What Is Last.fm and Should You Use It?
Last.fm is a music streaming website that has been around since 2002. It is a hub for music lovers who want to discover new artists, connect with other music enthusiasts, and keep track of their listening history. But, should you use it? In this article, we’ll explore what Last.fm is all about and help you make an informed decision.
What is Last.fm?
Last.fm is a music streaming platform that allows users to stream and listen to their favorite songs, create custom playlists and music libraries, and connect with other users with similar musical tastes. It was founded in 2002 by Felix Miller, Martin Stiksel, and Richard Jones in East London.
One of Last.fm’s defining features is its scrobbling function. Scrobbling is the process of tracking what music you’re listening to and adding it to your Last.fm profile. This creates a personalized music library of all the tracks you’ve listened to, and it allows for accurate recommendations by Last.fm based on your listening history.
How does Last.fm work?
Last.fm works by gathering data on the music you’re listening to with the help of its software called the “scrobbler”. The scrobbler is a plugin that can be installed in your browser or music player, and it works in the background to track and record the music you’re playing. This data is then used to create a profile of your musical tastes and generate recommendations based on your listening history.
In addition to scrobbling, Last.fm has a social aspect where users can interact with each other, share music, and discover new artists. You can connect with other users, join communities, and follow your favorite artists to stay up-to-date on their latest releases and concerts.
Should you use Last.fm?
Whether or not you should use Last.fm depends on what you’re looking for in a music streaming platform. If you’re someone who wants to keep track of their listening history, discover new artists, and connect with other music lovers, then Last.fm may be worth considering.
However, if you’re someone who simply wants to stream music without any additional features or social interaction, then Last.fm might not be the best fit for you. Additionally, if you’re already using other popular streaming platforms such as Spotify or Apple Music, you may not see the point in using Last.fm as well.
Overall, Last.fm is a unique music streaming platform that offers a different experience from other popular services. If you’re someone who values social interaction, personalized recommendations, and keeping track of your listening history, then Last.fm may be worth checking out.