Pandora used to have a limit of 40 hours of free mobile listening before they started charging a fee. However, now they have decided to let listeners keep the music going for as long as they want without charging a fee. This change is mainly because Pandora has found other ways to limit how long people tune in.
Before this change, the 40-hour limit was in place because Pandora needed to find a way to make money from their service. They offered a free version of their app with advertisements, but they found that some users were listening for extended periods of time without paying anything. This was not sustainable for the company, so they implemented the 40-hour limit.
Now, Pandora has found alternative ways to generate revenue and keep their service running. They have introduced a premium subscription plan called Pandora Plus, which offers additional features and benefits for a monthly fee. By offering this premium option, they are able to generate income from users who are willing to pay for an enhanced listening experience.
In addition to the premium subscription, Pandora also continues to have advertisements in their free version. These ads are another source of revenue for the company. By including advertisements, they can offset the costs of providing free music streaming to their users.
So, while Pandora no longer has a limit on how long you can listen for free, they have found other ways to monetize their service. The introduction of a premium subscription plan and the inclusion of advertisements allow them to continue offering free streaming while still generating income.