Pay to Listen to Radio?

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- jasonthefisher said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 15:53
Pay to Listen to Radio?

What a unfortunate day this is. I've been using Last.fm for a year now, and suddenly a message pops up 'reminding' me that I have 30 tracks left to listen to before I have to pay for the service.

1st. I always thought 'reminders' referred to things that I'd been told about previously. Nice one Last.fm. Way to prepare your loyal following.

2nd. Radio (outside of the 'hugely successful' satellite radio) has always been free. That's the beauty of it. Wish you had thought of ways to keep it that way for your users.

I realize the cost doesn't break the bank, but between the unfriendly 'reminder' and the principal of radio, you may find me looking for other music outlets (of which there is no shortage).

J.son

[quote][b][user]jasonthefisher[/user][/b] said: What a unfortunate day this is. I've been using Last.fm for a year now, and suddenly a message pops up 'reminding' me that I have 30 tracks left to listen to before I have to pay for the service. 1st. I always thought 'reminders' referred to things that I'd been told about previously. Nice one Last.fm. Way to prepare your loyal following. 2nd. Radio (outside of the 'hugely successful' satellite radio) has always been free. That's the beauty of it. Wish you had thought of ways to keep it that way for your users. I realize the cost doesn't break the bank, but between the unfriendly 'reminder' and the principal of radio, you may find me looking for other music outlets (of which there is no shortage). J.son [/quote]

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- dankine said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 15:56
yeah radio the world over has always been free. sigh :/

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
"I don't want to believe, I want to know"

Auto Corrections Group

[quote][b][user]dankine[/user][/b] said: yeah radio the world over has always been free. sigh :/[/quote]

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- flaneur said...
- Alumni
- 22 Apr 2009, 15:57
Hey Jason,

We have an official announcement on our blog here.

We also pre-announced the change last month on the blog, and emailed announcements to as many users in affected countries as we could -- sorry to hear you didn't get a heads-up.

Hopefully you'll find a subscription to the radio worthwhile, or continue to enjoy all the other features Last.fm offers (and will continue to offer!) for free.

-Matt

[quote][b][user]flaneur[/user][/b] said: Hey Jason, We have an [url=http://blog.last.fm/2009/04/22/radio-subscriptions]official announcement on our blog[/url] here. We also pre-announced the change last month on the blog, and emailed announcements to as many users in affected countries as we could -- sorry to hear you didn't get a heads-up. Hopefully you'll find a subscription to the radio worthwhile, or continue to enjoy all the other features Last.fm offers (and will continue to offer!) for free. -Matt[/quote]

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- jody2274 said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 16:13
If you are not offering free radio then whats the point of the other offers? I can find that other info on other sites. I only used it because I was here anyway. Is this new found money going to the artists? Are you not getting enough money from your advertisers? This is pure bunk. Get us hooked and now make us pay. The radio gods are displeased.

[quote][b][user]jody2274[/user][/b] said: If you are not offering free radio then whats the point of the other offers? I can find that other info on other sites. I only used it because I was here anyway. Is this new found money going to the artists? Are you not getting enough money from your advertisers? This is pure bunk. Get us hooked and now make us pay. The radio gods are displeased.[/quote]

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- jasonthefisher said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 16:26
Thank you for the reply, Matt. Unfortunately, you provided no apparent solution for myself and the tens of thousands of other people that live outside three of the wealthiest nations in the world: US, UK or Germany.

Touche. Last.fm becomes another stinging example of a corporation providing benefits to an elite group.

At least the other free features you recommended do sound tantalizing - if that represented even 2% of why I come to your website. I think you just alienated a dedicated section of your core customers.

J.son

[quote][b][user]jasonthefisher[/user][/b] said: Thank you for the reply, Matt. Unfortunately, you provided no apparent solution for myself and the tens of thousands of other people that live outside three of the wealthiest nations in the world: US, UK or Germany. Touche. Last.fm becomes another stinging example of a corporation providing benefits to an elite group. At least the other free features you recommended do sound tantalizing - if that represented even 2% of why I come to your website. I think you just alienated a dedicated section of your core customers. J.son [/quote]

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- preetastic said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 17:32
It's such a crock! Last.fm used to be a place to listen to new artists and share music. Now it's just another faceless music subscription service. I've been using Last.fm since 2006 and enjoyed it's old anti-mainstream stance. I've bene loyal to Last.fm incorporating it's widgets to my blog, facebook, windows meedia player and iTunes. But I see that loyalty is not reciprocal.

Now that there are no free services for Canadians, I'll have to find my new music elsewhere.

[quote][b][user]preetastic[/user][/b] said: It's such a crock! Last.fm used to be a place to listen to new artists and share music. Now it's just another faceless music subscription service. I've been using Last.fm since 2006 and enjoyed it's old anti-mainstream stance. I've bene loyal to Last.fm incorporating it's widgets to my blog, facebook, windows meedia player and iTunes. But I see that loyalty is not reciprocal. Now that there are no free services for Canadians, I'll have to find my new music elsewhere. [/quote]

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- [Deleted user] said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 17:34
:(

[quote][b][user][/user][/b] said: :([/quote]
Edited by a deleted user on 22 Apr 2009, 17:45

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- Russ said...
- Alumni
- 22 Apr 2009, 17:34
We feel the same way, but unfortunately loyalty doesn't pay the bills :/

[quote][b][user]Russ[/user][/b] said: We feel the same way, but unfortunately loyalty doesn't pay the bills :/[/quote]

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- Mofums said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 17:41
It's understandable. A subscription fee makes financial sense, and it is not unreasonably expensive. However to grant a service free to some, while others have to pay invokes a feeling of betrayal. I'm sure there are justifications, but I can't shake that feeling.

[quote][b][user]Mofums[/user][/b] said: It's understandable. A subscription fee makes financial sense, and it is not unreasonably expensive. However to grant a service free to some, while others have to pay invokes a feeling of betrayal. I'm sure there are justifications, but I can't shake that feeling.[/quote]

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- robertcalder81 said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 19:44
There should have been a big and obvious warning on the front page that this would happen in X days/months. Instead, we are supposed to check the blog (that I did not realise existed). I have been a loyal user of Last.fm for years and am sorely disappointed with management. I guess I'll just have to turn to the other online radios. And what's this about continuing to provide a free service to select countries? Talk about a ridiculous business plan.

I'll tell you what, you change the terms of service so that I can select precisely which songs I want to listen to and I'll consider paying the $3.00 per month.

Thanks for the memories.

[quote][b][user]robertcalder81[/user][/b] said: There should have been a big and obvious warning on the front page that this would happen in X days/months. Instead, we are supposed to check the blog (that I did not realise existed). I have been a loyal user of Last.fm for years and am sorely disappointed with management. I guess I'll just have to turn to the other online radios. And what's this about continuing to provide a free service to select countries? Talk about a ridiculous business plan. I'll tell you what, you change the terms of service so that I can select precisely which songs I want to listen to and I'll consider paying the $3.00 per month. Thanks for the memories.[/quote]

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- Dimitris_Mourou said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 20:50
I registered a week ago and was very impressed. I was even thinking of becoming a subscriber.
But it's unethical to have someone inform his library without informing him that he will be requested to pay for listening, in a mere few days...
Anyway... I would like you to at least inform us if the new subscribers will have the extra benefits you listed a few days ago: Radio stations that play our loved or tagged songs, no adds e.c.t.

And I hope we won't see any new disappointing surprises...

http://www.last.fm/music/Dimitris+Mouroulis

[quote][b][user]Dimitris_Mourou[/user][/b] said: I registered a week ago and was very impressed. I was even thinking of becoming a subscriber. But it's unethical to have someone inform his library without informing him that he will be requested to pay for listening, in a mere few days... Anyway... I would like you to at least inform us if the new subscribers will have the extra benefits you listed a few days ago: Radio stations that play our loved or tagged songs, no adds e.c.t. And I hope we won't see any new disappointing surprises...[/quote]

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- mfrodri said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 20:54
Silent Announcement?

Matt, I agree with Robert. Who the hell has time to check all the passive information that exists on the world? Can you imagine you driving in a highway and suddenly falling into a a river because you did not read the bloody blog of the engineering company that does maintenance to the bridge saying that the bridge will be closed because is going to be replaced? At least I am happy I did not die, here, but guys you are going to end with thousands or hundreds of thousands of very unsatisfied ex-customers and ex-fans.

Shame in last.fm management for the new discriminatory policy.

[quote][b][user]mfrodri[/user][/b] said: Matt, I agree with Robert. Who the hell has time to check all the passive information that exists on the world? Can you imagine you driving in a highway and suddenly falling into a a river because you did not read the bloody blog of the engineering company that does maintenance to the bridge saying that the bridge will be closed because is going to be replaced? At least I am happy I did not die, here, but guys you are going to end with thousands or hundreds of thousands of very unsatisfied ex-customers and ex-fans. [/quote]

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- nunenik said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 21:02
Dear last.fm Staff,
Do you really think that all the users are checking the blog regularly to always be informed of such surprises? I myself have been here long enough to like it and spread the word among my friends, and I've been a subscriber at one point too, but I never even knew a blog existed. And it never even crossed my mind to look for a blog and always read to see in case if the site one day decides to make me pay for something that a lot of other sites offer for free.
I may or may not continue using last.fm (it's not a question of money, I've paid before, but really a matter of principle), but maybe you should go over again through your ways of informing your users!

By the way, all the "other" stuff that you say will remain free aren't the primary attractiveness of the site. Thanks for at least leaving free the possibility to read something about an artist that is most of the time a copy/paste from Wikipedia. Not to mention photos from Google Images and videos from Youtube. I'm sure you'll gain a lot of new users with this extra bit of top promotional offer!

[quote][b][user]nunenik[/user][/b] said: Dear last.fm Staff, Do you really think that all the users are checking the blog regularly to always be informed of such surprises? I myself have been here long enough to like it and spread the word among my friends, and I've been a subscriber at one point too, but I never even knew a blog existed. And it never even crossed my mind to look for a blog and always read to see in case if the site one day decides to make me pay for something that a lot of other sites offer for free. I may or may not continue using last.fm (it's not a question of money, I've paid before, but really a matter of principle), but maybe you should go over again through your ways of informing your users! By the way, all the "other" stuff that you say will remain free aren't the primary attractiveness of the site. Thanks for at least leaving free the possibility to read something about an artist that is most of the time a copy/paste from Wikipedia. Not to mention photos from Google Images and videos from Youtube. I'm sure you'll gain a lot of new users with this extra bit of top promotional offer! [/quote]

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- nicoliani said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 21:30
Well bye from me. First you destroyed free CNET music, now you want us to pay for free music.

And same lies again, Last FM have been free for years, but now it should costs, yesss.

[quote][b][user]nicoliani[/user][/b] said: Well bye from me. First you destroyed free CNET music, now you want us to pay for free music. And same lies again, Last FM have been free for years, but now it should costs, yesss.[/quote]
Edited by nicoliani on 22 Apr 2009, 21:39

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- Babs_05 said...
- Forum Moderator
- 22 Apr 2009, 21:31
Good feedback. Agree - comms have been ineffectual.

Central Point Albums 11 Music To Fall Asleep To Next Big Things - NBTs
Nov 11 | Reco of the Week - Jon Kennedy – The Goose Is Getting Fat

[quote][b][user]Babs_05[/user][/b] said: Good feedback. Agree - comms have been ineffectual.[/quote]

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- milladekilla said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 21:33
Official announcement or not... You did manage to kill yet another one great idea on on free internet ... I guess google is going to ask for subscription next. :(

You succesfully made my day sux.

Hope you are going to loose at least half of your community. To feel the same as me when loosing something I loved.

Your ex-listener...

PS to all who look for new music anchor, lets hope that deezer will improove soon.

[quote][b][user]milladekilla[/user][/b] said: Official announcement or not... You did manage to kill yet another one great idea on on free internet ... I guess google is going to ask for subscription next. :( You succesfully made my day sux. Hope you are going to loose at least half of your community. To feel the same as me when loosing something I loved. Your ex-listener... PS to all who look for new music anchor, lets hope that deezer will improove soon.[/quote]

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- Babs_05 said...
- Forum Moderator
- 22 Apr 2009, 21:52
google - looking at being sued by newspapers and news agencies.

Central Point Albums 11 Music To Fall Asleep To Next Big Things - NBTs
Nov 11 | Reco of the Week - Jon Kennedy – The Goose Is Getting Fat

[quote][b][user]Babs_05[/user][/b] said: google - looking at being sued by newspapers and news agencies.[/quote]

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- DFA1979 said...
- Subscriber
- 22 Apr 2009, 22:03
Dimitris_Mourou said:
Anyway... I would like you to at least inform us if the new subscribers will have the extra benefits you listed a few days ago: Radio stations that play our loved or tagged songs, no adds e.c.t. Yes. If you subscribe now then you'll have exactly the same features as if you'd subscribed a week (or a month, or more) ago.

[quote][b][user]DFA1979[/user][/b] said: [quote][b][user]Dimitris_Mourou[/user][/b] said: Anyway... I would like you to at least inform us if the new subscribers will have the extra benefits you listed a few days ago: Radio stations that play our loved or tagged songs, no adds e.c.t. [/quote]Yes. If you subscribe now then you'll have exactly the same features as if you'd subscribed a week (or a month, or more) ago.[/quote]

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- Russ said...
- Alumni
- 22 Apr 2009, 22:08
Re: Silent Announcement?

mfrodri said:
Matt, I agree with Robert. Who the hell has time to check all the passive information that exists on the world? Can you imagine you driving in a highway and suddenly falling into a a river because you did not read the bloody blog of the engineering company that does maintenance to the bridge saying that the bridge will be closed because is going to be replaced? At least I am happy I did not die, here, but guys you are going to end with thousands or hundreds of thousands of very unsatisfied ex-customers and ex-fans.

We sent an email to all users who would be affected about two weeks ago. We're really sorry if you didn't get that email.

[quote][b][user]Russ[/user][/b] said: [quote][b][user]mfrodri[/user][/b] said: Matt, I agree with Robert. Who the hell has time to check all the passive information that exists on the world? Can you imagine you driving in a highway and suddenly falling into a a river because you did not read the bloody blog of the engineering company that does maintenance to the bridge saying that the bridge will be closed because is going to be replaced? At least I am happy I did not die, here, but guys you are going to end with thousands or hundreds of thousands of very unsatisfied ex-customers and ex-fans. [/quote] We sent an email to all users who would be affected about two weeks ago. We're really sorry if you didn't get that email.[/quote]

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- shokemn said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 22:10
well I for one am sincerly disappointed that there was no official announcement.
And I won't be coming back if I have to pay, i'll just have to listen to real radio thats
...free 8)

[quote][b][user]shokemn[/user][/b] said: well I for one am sincerly disappointed that there was no official announcement. And I won't be coming back if I have to pay, i'll just have to listen to real radio thats ...free 8)[/quote]

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- jademccool said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 22:26
wow

i've been scrobbling since 2005. (back when this site was known as audioscrobbler)
i work in a pro audio retail store and listen to last.fm streaming radio every day.
i often demo speakers for producers who record a specific style of music and last.fm was a priceless service for finding artists they work with that i had never heard of.

this is truly a shame and while i would love to pay for a subscription to a website that has saved my ass for almost 5 years... i do work in retail and couldn't justify the cost.

i know everyone else has mentioned this, but... i never received warning until today - when my 'free trial' expired.

[quote][b][user]jademccool[/user][/b] said: i've been scrobbling since 2005. (back when this site was known as audioscrobbler) i work in a pro audio retail store and listen to last.fm streaming radio every day. i often demo speakers for producers who record a specific style of music and last.fm was a priceless service for finding artists they work with that i had never heard of. this is truly a shame and while i would love to pay for a subscription to a website that has saved my ass for almost 5 years... i do work in retail and couldn't justify the cost. i know everyone else has mentioned this, but... i never received warning until today - when my 'free trial' expired.[/quote]

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- mkochsch said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 23:06
How do I deactivate my Last.FM Account

Add my name to the list of those who will be leaving in droves. How do I deactivate my account? Logging off into the sunset...such a shame.
~m

[quote][b][user]mkochsch[/user][/b] said: Add my name to the list of those who will be leaving in droves. How do I deactivate my account? Logging off into the sunset...such a shame. ~m [/quote]

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- marth99 said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 23:34
Wow I was unaware last.fm was used only for a radio and not what is truly brilliant about the site which is recording what you listen to and then turning that information to recommendations of other artist you may like or events you may like to attend.

Do not get me wrong the radio is a great feature but most times I would rather listen to artists I like that I can choose a song from and I rarely use the radio feature.

[quote][b][user]marth99[/user][/b] said: Wow I was unaware last.fm was used only for a radio and not what is truly brilliant about the site which is recording what you listen to and then turning that information to recommendations of other artist you may like or events you may like to attend. Do not get me wrong the radio is a great feature but most times I would rather listen to artists I like that I can choose a song from and I rarely use the radio feature. [/quote]

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- mcgillgia said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 23:38
pure disappointment

^to matt: i really do not get the rationale of simply not telling users through the main page. if you did in fact send out all those emails, how hard would it have been to simply update the main page. same idea goes for the bogus blog.

furthermore i'm just super disappointed for myself because i heard all the great things about last.fm. in all those stellar reviews the main pro was always last.fm's radio. it's what made me want to join. there are countless sites that can provide artist information or even recommendations simply by using google instead of the last.fm search box. you all take from wiki and youtube and the web for all your information anyways.

mostly it's hard to fathom how not all current subscribers were informed in time. but wow... it's even harder to grasp that new users signing up were not informed AT ALL. there was clearly false advertising to simply get new users to join without informing them firsthand. what did you want us to do? check the blog?!?!

i state my case because i received two emails from last.fm when i got started. first was the verification email followed by the following:

Hi mcgillgia,

Thanks for verifying your email address. You now have your own music profile on
Last.fm!
http://www.last.fm/user/mcgillgia

Get started and view personal recommendations here:
http://www.last.fm/home

Listen to non-stop, personalised Last.fm Radio for free! Just type an artist or
genre in the box on this page to get started: http://www.last.fm/radio

Best Regards,
The Last.fm Team

--
Change your Last.fm email settings here:
http://www.last.fm/settings/notifications

Or to directly unsubscribe from all emails without any nonsense:
http://www.last.fm/settings/unsubscribe/?auth=db4a0118039010

-------------------

in this email, note that it tells me that i will get to listen to non-stop personalised radio for free. the date? yesterday april 21st!

pure pure lies.

[quote][b][user]mcgillgia[/user][/b] said: ^to matt: i really do not get the rationale of simply not telling users through the main page. if you did in fact send out all those emails, how hard would it have been to simply update the main page. same idea goes for the bogus blog. furthermore i'm just super disappointed for myself because i heard all the great things about last.fm. in all those stellar reviews the main pro was always last.fm's radio. it's what made me want to join. there are countless sites that can provide artist information or even recommendations simply by using google instead of the last.fm search box. you all take from wiki and youtube and the web for all your information anyways. mostly it's hard to fathom how not all current subscribers were informed in time. but wow... it's even harder to grasp that new users signing up were not informed AT ALL. there was clearly false advertising to simply get new users to join without informing them firsthand. what did you want us to do? check the blog?!?! i state my case because i received two emails from last.fm when i got started. first was the verification email followed by the following: Hi mcgillgia, Thanks for verifying your email address. You now have your own music profile on Last.fm! http://www.last.fm/user/mcgillgia Get started and view personal recommendations here: http://www.last.fm/home [b]Listen to non-stop, personalised Last.fm Radio for free! Just type an artist or genre in the box on this page to get started: http://www.last.fm/radio[/b] Best Regards, The Last.fm Team -- Change your Last.fm email settings here: http://www.last.fm/settings/notifications Or to directly unsubscribe from all emails without any nonsense: http://www.last.fm/settings/unsubscribe/?auth=db4a0118039010 ------------------- in this email, note that it tells me that i will get to listen to non-stop personalised radio for free. the date? yesterday april 21st! pure pure lies. [/quote]

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- [Deleted user] said...
- User
- 22 Apr 2009, 23:45
Last.fm is part of CBS now... you people base your complains in memories of the good ol' days.. but one shouldn't forget about who's calling the shots now... :(

[quote][b][user][/user][/b] said: Last.fm is part of CBS now... you people base your complains in memories of the good ol' days.. but one shouldn't forget about who's calling the shots now... :( [/quote]

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