Pandora announced today new metrics that were reached in the month of March 2013.

Listener hours for Pandora during the month of March 2013 were 1.49 billion, an increase of 40% from 1.07 billion during the same period last year.

Share of total U.S. radio listening for Pandora in March 2013 was 8.05%, an increase from 5.73% at the same time last year.

Active listeners were 69.5 million at the end of March 2013, an increase of 36% from 51.2 million during the same time period last year.

Pandora is releasing key audience metrics on a monthly basis to provide the most current information regarding Pandora’s users and usage across platforms.

Beginning with the March 2013 metrics, Pandora will report monthly U.S. radio listening market share data on a trailing 28-day basis as of the end of the month (whereas previous reports were based on a trailing 7-day basis as of the end of the month). The new 28-day trailing methodology will provide a more accurate reflection of Pandora’s monthly market share. Comparative data for previous time periods (in this case, March 2012) will be revised for consistency of presentation.