Drop down menu changes?

[AW12]

I'm not sure if my phone settings changed due to an update or what, but recently apps like Pandora and GooglePlay Music no longer show up on my drop-down menu (from the top tool-bar). I'm not sure what that's actually called. I used to be able to see the songs and control the music from there, but now I have to find and open the app completely to do anything, meaning I have to stop anything else I was doing. I also haven't been able to have text messages pop up to answer right away while still in an app, it used to let me answer a text without it loading to the messaging app.
I've tried looking for changed settings in the phone itself, but also in each app and I haven't found anything that looks promising or had made a difference.
Any suggestions? I'm not even sure i've explained my problem sufficiently!

 

[sleedeane]

All I can add to that is all your problems probably began with the M update.
When they invite you to update, they don't warn you about all of the things that will suck about your device after you update.
Most people assume an update is all good.
Never again.