...
I feel that if you don't want to you or your children to hear explicit lyrics then you you really need to look at the style of music you are asking for ... I only really listen to metal and ambient stuff and have yet to hear any swearing ... if you want to listen to "gangsta" rap your just gonna have to face the fact that every now and then someone is going to insinuate that you have done things with mom that daddy wouldn't approve of...

This Project should receive more attention, for this is one of the few Websites that offers the mass audience good quality in stereo and amazing radio system, giving you variation (to a certain limit...) in the art of music...

The Pandora Genome Project shouldn't stop... It would be awesome if you could listen to international music, native music as well, in other words, a complete collection of every style and kind of music around the world...

Thanks for the service...

No one is asking for censorship here! If Pandora wants to offer albums and songs with explicit lyrics, I'm not crusading against their option to do so.

The problem is that some of us like what Pandora offers in music, but we just don't want to be served up songs with explicit lyrics, especially if the artists we offered as musical examples never sing explicit lyrics.

If an album has an explicit lyrics warning on it, I would prefer never to hear music off it. Why is that so difficult a thing to ask? I'm not screaming for censorship for all listeners here! If I'm listening to The David Crowder Band one second, it's quite jarring to have the next song be Eminem rapping about some m*****f***** he doesn't like.

Click the checkbox for "no explicit lyrics" or don't. Just let people decide for themselves. We're allowed to say what artists we like, why can't we say that we would prefer not to be served up songs with explicit lyrics?

This is a great service, I love it. If you don't like explicit lyrics then don't listen to rap music and hip-hop. Listen to some jazz or electronica instead. I'm loving my jazz and electronica stations that I've created...this is too good!

I just read about the suggestion for a "explicit lyrics checkbox". Do we really need that? In my opinion it totally up to the user/listener what he or she finds explicit. Not up to any censorship board or computer database.

On the other hand it Pandora's mission is to help you connect with the music you like. Including lyrics. However Pandora will probably never include any option to exclude songs with capitalistic, Christian or Islamic lyrics. Which may be offensive to some users.

Luckily Pandora already has a feature to skip the songs you dislike!

Thanks for the service!

I suppose you get a lot of blunt shoutouts like this, but D*mn what a splendid service Pandora is! I have been using it for some weeks now and finally I have found something that really expands my musical world. The only bad thing is that much of the music is not (yet) for sale in the Swedish version of iTunes music store.

The possibility to store personal favourites is a great bonus. can I share my favourites? I have to get back and try some more features. So, thanks! and great, marvellous work. regards, Magnus

Hey, this has made my time at the school library. Now I can listen to music I like without having to cart anything around!
That being said: What if one could select several properties that are listed when one clicks on "why did this song play". This would make things easier.
And about the explicit lyrics, I think one should realize the tale of Pandora's box before complaining about it. That's part of the fun for me: some selections are gonna curl my nails, but I just say I don't want to hear it again. Then I spend more time listening.
All in all very good job guys! I tell all my friends here at school.

to those of you who are offended by four-letter words in songs, all that will be required is that you read every lyric in every song in the entire music genome database of Pandora and make a notation for every song that contains a word that you find offensive so that those songs can be separated out by a query at a later date. that should only take you, um, 10 years or so. so you better get busy. or you could just guide Pandora so it doesn't play that song again.

i think pandora is flawless, and i'm sure i'm not alone.

love, a loyal fan x

I really like the site and the service- a LOT!
I just wish there was a way to get to the album-details *without* having to put the song into the favorites page.

Maybe there's a way to do this, but I haven't figured it out.

Keep up the good work.
KC

I agree with the commenter who would like to be able to choose which properties of a song you like. For example, I am trying to create a "New Age" station, but Pandora turns up a lot of songs that, while I may like the musical style I don't care for the lyrics and vice versa. I'd like to be able to tell Pandora "I like this song because...please play more songs with this type of lyrics/lead singer/instrumentation/rhythm/etc."

I hadn't thought about the explicit lyric thing until I read these posts.

Most artists/labels offer a "clean" version of their songs. Seems like the best first step would be to make this an option for each station.

This service (Pandora) is truly amazing and reminds me that there are always more good ideas waiting to be implemented.

if you got gospal on you really should not hear any bad words....and how can i find those songs?

It would be a great feature if there was a link to allmusic.com for each song that plays. Then we could easily find out a bit more info about some of these artists that get played...

Wow, what an amazing site! I've discovered more new music because of you guys in the last few months than I ever thought possible. My list at Amazon is getting long, and I thank you for that.

It's wonderful to find a site run by dedicated music lovers, how would one go about submitting a band they like for consideration to your service?

Thanks for all the work you're putting into the site with the new upgrades, I look forward to each new adventure.

I just discovered this segment. I hope my comment
(sent by way of "Jobs" etc) will reach you because
my own feelings are as intense and profound as those
expressed by so many others.All the brou-ha-ha re:
explicit lyrics etc. is so much puffery in a sea
of Sparkling Beauty! Go, Pandora, Go!!!!
Buster Cearley

Amazing, just started listening, amazed that you guys have a music selection containing some of the more obscure artists (especially in America)

Two Thumbs up!

Just absolutly amazing...That this service can find new and old favorites for my picky,jaded ears! Don't stop....and if you ever want help...
Congrats to you Pandora and to your fabulous box!

Well, Kids, Pandora has me figured out. I plug in Bing Crosby, Perry Como or Frank Sinatra and I get exactly kind of music I really like. I NEVER hear words that upset me.

Perhaps you need to rethink the type of music you really want to listen to. Here is your chance to sample music you have never heard in the privacy of your home without anyone ever knowing that you are listening to it. I dare you to give it a try. [I tried Eminin (sp?) and now I know what you are talking about when you say "explicit". Ouch! I hope my kids don't hear about this. :>)]

Thanks to Kim Komando for telling us about Pandora. I'm hooked!

when will you make it so that shared stations can be rated and changed? I would like to start out w/ a friends station and then tweak it.

how about an "on/off" button for explicit lyrics!!!!

How About A No Britney Button :D
Having a problem on my favorites page,
There is a buy from itunes,buy from amazon, and close option, but no remove from favorites option... using opera browser...

What would be really wicked is if you could select tracks by the definitions you use when selecting them, like 'east coast rap roots' or 'electronica influences'

Pandora is truly amazing. This revolutionary concept reminds me of eBay and thier effect on the consumer market. You really do have an incredible site. Congratulations. You could go public if you play your cards right.

In the begining, Pandora told me the properties of the songs i chose, but not anymore: i.e. deep bass kicks, synthesizers, latin drums, etc. I would like to see that info for each song. AND for each of my stations. Then I can add PROPERTIES like "flute" or "record scratching" to a station. I assume you already have these commands set up. Please share them with your loyal public!

I was wondering if there is ever going to be the facility to have a favorite songs radio station?

Cheers

J

Pandora's value is the ability to recommend as many songs as possible and get user feedback.

Presumably the algorithm is learning based on my feedback to pinpoint my musical tastes and reuse that in future recommendations for people with musical tastes like me (at least it should work this way). If you start mucking with those algorithms, even for individual users, it might have the cascade effect of affecting everyone's recommendations.

I may be assuming too much here about how Pandora is really operating, but if I'm not wrong, tightening one user's experience may affect all user's experience.

I say, if you're worried about being exposed to ideas (or even words) that challenge the way you want to view the world, then you should not participate in the Pandora. Do not recommend that a free program be changed because it doesn't conform to your worldview.

Record company EMI sign a deal with the estate of crooner Dean Martin to use the singer's likeness...

I'm with Pinko on the lyrics conundrum. I hate when I thumbs down a song and then features that I LIKED about the song are also now down in importance.

I know this is a thread with a lot of discussion about obscenity, but that's not my issue. My issue is that I want a station to listen to in the morning with upbeat lyrics and that is hard to create. So, mark me down as another person who would like to check a box and say: Upbeat lyrics are important to me for this station.

By the way: I think Pandora is so very, very awesome. Thanks, Tim and all the Pandora people!

Thanks for your feedback, April!

:) Lucia, from Pandora

You guy's it's not that hard. The songs are listed in a database with metadata. If the CD has a Parental Advisory then don't play it for those that don't want to hear it.

I completely agree that to remove music from Pandora for evryone because a few don't want it is ridiculous but they have the same right not to be present with the music. It's not hard. Here I'll write the psuedocode for you:

If(userProfileExplicit='true'&&songCDParentalAdvisory='true')
playlist.next()

Get off your soap boxes about DAMN THE MAN over a simply fix that I am sure Pandora is addressing. It's just as annoy as the nutjobs who want all the songs removed.

I agree with the ability to block out explicit lyrics. I listen to pandora on speakers often at work, and everyone enjoys listening to it with me. But having to maintain a certain level of professionalism requires me to skip songs that explicit lyrics. I don't suggest that pandora itself decides what is explicit and what isn't since most explicit albums already have 'explicit' warnings on them. Just add that as a property as music.

why does pandora stop playing... doesn't matter which web browser i use,, it just randomly mid song stops playing...?

I love the service, but would urge Pandora to include an option would play the "clean" (i.e., non-explicit) version of the songs. Especially now that Pandora is on Roku, my whole family is listening. Personally, I don't want to eliminate the songs, just the language that the radio cuts out. If the radio can do, I'm sure Pandora can.

@Kurt

You can restrict Pandora from playing songs with Explicit content. To do that click on the "account" link in the upper right corner of the Pandora home page. There you should see "Allow explicit content?" Click on 'edit' and in the next window choose 'NO. Do not allow explicit content.'

You will also be given the option to protect this setting with a PIN code. This is not required, though.

Enabling this filter will limit Pandora to playing music that could play on daytime broadcast radio. Note that this can only be applied to the entire account, and not just specific stations.

Okay I am going to add another comment on the explicit lyrics thing. I am a teacher and I like to play pandora during work time for my students. My students love hip-hop, as do I, but I don't want to play songs with explicit lyrics in class(for obvious reasons) but I still want the opportunity to introduce them to hip hop they haven't heard. Plus I don't want to opt out of explicit lyrics all the time by changing my account settings. I still want to listen to music on my time that does include explicit lyrics. So I love pandora, but I do think that it is worth exploring how to limit explicit lyrics, but still give some choices.

I agree, it would be nice to have the option to censor it. They could use the same rules that apply to tv or radio. Yahoo Music had the option and I loved it. everyone is different and some people may enjoy hearing explicit things while others find it offensive. I think the option should be available.

ps. I'm 25 years old with several piercings and a tattoo, and I still think everyone should be able to have it their own way.

I would really like the ability to have Pandora play censored or "Radio Edit" versions of songs. This is because we really like playing Pandora throughout the office and we know that if we put in certain artists or songs then there will be explicit content that isn't approrpriate for the office.

Just a thought.

Personally, I hate hearing censored music. I think it ruins the song. Not to say that obscenities NEED to be present, but if the song was written with them, I think they should stay. I'd really like Pandora to give 3 options on censorship: "Always choose censored version", "Don't care", and "Never use censored version". I don't think that would really be too hard.

I just wanted to put my two cents in... I am a high school teacher. I teach Multimedia and Web Design 2. We play music at least 85% of the time. This is a wonderful tool to help with ADD and ADHD kids. It helps them to stay focused on the task. I LOVE alternative, rock, a little eminim, R & B, oh just a little of everything I guess. I love putting on Pandora, but I keep running into the problem of cussing every other song. I don't mind the cussing but it is against district policy, therefore I am forced to follow the rule. I would GREATLY appreciate an option to get the non cussing versions of all of our favorite songs. Otherwise, we keep getting stuck with boring songs none of us know. I WOULD love the option to get all the same songs without the cussing.... I hope they come up with the option soon so we can actually listen to songs we all like, even if they are the edited versions.

I'd also like a checkbox that excludes explicit music. I don't think that Pandora would need to incur any overhead costs to define "explicit" material since the music is already labelled "explicit". Just exclude anything that says "explicit" right on it.

For those that think that consumers should listen to it without their children, why would they? If I have to find another music service for my kids, I'll just get my own music there too.

I think some of the listeners have misunderstood the original suggestion to make it an option for listeners to listen to "radio version" or censored lyrics. Its not a matter of trying to keep people from expressing their ideas and thoughts. In fact the listener is supporting that essential value just by making her simple request known. So we need to do better and give them the benefit of the doubt.

I too would like to listen to music that is edited. I am in no way naive in thinking that the world should also conform to my preferences. I would just like to have the option of being able to listen what I like just like the listeners who like explicit lyrics have the option to listen to what they would like to listen to. I don't think it is ultimately appropriate to tell this concerned listener that explicit language or actions are happening around us therefore they should embrace it and support it. it doesn't mean we have to like it, accept it, or just take it.

I realize that children and adults hear this kind of talk and content at school, the workplace, in the news, and even in the home. I don't know if I or anyone would think it is fundamentally wrong to just want to give someone, if they like, a brief relief from that "reality." That is the beauty of music. You can use it to connect to the rhythm, beats, energy, and experience all kinds of emotion- it can represent a temporary release from outside forces impinging into your life. Why not let individual listeners have a say in the music they do or do not like to listen to? Just some thoughts.

I am not writing this with the intent to insult anyone. In fact I think it is terrific that listeners and Pandora are open to dialogue. It is a good opportunity for everyone to discuss it.