Why Netflix should consider buying Pandora

Watching ‘House of Cards’ on Netflix, made me wonder how many other ‘mad men’ were out there who were glued to the series the entire weekend? The finish of each episode was just a great build-up to the following episode. The more I started to realize the impact it had on me, the micro advertising, subtle mini plots and even the intro music, the more it felt like I was the target audience. Out of curiosity, I started digging deeper to see what makes this series tick, so I started searching for interviews, commentaries, and comments by fellow ‘house of cards’ crazies.

The deeper I delved, the more I realized there is a formula for this success. Kevin Spacey, as lead actor, the location, the plot are more or less derived from the viewing patterns of the millions and millions of hours of data of the users. Very popular concepts like, female dominant yet subtle supportive role (by Robin), the concept of dreaming it big, the putrid longing for backstabbing sabotage….. to name a few.

Despite all these subtle nuances, the one that caught my attention was the intro music. How dark, catchy it was against the backdrop of the administrative powerhouses. And one must wonder…… what if PANDORA had an input to it? Just a thought?

As they scout for story and plot based on viewer information, what if they had subtle music notes based on music gene of the same targeted audience? This is where I think the merger would help the data miners and that the potential merger would be for greater good……….. for a purpose, when I sit down to watch my favorite show…. I know that it comes in the complete package………. The story and the music all blending together perfectly.

That being said, here are the reasons why Netflix should consider buying Pandora (at least the user experience data)

1.       Make great shows with the music quotient to them
2.       Micro advertising with music in it……… imagine the slip where Kevin Spacey and Kata Mara share their moment of cigarette, where an old cigarette company add its twist with few strums of guitar
3.       For promoting cars in the show with music attached to it.  Imagine an escalade driving into Kevin’s house (obvisouly Meechum in it) and the bass notes attached with it
4.       Every moment of triumph (based on viewer data) related to the exact moment with an impulsive tone

Without Pandora’s (or Iheart Radio’s) data, the experience would be a little in complete.

Now that Netflix is flexing muscles with internet providers, this would add a new dimension to the whole thing.