Ad Feedback - Political Ads

[LuvBTO]

After being a long time Pandora listener, I have stopped listening because of the political ad that runs over and over again. I will resume listening after (I guess) the next presidential election.

Moderator Edit: Edited title for clarity

[AlyssaPandora · Accepted solution]

Hi there, @LuvBTO!

Perhaps the best place to start is to tell you that, like virtually all media outlets, the advertising content on Pandora does not represent an endorsement of any kind on our part. We realize the prominent placement of many of our ads may give the impression that Pandora somehow endorses the product, issue, candidate, etc. but we do not.

We recognize that certain material is sensitive ground, so we do our best to preserve the listening experience. All of our ads are thoughtfully vetted by folks across various teams at Pandora, to ensure they are free from speech or content that is hateful, illegal, false, misleading, fraudulent, inaccurate or unfair. While we respect the perspective of each individual, and while there are occasional judgment calls still required, we feel strongly that our advertising platform should not be in the business of censoring.

You might also consider upgrading to Pandora Plus or Pandora Premium. These are our advertising-free subscriptions, which also offer a number of other benefits you might find attractive.

For instance, Pandora Plus includes unlimited skips, replays, and offline listening, while Pandora Premium boasts all of these features as well as a curated, on-demand library.

Of course, we're happy to have folks listen, whether they are paid or free.

Thanks for listening to Pandora, and thanks again for taking the time to write us - it means a lot that you care enough to speak up. 

[LuvBTO]

I appreciate the fact that income is needed to pay royalties, etc.. I appreciate the fact that you probably can't discriminate when accepting advertising as long as it isn't blatantly racist, offensive, etc.. However I don't have to listen to ads from Pete B. or any other candidate if I don't want to. I am now listening to music using Jango. I will return to Pandora from time to time to see if there are political ads playing. If I want to spend the money and get the premium Pandora will I lose the ads? Thanks! @LuvBTO

[AlyssaPandora]

Yes, it will remove the advertisements @LuvBTO.

You can find out more information about how our subscriptions work here.

[Amazzdroid]

I just deleted my app and will not ever go back to Pandora after my music was interrupted by political propaganda BS. Bye bye Pandora. 

[myself123]

Same. Can't believe Pandora would do this. Unbelievable, and a total turn-off!. Spotify here I come

[myself123]

The current ad for Trump is inaccurate and misleading! Stop running it. It's in such bad taste. It's propganda BS and shame on you.

[Yellowkryptonit]

Pulling the plug on Pandora uintil at least after the election. The constant NRA ads are dishearterning. 

[Bridgette]

I have been listening to Pandora for over 10 years and up until recently have had a paid membership but after hearing the bs commercial advertisement that you allow trashing our President I will never ever pay for another membership! I’m so sick of this one sided bias towards conservatives who voted for him. You will lose a lot of customers over that disgusting ad with that loser who is running against him! I’ll make sure I spread the word on Twitter and Facebook! Oh and by the way Trump2020!!! 

[powsl76]

"All of our ads are thoughtfully vetted by folks across various teams at Pandora"

Obviously not. They should be vetted for political content as well.

Totally agree with LuvBTO. You need Ad sponsors I get it. But get rid of the political ads! Especially when you continue to play the same one over and over again which as far as I am concerned shows bias! You certainly won't get me as a customer playing her over and over again. And especially considering this individual has been caught lying.

[powsl76]

Thanks for the tip. Will check out this Jango. Tired of bs political ad.

[Ke4ohb]

I dont mind getting adds but to hear some bull**ahem** about the best president we ever had makes me wanna give up on pandora. Quit with the negitive adds against Trump or i will get my music from somewhere else. The whole Trump train will be going elsewhere too..please stop that **ahem** now.

[Graffitiseries]

I agree I dont mind the ads but when you bring up politics and bash our president this needs to stop.  I have been a long time user but if I keep hearing this crap I'll get my music somewhere else there is a million choices now a days and TRUMP 2020.

[StormCloud42]

Hey so I use pandora almost everyday and lately I keep having to listen to the Chik-fil-a ads and they fill me with rage. With the amount they donate to anti-LGBTIQ organizations as an LGBTIQ person I do not want to support them in any way. Is there a way to block their ads?

[JudyInMaine]

listen all the time

[knighthusband]

I don't mind the ads either, but the political ads just interrupt the joy of the music I'm listening to with divisive and questionable content. I'm listening to my music to chill and escape this season of political advertisements and narratives, regardless of whatever candidate they're coming from! I'll listen elsewhere from now on.

[Stevepeitz]

Why does a MUSIC in fact a very good musical app have to take a political stance and force an amends down our throats. I love music I don’t need your agenda I quit because of it. Hello Spotify goodbye pandora I am truly sorry you put politics above your listeners    I don’t care about your belief I care about my musical choices. 

[listener1776]

i just turned off pandora after dealing with this every time ads played - i'm tired of hearing political garbage especially when its inaccurate and misleading. takes me away from my music and makes me angry. it made me turn off tonight, and i'm not sure if i'll be back. I'm tired of conservative censorship.

[drstitch]

That's neither an answer nor a solution.  For at least the past decade, I consider political advertisements of all kinds to be offensive on many levels - certainly intellectually, definitely on the level that they are all misleading to the point of being dishonest, and quite frankly contributes to the decline of civil discourse in this country. If you don't provide an option like Twitter to indicate which ads are offensive and shouldn't be shown to me - and the fact that all the ads I get are from a particular political persuasion - merely tells me you are part of the problem (in the best light) and/or trying to influence the elections (in the worst light).

Flag political ads and allow me to opt out of *political* ads.

[thediebols]

We don't mind commercials. Just hate political ones. Good way to ruin a hike. How about a bunch of Corona virus to make the listening experience even worse?