Pandora’s magic sauce works so incredibly well it is almost scary. Real humans with music degrees classify songs. An algorithm does set up a playlist, but only based on those human recommendations. Better than Mahalo, I’d say

What is truly scary is that the Copyright Board wields such power, and that the ramifications of the DMCA “devil’s bargain” are still being felt. As one pundit put it, “Pandora may have to be our sacrificial lamb.” Paraphrasing, but you get the idea.

One last thing: I would put up with satellite radio-style ads every so often if it meant keeping Pandora alive. I don’t fathom how musicians aren’t more up in arms about all this (although I can see why the top-label artists don’t give a damn as real music choice threatens their gravy train).