U2 Launches Biggest-Ever Artist Takeover on Pandora

NEW YORK, Oct. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- October 2021 marks 40 years of U2's seminal album, October - and to celebrate, the rock legends have today announced the launch of the biggest-ever Artist Takeover on Pandora.

U2's Artist Takeover on Pandora is an exclusive listening experience where members of the iconic group take fans on a personal journey through the making of their first three albums - which include Boy (1980), October (1981), and War (1983) - sharing intimate personal stories, previously unknown details, and the music that inspired them along the way.

U2's Artist Takeover marks the first time an artist has created an ongoing series of self-curated Modes on Pandora. Users can now choose from three selectable "modes" on Pandora's U2 Radio station - each devoted to one of these three early albums - where the group shares personal insights and influences behind each record in their own words. Additional album Modes are expected to be rolled out on Pandora's U2 Radio station in the coming months. 

On U2's Artist Takeover Modes on Pandora, band members share never-before-heard stories behind the making of each album, delve deep into the creation and recording of pivotal tracks, and share classic songs from the artists who influenced and inspired them -- from The Ramones to John Lennon to David Bowie – all in one unique listening experience.

"Pandora has given us an opportunity to tell U2's story in a completely new way, weaving the music of our heroes together with our own using songs, memories, and inspirations," said U2 guitarist The Edge. "Music is the most powerful storytelling medium, and Modes has created an incredible new way to share the sounds and experiences that made us who we are as artists." 

"Few bands have been as consistently innovative, passionate, and riveting as U2, who are constantly evolving and yet still at the top of their game decades on," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer of Pandora parent SiriusXM. "We are thrilled to be collaborating with the band to create this truly personal and groundbreaking U2 music experience for Pandora listeners."

On each Mode, the band digs deep into its storied history to tell the tales and spin the songs behind the early years that launched the young band on its path to global superstardom.

Speaking about their early influences, Bono said - "I learned a lot from Iggy Pop. I've learned a lot from performers who are not comfortable with a safe distance between the stage and the audience."

Adam Clayton added - "Half of 'October' is kind of an admission from us that we are absolutely out of our depth, we don't know what we're doing, we don't know if there's a future for us as a band."

To experience U2's Artist Takeover on Pandora:

1. Search for "U2 Radio" on Pandora and tap the U2 Radio icon
2. Tap the Now Playing bar at the bottom of your screen
3. Tap the "New Modes Added" button at the top of your screen
4. Select from Modes devoted to U2 albums Boy, October, or War

On the web, visit www.pandora.com/U2modes

U2's Artist Takeover on Pandora follows the launch of U2 X-Radio on SiriusXM, an exclusive SiriusXM channel devoted to the band's music, history, idols, influences, and current passions - all curated by U2.

Artist Takeovers are a "guest DJ"-style Pandora experience where top artists program a mix of their songs, along with favorites from other artists, and add their own personal commentary. Artist Takeovers are an extension of Pandora Modes, a unique feature that lets users customize their Pandora listening experience by choosing from selectable "modes" on their favorite stations to give more control over which songs they hear.

About Pandora

Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. Pandora provides consumers a uniquely-personalized music and podcast listening experience with its proprietary Music Genome Project^® and Podcast Genome Project^® technology. Pandora is also the leading digital audio advertising platform in the U.S. Through its own Pandora service, its AdsWizz platform, and third-party services such as SoundCloud, the Company connects brands to the largest ad-supported streaming audio marketplace in the country. Pandora is available through its mobile app, the web, and integrations with more than 2,000 connected products.

About SiriusXM

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is the leading audio entertainment company in North America, and the premier programmer and platform for subscription and digital advertising-supported audio products. SiriusXM's platforms collectively reach approximately 150 million listeners, the largest digital audio audience across paid and free tiers in North America, and deliver music, sports, talk, news, comedy, entertainment and podcasts. Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. SiriusXM's subsidiaries Stitcher, Simplecast and AdsWizz make it a leader in podcast hosting, production, distribution, analytics and monetization. The Company's advertising sales organization, which operates as SXM Media, leverages its scale, cross-platform sales organization and ad tech capabilities to deliver results for audio creators and advertisers. SiriusXM, through Sirius XM Canada Holdings, Inc., also offers satellite radio and audio entertainment in Canada. In addition to its audio entertainment businesses, SiriusXM offers connected vehicle services to automakers. For more about SiriusXM, please go to: www.siriusxm.com.

Source: SiriusXM

Media contact:
Jason Roth
[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/u2-launches-biggest-ever-artist-takeover-on-pandora-301400089.html

SOURCE Sirius XM Holdings Inc.