A experiência da Microsoft na «rádio» não tem sido feliz

«MSN RADIO DROPS PANDORA AND SIMPLY SHUTS DOWN: Pandora and MSN Radio have ended their partnership, causing the latter service to shut down. MSN Radio had been powered by Pandora. Ending the partnership — which was enacted in November 2006 — was a “mutual” decision, reports Pandora founder Tim Westergren. He revealed that Pandora’s “limited resources” need to be consolidated in their flagship site, and that any partnerships “have to really be substantial…having been [on MSN Radio] for a while and been in front of their audience, it was no longer contributing that level.” For more on the story, read the Seattle Times’ coverage here. RAIN ANALYSIS: Radio has not been easy for MSN. MSN Radio has had a checkered history: In 2000, Microsoft acquired a company called MongoMusic in a $65 million stock deal to build stations called “Sounds Like” that matched artists or moods. In 2003, MSN experimented with a $29.99 subscription service called MSN Radio Plus. In 2004, they launched a set of 900 “Local Sounds” stations that tried to mimic local-market FM stations (more coverage here). One flaw in the “MSN Radio — Powered by Pandora” plan may have been the fact that if an MSN user sampled and liked the product, it was probably easier for them to go to Pandora.com directly, rather than to radio.msn.com, thereafter. — KH» (fonte: HANSON, Kurt, «RAIN 6/20: MSN Radio gives up; Edison on covering spot breaks» Jun 20, 2008)