Last.fm starts charging fees
Online music streaming/scrobbling service Last.fm has started charging its users in some parts of the world.UK, US and German users can still use the
UK, US and German users can still use the service free of charge, but everyone else will have to shell out €3 (about £2.75) every month for radio streaming, scrobbling, recommendations, charts, events and videos. The company has not yet revealed when the charges will come into effect.
Last.fm’s move comes not long after YouTube UK started blocking premium music videos due to a spat over paying out royalties to musicians. Could we be seeing the end of free online music services as recording artists demand more dosh for their wares? Won’t that just drive web-users to piracy? Let us know your thoughts below.