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Last.fm Goes Independent After Breaking Up With Paramount Skydance

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Why This Matters

Last.fm's return to independence marks a significant shift in its strategic direction, ensuring continuity for its users while allowing greater flexibility in its operations. This move highlights the ongoing importance of user privacy and data integrity in the music tracking industry, especially as the platform continues to integrate with multiple streaming services. For consumers and the tech industry, it underscores the value of dedicated, user-focused music tracking services amid evolving corporate ownership.

Key Takeaways

Last.fm announced that it is independent again after separating from Paramount Skydance, nearly two decades after CBS acquired the music-tracking service in 2007. The company says accounts, scrobbles, privacy settings, Pro subscriptions, and billing information will remain intact. Additional details are forthcoming. Engadget reports: "Today, Last.fm begins a new chapter as an independent company," the announcement reads. "Ownership has changed, but the product you use every day has not." It also said that it will keep its current team. Last.fm is a music website that can track what you listen to across platforms, apps and streaming services, including Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music. [...] Last.fm started as an internet radio station in 2002, and it didn't get scrobbling until a few years later when it merged with the original team that created the tracking process. It operated as an independent company until it was acquired by CBS Interactive, which is now part of the merged Paramount Skydance Corporation, for $280 million in 2007. In 2014, it killed off its $3-a-month subscription radio service to focus on tracking your listening habits on other providers. The company promised to share more about what you can expect from the transition in the coming weeks, but everything will work on Last.fm "exactly as it did yesterday" for now.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.