Pandora reaches 100 car models

Pink Floyd’s recent scathing op-ed against Pandora Media Inc. hasn’t kept the Internet radio company down.

Shares of the Oakland firm soared Tuesday after it said its service is now available in more than 100 car models, double the number it had a year ago.

So far, 2.5 million users have activated the service through integrations with automotive brands and aftermarket manufacturers.

PHOTOS: Tech we want to see in 2013

The automotive market is important to Pandora, which has partnerships with 23 automobile brands and announced its first such partnership in 2010. About half of all radio listening happens in the car, the company said.

“The vehicle is the traditional home of radio, and thanks to our deep roster of forward-thinking automotive partners, Pandora has been seamlessly incorporated into the dash of more than 100 different vehicle models made available by our partners,� Simon Fleming-Wood, Pandora’s chief marketing officer, said in a statement.

Pandora’s stock rose $1.28, or 8.5%, to $16.41 on Tuesday.

PHOTOS: Hollywood Backlot moments

The good news comes as Pandora is fighting with many critics, including artists and performance rights organizations, over the royalty rates it pays.

BMI, one of the groups that collects royalties from broadcasters to pay publishers and songwriters, took the company to court this month.

On Sunday, the surviving members of the rock band Pink Floyd published an opinion piece in USA Today that accuses Pandora of trying to trick artists into supporting legislation that would lower Pandora’s royalty payments.

ALSO:

Rupert Murdoch files for divorce from his third wife

L.A.’s Mayor-elect aims to make Hollywood center stage

TV pilot production rebounds; but LA still losing business

Twitter: @rfaughnder

[email protected]