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Pandora announces Featured Playlists that sound an awful lot like Spotify’s

Pandora announces Featured Playlists that sound an awful lot like Spotify’s

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Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Pandora is launching 250 “featured playlists” on its premium tier today. They’re “hand-picked” by curators and sorted by themes that include genres, moods, and “cultural moments,” as well as general new music compilations and workout playlists.

According to a press release, some of the featured playlists will also come with “companion radio stations” that can be listened to on the ad-supported tier of the platform. The announcement reads as an attempt to take on Spotify’s lauded selection of curated playlists — e.g., Rap Caviar, Badass Women, and Are & Be — which are refreshed by hand by curators who are increasingly becoming public figures. The release also states that Pandora’s Browse tab will recommend featured playlists based on users’ listening habits, a combination of algorithm and curation that should be familiar to anyone who spends time in Spotify playlists.

Nine of the launch playlists were described in the release. Some highlights:

Tight Pants Dance Party: Put on your tight pants and dance the day away with this mix of old and new highly danceable indie hits.

Beast Mode Electronic: Are you all about #gains bro? Well Beast Mode will give you the motivation you need with the loudest and most intense dubstep, metal, and hip hop.

I Hate My Boss: I Hate My Boss is your go to playlist for any day of the week that "the man" is getting you down.

They sound fine, even if the titles and descriptions are ridiculous. Maybe that’s fun for you!