Pandora Ads.. Clever or Annoying?

Pandora is the free internet radio service that has become the next big thing in the way we listen to music.  People are less inclined to buy music online or in stores because there are so many other venues to listen to music hassle-free.  Pandora is really changing the way we listen to and purchase music.  It has decreased music purchases because people can listen to any genre of music for free; however, at the same time, it has also increased music purchases because you can now listen to new artists and songs that you may have not found before which could prompt a purchase.

The service sounds too good to be true.  For free?  Well it does have it's flaws.

To listen to free internet radio, you are subject to listening to paid advertisements between songs.  The site also features banner ads as well.  Another pitfall is that you cannot choose specifically what songs you listen to.  You can only choose a genre, artist, or song and the service will create a "station" for you that features similar songs based on your search.  Overall, the positives outweigh the negatives, but are the paid ads useful?  Do they successfully send the right message?  Do people really listen to the ads?  Or are the advertisements more of a nuisance?

I think most people would agree that the Pandora ads are somewhat annoying.  People generally just want to listen to their music instead of some droning advertisement.  However, the listener can't help but pay attention to the ads.  I know when I am listening to Pandora, since I'm paying attention and listening closely to my music, when an ad plays, I inevitably listen closely to it as well.  I end up learning something about a product that I hadn't before.  I think the video ads are pointless because people listen to Pandora in the background of their computer. They don't really see the video, but instead hear the audio.

For Pandora ads, I would recommend sticking to more of a radio ad approach.  Avoid video visuals, and stay strictly informative reviewing the benefits of the product or service being advertised.

So, Pandora ads... clever or annoying?  I guess they are both!  They are a necessary part of having such an awesome free service!  No one wants to listen to the ads but when your music is interrupted, you always end up listening.