Exciting new developments for our fave coffee shops and music companies, San Francisco comes out on top for public transport, and more news from the past week.
Pandora Buys SF's Ticketfly, Variety
"Personalized online radio service Pandora has acquired Ticketmaster competitor Ticketfly for around $450 million in cash and stock. The acquisition could help Pandora diversify its revenue, and puts its music intelligence to good use to target potential concertgoers... Pandora already has a ton of knowledge about its users music preferences, with close to 80 million people listening to and in many cases rating music on the service every month. Combine that with the location data that Pandora gathers from its mobile apps, and you got perfect targeting for concert tickets."
Peet's Is Merging with Stumptown, Eater
"Peet's Coffee & Tea, the other West Coast-based caffeine giant, is making a big acquisition. Peet's is in the process of buying independent Portland, Ore., outfit Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Stumptown owner and founder Duane Sorenson confirmed in an email to Eater Tuesday afternoon. 'Stumptown's journey has been about creating a coffee experience that surpasses all expectations,' Sorenson said in a prepared statement. 'I'm excited and confident that Peet's will continue to support our journey in a way that uniquely reflects who we are.'"
SF Public Transit Ranks High, NBC Bay Area
“San Francisco-area public transit rail stations are the best in California for overall use and access to jobs, housing and amenities according to a new report released Tuesday. The report gave both the BART and San Francisco Municipal Railway systems high marks... The best station in the entire state was Muni's Church Street station at Church and Market streets, which earned an A+ grade for its easy access to housing and retail, convenient transit access and land use policies.”
Dick Costolo Joins Forces With HBO's Silicon Valley, SFist
“’I am in the writers’ room a few days a week,’ Costolo, who left his post as Twitter's CEO in June, told Re/code in a new interview. ‘It’s not too much of a stretch,’ he says, and we can believe it of the man who once told Business Insider that his real calling was the theater. Of the gig, says Costolo ‘It’s fun for now and a good transition.’”
Jerry Brown Signs Major Climate Change Bill, ABC
“Gov. Jerry Brown has signed an ambitious measure to combat climate change by increasing California's renewable electricity use to 50 percent and doubling energy efficiency in existing buildings by 2030. Brown signed the bill Wednesday after losing a political battle against oil interests as he attempted to also cut petroleum use by half in the state. The governor and Democratic leaders blamed the defeat on a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign by oil companies.”
