Lars Murray to Pandora

LARS OPENS PANDORA’S BOX: Lars Murray has joined Pandora as VP of Industry Relations, putting him in charge of “strategic collaborations with a broad coalition of music industry stakeholders,” it says here. “He reports directly to Chief Strategy Officer Sara Clemens. The 20-year veteran was most recently VP of Digital Media at Columbia. “With this hire, we’ve added a widely respected thought leader to help take us there,” said Pandora topper Brian McAndrews in this morning’s announcement. “Lars’ extensive knowledge, broad industry relationships and deep passion for music will further shape our approach to realizing a truly productive collaboration with all industry stakeholders.” Murray seemed enthusiastic as well. “I’m tremendously excited to dive in and help unleash the power of Internet radio in new ways,” he offered. “Pandora is ushering in a new era for music, with unmatched scale and personalization that can empower the industry in a way that has never before been possible. I am thrilled to be part of what continues to be a dramatic transformation of how great music and artists find their audience. How’s that for a kickass quote?” (7/22a)