SiriusXM will seek to acquire Pandora to create what is says will be “the worlds largest audio entertainment company”
 
The US$3.5billion purchase comes after SiriusXM purchased 14% of Pandora last year.
 
Initially there are no expected changes to the content offerings or subscription rates of either service as they will continue as separate entities, with SiriusXM continuing to offer ad-free content.
 
SiriusXM expects “The combined company will benefit listeners and artists by growing two vibrant platforms that will provide the best, most compelling audio to more listeners.”
 
The acquisition would bring over 100 million active listeners together.
 
The deal has been in the making since May last year when the two sides couldn’t agree an a price, and isn’t expected to be completed until the first quarter of 2019.

A key motivator in the deal is likely to have been Pandora’s US $145 million acquisition of AdsWizz last May.