Teft’s Blog

Last.FM has created a very cool social network around music. You discover new artists around other poeple’s music compatibility. If you listen to a lot of Daft Punk, then it will recommend what others have listened to after Daft Punk. How cool is that!? Then, they compile a chart based on the number of listens for the week. Is this the future of radio charts?

One problem … Last.FM was acquired by the media giant CBS!!! NO!!! Last.FM didn’t observe the day of silence to revolt against the rate charges for online radio performances. The internet was suppose to be the frontier to free us from radio consolidation!

Well, not all of this is bad. CBS will be able to make the negotiations needed to get most of the music content on Last.FM. Also, there Label/Artist tools are REALLY cool. You can buy promos that will insert your tracks into peoples “listening” streams when listening to artists that are “similar” to your music. Another brilliant idea.

So will this replace Billboard’s charts? Not at the moment. They’ve only got 15 million users. Wait a minute .. 15 million?? Maybe that’s enough to be considered THE source for music charts. Billboards charts are based on celestial radio play … not actual user plays/listens. Maybe Last.FM is a more reliable source because it’s based on what people are CHOOSING to listen to. But, how many of those 15 million users are actively “scrobbling”? Hmmmm.