SiriusXM Bows Pandora Now as First Cross-Platform Initiative Since Buyout

Pandora Now, launched Thursday as a SiriusXM channel and Pandora interactive station and playlist, is the first cross-platform initiative since SiriusXM completed its $3.5 billion all-stock Pandora buyout Feb. 1 (see 1902010005). Pandora Now “harnesses the combined strength of Pandora's extensive listener data and SiriusXM's curatorial expertise,” said the company. Bundling the SiriusXM and Pandora platforms is “a great area for combination,” because Pandora lacks a good "position" in the car, and SiriusXM "would like to do" better in the home and in mobile, SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer said last month (see 1903120026).