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February 7th announcement - Future of streaming on mobile and hardware devices.

 

  • February 7th announcement - Future of streaming on mobile and hardware devices.

    Hey All,

    Today we announced that streaming to mobile apps and hardware devices will require a subscription from February 15th. If you haven’t checked it yet, you can read more about that on our blog. Streaming via the web and our client software will remain free in the UK, US and Germany. This FAQ outlines the affected services.

    This change only affects the personalized radio component of Last.fm’s services on mobile and home entertainment devices. Other features of our service — like scrobbling, music and event recommendations, social networking and community forums, and Last.fm’s wiki-based artist information pages -- remain free to users worldwide.

    Please feel free to leave your feedback here so we can respond in due course.

    EDIT: Adding some responses to save time looking through the thread.

    When are we launching in more territories?

    We are going to be announcing more territories very soon, however it will by no means be global. Also judging from comments in the blog post and in this thread we may not be launching these services where the most feedback has come from, however we are working aggressively to take Last.fm services beyond the core countries.

    Will our catalogue for mobile apps be increased as a result of this change?

    Are we going to address the problems with streaming on Android devices?

    Will we be bringing out an improved iPhone app too?

    EDIT: The app is now available from the App Store

    We are in the process of submitting a new iPhone app to apple for approval, which includes many new features (as this hasn't been approved it's very subject to change). The app will remain free, and all features EXCEPT streaming will be available for non-subscribers after Feb 15th.

    • Check your Last.fm profile (now with top charts, recent tracks and friends) on the go
    • Get Last.fm music recommendations for artists and new album releases
    • See what upcoming concerts are in your area; and what events your friends are attending
    • Search the Last.fm music catalog for information about artists, albums, tracks and tags
    • Listen to two new radio stations, plus "edit" stations on the go to fine-tune them to a tag
    • Updated interface, now with retina display support
    • Various bug fixes

    Regards,

    Knapster01

    Edited by Knapster01 on 21 Feb 2011, 18:42
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  • Outside of UK, US & Germany?

    Dutch subscriber here. Any indication if I'll be able to stream radio on my iPhone somwhere soon?
    Thanks!
    Willem-Jan

    Spread the music, spread the fun, but don't forget about the peanut butter!
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  • Well, then I need to say bye

    It's really pointless to use last.fm.

    In the recession times everybody want only the money.

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  • What Willem-Jan said. Is this global, or still US/UK/Germany only??

    "When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story."
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  • This is only US/UK and Germany at present.

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    • akrde said...
    • Subscriber
    • 7 Feb 2011, 13:26
    Knapster01 said:
    This is only US/UK and Germany at present.

    Too bad, hoped for a global announcement... :(

    Tomahawk Music Player
    Last.fm Free Music Player
    Playdar Music Content Resolver
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  • That kinda sucks...

    "When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome instead. True story."
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    • xstex said...
    • User
    • 7 Feb 2011, 13:44
    I can understand for mobile apps but ps3? Be prepared to lose people.

    Founder & Writer at http://SocialSteak.com
    http://twitter.com/xstex
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    • akrde said...
    • Subscriber
    • 7 Feb 2011, 13:48
    Russ wrote on 18 Mar 2009:
    Unfortunately over the last few months we've had to remove a significant amount of content from mobile clients due to contractual issues - some of our licenses treat mobile phones separately.

    This removal of a significant amount of content from the mobile clients made the mobile radios a very bad experience compared to the web/desktop player.

    Will we get the full catalog back on our mobile devices finally, now that everyone has to pay for mobile radios?

    Tomahawk Music Player
    Last.fm Free Music Player
    Playdar Music Content Resolver
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  • @akrde - that's a very old post from Russ. We've actually managed to make a lot more content available on mobile clients than was available when he said that.

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    • xstex said...
    • User
    • 7 Feb 2011, 14:22
    Do you not think a big number of users will just go for spotify as they can then choose what to listen to and can scrobble to last.fm? Even if it does cost more it seems like a better option. In my opinion of course.

    Plus I don't see why many people would buy xbox gold THEN last.fm superscriptions.

    Founder & Writer at http://SocialSteak.com
    http://twitter.com/xstex
    Edited by xstex on 7 Feb 2011, 14:35
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    • akrde said...
    • Subscriber
    • 7 Feb 2011, 14:24
    massdosage said:
    @akrde - that's a very old post from Russ. We've actually managed to make a lot more content available on mobile clients than was available when he said that.

    But mobile content still is limited, isn't it?

    And what does "a lot more content" mean? How much content is available on mobile radios compared to the web/desktop player actually?

    Tomahawk Music Player
    Last.fm Free Music Player
    Playdar Music Content Resolver
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  • I only ever use last.fm to get reccomendations using my iPhone as a way to find new music late at night.

    Looks like I won't be using last.fm much longer.

    I wonder how many potential song sales will be lost?

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    • kearns said...
    • User
    • 7 Feb 2011, 14:38
    I fail to see any reason why the Loved Tracks station cannot be reinstated then, if you are now going to be charging for all mobile streaming. Bet it won't be though.

    I was a subscriber for years but jacked it in after the murder of the subscriber only stations. I suspect this is a thinly veiled attempt to get people to resubscribe, I don't believe for one second it is due to licensing fees.

    There has been too many lies, damned lies, mistruths and obfuscation coming out of Lastfm HQ for a long while now, I don't see this as being any different.

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  • Interesting

    ........it is not practical for us to deliver an ad supported radio experience.

    But why is it not practical for you to deliver an ad supported radio experience, please explain, as you seem to be okay with WinMob7 phones, why Apple & Android sidelined ?

    You might also want to change this page http://www.last.fm/hardware/apple as its not really free streaming radio now, well technically for one week it might be ? !

    <div style="width:298px; background-color: white;padding:0;margin:0px auto;border:1px solid gray;"><div id="widgetContent"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"; quality="high" style="padding: 0; margin: 0;" width="298" height="265" src="http://widget.7digital.com/7digwidget/cfc775a8-fe11-4a6a-8230-925ea44cc916.swf?v=1.1"; flashvars="width=298&height=265&file=http://widget.7digital.com/productplaylist?shop=1205%26g=cfc775a8-fe11-4a6a-8230-925ea44cc916%26sid=31717296&settings=http://widget.7digital.com/config?shop=1205%26g=cfc775a8-fe11-4a6a-8230-925ea44cc916%26sid=31717296&showlinks=false" /></div><a target="_blank" href="http://widget.7digital.com/hmvuk-widgetshare/artist/clare-maguire/light-after-dark?g=cfc775a8-fe11-4a6a-8230-925ea44cc916"><img src="http://widget.7digital.com/hmvuk_widget_share/cfc775a8-fe11-4a6a-8230-925ea44cc916.gif"; width="298" style="border:none;" /></a><a target="_blank" href="http://widget.7digital.com/hmvuk-widgetgetdownloads/artist/clare-maguire/light-after-dark?g=cfc775a8-fe11-4a6a-8230-925ea44cc916"><img src="http://widget.7digital.com/hmvuk_widget_footer/cfc775a8-fe11-4a6a-8230-925ea44cc916.gif"; width="298" style="border: none;" /></a></div>
    Edited by skipper2000 on 7 Feb 2011, 14:55
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  • I will gladly RE-subscribe if you fix the Android App that has been broken and not listenable since last summer. I would also like a customer-service guarantee that you will refund any days (yes, daily rate) for any day the Android app is broken again (Yes, again, you have set the expectation that it will break again!).

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    • Tecfan said...
    • Event Moderator
    • 7 Feb 2011, 14:47
    ... as long as Last.fm survives as a company I am willing to let these changes for the worse go through...

    If you're into /, you might enjoy my (free) tracks: Tecfan
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  • Re: Interesting

    skipper2000 said:
    ........it is not practical for us to deliver an ad supported radio experience.

    But why is it not practical for you to deliver an ad supported radio experience, please explain, as you seem to be okay with WinMob7 phones, why Apple & Android sidelined ?

    Essentially because some of the devices that are part of this change just can't support advertising, and streaming isn't without cost. The exception you've mentioned there is down to Windows subsidising that feature for the WinMob7 launch.

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    • kearns said...
    • User
    • 7 Feb 2011, 14:55
    An explanation of why WP7 users don't have to subscribe would be nice as well. Because no one has one?

    edit: explanation above. great timing, eh

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    • [Deleted user] said...
    • User
    • 7 Feb 2011, 14:57

    Sorry last.fm but

    I for one will NOT be subscribing to use the mobile app thanks for the good times while it lasted.

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  • Loved Tracks

    Is there any chance of getting the Loved Tracks station back, if we are paying customers?
    Thanks.

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    • daktar1 said...
    • User
    • 7 Feb 2011, 15:02

    shame

    I enjoyed using the mobile app to discover (and purchase) new music, but won't be subscribing, sorry!

    Bye.

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    • tnveal said...
    • User
    • 7 Feb 2011, 15:38

    You have Succumbed Last.fm to Corporate Pressure

    I use my I-Phone plugged into my stero constantly at home as Last.FM provides a great service with out adds, which is why I prefer using you over alternatives but are hugely disappointed to read your news release that you will now be charging for this. I too will switch over to your competitors now as at least with them you can pick your tracks.

    I hope you change your mind and leave the mobile service as it is...!!!

    BAD DECISION.

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    • kearns said...
    • User
    • 7 Feb 2011, 15:43
    @tnveal
    They won't change their mind. The outrage from PAYING SUBSCRIBERS over the last bunch of robbery was totally dismissed by the staff, why should they care now when they are annoying people who don't subscribe?

    Bit by bit, this wonderful website and music resource is being killed. Death by a thousand cuts

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    • tucks said...
    • User
    • 7 Feb 2011, 15:55

    upset

    Please dont take my radio away!!

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