Editing Last.fm (section)

==History==  
The current Last.fm website was developed from two separate sources, ''Last.fm'' and ''Audioscrobbler,'' which were merged in 2005. Audioscrobbler began as a [[computer science]] project by Richard Jones while he was attending the [[University of Southampton School of Electronics and Computer Science]] in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Website offers new view of music |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2888431.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=27 March 2003 |access-date=25 February 2008 |archive-date=12 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412011748/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2888431.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The term ''scrobbling'' is defined as the process of finding, processing, and distributing information related to people, music, and other data.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Antonelli |first=William |title=Last.fm tracks all your music stats by 'scrobbling' them. Here's what that means and how it works. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-is-last-fm-scrobbling |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222221527/https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-is-last-fm-scrobbling |url-status=live }}</ref> Jones developed the first [[plug-in (computing)|plugins]] and subsequently opened an [[API]] to the community, which led to support for many music players across different [[operating system]] platforms. Audioscrobbler was initially limited to tracking which songs its users played on registered computers, enabling charting and collaborative filtering.

===Audioscrobbler and Last.fm (2002–2006)===  
[[File:Felix Miller (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Felix Miller, one of the Last.fm founders]]  
Last.fm was founded in 2002 by Felix Miller, Martin Stiksel, [[Michael Breidenbruecker]], and Thomas Willomitzer, all hailing from [[Germany]] or [[Austria]]. Initially established as an Internet radio station and music community site, it utilized similar music profiles to generate dynamic playlists. The site’s name employs a [[domain hack]] using [[.fm]], the [[top level domain]] of [[Federated States of Micronesia|Micronesia]], which is popular among [[FM radio]]-related sites. The "love" and "ban" buttons enabled users to gradually customize their profiles. Last.fm won the [[Europrix]] in 2002 and was nominated for the [[Prix Ars Electronica]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europrix.org/europrix/winners/award/Index.htm |title=EUROPRIX Student Award Winners 2002 |access-date=3 September 2006 |publisher=EUROPRIX |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718083939/http://www.europrix.org/europrix/winners/award/Index.htm |archive-date=18 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  

The Audioscrobbler and Last.fm teams began collaborating closely, moving into the same offices in [[Whitechapel]], [[London]]. By 2003, Last.fm was fully integrated with Audioscrobbler profiles, allowing input through either an Audioscrobbler plugin or a Last.fm station. The sites also shared numerous community forums, although some were unique to each site. The original Audioscrobbler site at the audioscrobbler.com [[domain name]] was entirely merged into the new Last.fm site on 9 August 2005. Subsequently, Audioscrobbler.net was launched as a separate development-oriented site on 5 September 2005. At the bottom of each Last.fm page, there was an Audioscrobbler "[[slogan]]" that changed each time the page was refreshed. Based on well-known sayings or advertisements, these slogans originally appeared at the top of the Audioscrobbler website pages and were created and contributed by the original site members.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}

[[File:Last.fm favicon.png|thumb|140px|The Last.fm icon]]  
An update to the site was implemented on 14 July 2006, which introduced a new [[Application software|software application]] for playing Last.fm radio streams and logging tracks played with other media players. Other changes included improvements to the friends system, updating it to require a [[two-way communication|two-way]] friendship, the addition of the Last.fm "Dashboard" where users can view relevant information for their profiles on a single page, expanded options for purchasing music from [[Online shop|online retailers]], and a new [[Graphic design|visual design]] for the website (including an optional black [[colour scheme]]).{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}  

The site began expanding its language offerings on 15 July 2006,{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} starting with a [[Japanese language|Japanese]] version. Currently, the site is available in [[German language|German]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[French language|French]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Polish language|Polish]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Swedish language|Swedish]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]], and [[Simplified Chinese]]. In late 2006, Last.fm won the award for Best Community Music Site at the [[BT Group|BT]] [[Digital audio|Digital Music]] Awards held in October.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/portable-audio/digital-music-award-winners-announced-159274 |title=Digital Music Award winners announced &#124; News &#124; TechRadar UK |publisher=Techradar.com |date=4 October 2006 |access-date=26 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229171651/http://www.techradar.com/news/audio/portable-audio/digital-music-award-winners-announced-159274 |archive-date=29 February 2012 }}</ref> Last.fm also partnered with [[EMI]] on the Tuneglue-Audiomap project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stereogum.com/archives/004170.html |title=stereogum: Map Your Way To New Music |publisher=Stereogum.com |date=14 December 2006 |access-date=15 October 2008 |archive-date=13 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213052414/http://www.stereogum.com/archives/004170.html }}</ref> In January 2007, Last.fm was nominated for Best Website at the [[NME Awards]].

===CBS acquisition and redesign (2007–2009)===  
At the end of April 2007, rumours surfaced regarding negotiations between [[CBS]] and Last.fm, indicating that CBS intended to acquire Last.fm for approximately £225 million ($449 million {{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=449000000|start_year=2007|r=-5|fmt=eq}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2007/04/27/lastfm-viacom/|title=Viacom Still Buying Last.fm for $450 Million|first=Pete|last=Cashmore|date=27 April 2007|publisher=Mashable|access-date=30 April 2007|archive-date=29 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429064449/http://mashable.com/2007/04/27/lastfm-viacom|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2007, it was announced that [[Channel 4 Radio]] would broadcast a weekly show called "Worldwide Chart," reflecting the listening habits of Last.fm users worldwide. On 30 May 2007, it was revealed that Last.fm had been acquired by [[CBS]] for £140 million, with Last.fm's current [[management team]] remaining in place.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6701863.stm |title=Music site Last.fm bought by CBS |publisher=BBC News |date=30 May 2007 |access-date=15 October 2008 |archive-date=19 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519223937/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6701863.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2008, the "new generation" Last.fm was launched, featuring a completely new layout, color scheme, and several new features, alongside the removal of some old ones.<ref name="newgeneration">{{cite web|url=http://blog.last.fm/2008/07/17/lastfm-the-next-generation|title=Last.fm: The Next Generation|publisher=Last.fm Blog|date=17 July 2008|access-date=17 July 2008|archive-date=18 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718044845/http://blog.last.fm/2008/07/17/lastfm-the-next-generation|url-status=live}}</ref> However, this redesign was met with dissatisfaction among some users, who complained about the "unappealing and non-user-friendly layout," bugs, and slow performance.<ref name="washingtonpost1">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071701389.html|title=Last.fm's Buggy, New Design|first=Erick|last=Schonfeld|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=17 July 2008|access-date=23 July 2008|archive-date=6 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106050457/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/17/AR2008071701389.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="criticised1">{{cite web|url=http://www.webuser.co.uk/news/news.php?id=263917|title=Last.fm makeover criticised – Web User News|access-date=23 July 2008}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="paidcontent1">{{cite web|url=http://www.paidcontent.co.uk/entry/419-some-lastfm-users-revolt-over-new-look|title=Some Last.fm Users Revolt Over New Look|publisher=paidContent:UK|access-date=23 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723042046/http://www.paidcontent.co.uk/entry/419-some-lastfm-users-revolt-over-new-look/|archive-date=23 July 2008}}</ref> Nonetheless, a month after the redesign, a CBS press release credited it with generating a 20% increase in the site's traffic.<ref name="controversial1">{{cite web |url=http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1035180&c=1 |title=Music Week – Last.fm claims controversial re-design a success |publisher=Musicweek.com |first=Ben |last=Cardew |date=15 August 2008 |access-date=15 October 2008 |archive-date=26 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926182829/http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1035180&c=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Last.fm debuted [[Portishead (band)|Portishead]]'s album [[Third (Portishead album)|''Third'']] on 21 April 2008, a week before its release. It was made available as a free stream on the website, attracting 327,000 listeners in 24 hours. It was the first time Last.fm made an album available before its release.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 May 2008 |title=Portishead fans flock together for early album stream |url=http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=31271_0_2_0_C |accessdate=4 June 2011 |publisher=Side-line.com}}</ref>

On 22 February 2009, [[TechCrunch]] reported that "[the] [[RIAA]] asked social music service Last.fm for data about its users' listening habits to find individuals with unreleased tracks on their computers. And Last.fm, which is owned by CBS, allegedly handed the data over to the RIAA."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/02/20/did-lastfm-just-hand-over-user-listening-data-to-the-riaa/|title=Did Last.fm Just Hand Over User Listening Data To the RIAA?|date=20 February 2009|access-date=25 May 2009|archive-date=1 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301040731/http://techcrunch.com/2009/02/20/did-lastfm-just-hand-over-user-listening-data-to-the-riaa/|url-status=live}}</ref> This led to several public statements from both Last.fm and [[TechCrunch]], with Last.fm denying that it had shared any personal data with the RIAA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.last.fm/2009/02/23/techcrunch-are-full-of-shit|title=TechCrunch are full of shit|date=23 February 2009|access-date=25 May 2009|archive-date=9 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309052527/http://blog.last.fm/2009/02/23/techcrunch-are-full-of-shit|url-status=live}}</ref> The request was reportedly prompted by the leak of [[U2]]'s then-unreleased album ''[[No Line on the Horizon]]'' and its subsequent widespread distribution through [[peer-to-peer file sharing]] services such as [[BitTorrent (protocol)|BitTorrent]].

Three months later, on 22 May 2009, TechCrunch reported that it was CBS, the parent company of Last.fm, that had handed over the data.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/05/22/deny-this-lastfm/|title=Deny This, Last.fm|date=22 May 2009|access-date=25 May 2009|archive-date=23 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523211200/http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/22/deny-this-lastfm/|url-status=live}}</ref> Last.fm once again denied this allegation, asserting that CBS could not have provided the data without Last.fm's knowledge.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/05/23/another-blanket-denial-by-lastfm|title=Another Blanket Denial By Last.fm|date=23 May 2009|access-date=25 May 2009|archive-date=27 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527002530/http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/23/another-blanket-denial-by-lastfm/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Changes to streaming and access on other platforms (2009–2011)===  
On 24 March 2009, Last.fm announced a change in its free streaming policy. According to the [[blog]] post,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.last.fm/2009/03/24/lastfm-radio-announcement|title=Last.fm Radio Announcement|access-date=25 May 2009|archive-date=17 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217155915/http://blog.last.fm/2009/03/24/lastfm-radio-announcement|url-status=live}}</ref> "[...] In the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, nothing will change. In all other countries, listening to Last.fm Radio will soon require a subscription of €3.00 per month." This change took effect on 22 April 2009. The announcement sparked a wave of disappointment among users, leading to a decline in data submissions, refusal to update signatures or avatars, and even account deletions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7963812.stm|title=BBC NEWS(25 March 2009): Last.fm to charge for streaming|access-date=2 June 2009|date=25 March 2009|publisher=BBC News|archive-date=31 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331014645/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7963812.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 11 September 2009, [[CBS Radio]] announced that Last.fm programming would be available for the first time on four major market FM stations through their [[HD Radio]] multicasts. This included [[KCBS-FM|KCBS-HD2]] in [[Los Angeles]], [[KITS|KITS-HD3]] in [[San Francisco]], [[WNEW-FM|WWFS-HD2]] in [[New York City]], and [[WXRT-FM|WXRT-HD3]] in [[Chicago]]. The programming, which primarily featured music aggregated from Last.fm's user-generated weekly music charts, as well as live performances and interviews from the Last.fm studios in New York City, debuted on 5 October.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radio-info.com/news/cbs-radio-to-use-lastfm-programming-on-hd-2-channels-in-four-major-markets |title=CBS Radio to use Last.fm programming on HD-2 channels in four major markets |date=11 September 2009 |work=Radio-Info.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100908060556/http://www.radio-info.com/news/cbs-radio-to-use-lastfm-programming-on-hd-2-channels-in-four-major-markets |archive-date=8 September 2010 }}</ref>

On 12 April 2010, Last.fm announced the removal of the option to preview entire tracks, redirecting users instead to sites such as the free [[The Hype Machine|Hype Machine]] and the pay-to-listen service [[MOG (online music)|MOG]] for this purpose. This decision provoked a significant negative reaction from some members of the Last.fm user community, who perceived the removal as a hindrance to lesser-known and unsigned artists' ability to gain exposure for their music, as well as to the overall enjoyment of the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/617074/ |title=Site Update – track page beta, streaming changes – Feedback and Ideas – |publisher=Last.fm |date=12 April 2010 |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=27 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227221251/http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/617074 |url-status=live }}</ref> A new "Play direct from artist" feature was introduced shortly thereafter, allowing artists to select individual tracks for users to stream in full.<ref name="artist feedback loop">{{cite web |url=http://blog.last.fm/2010/04/21/the-artist-feedback-loop |title=Last.fm – the Blog · The artist feedback loop |publisher=Blog.last.fm |date=21 April 2010 |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=2 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902102605/http://blog.last.fm/2010/04/21/the-artist-feedback-loop |url-status=live }}</ref>

The ability to listen to custom radio stations, such as "personal tag radio" and "loved tracks radio," was withdrawn on 17 November 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/stationchanges2010 |title=Station changes at Last.fm |publisher=Last.fm |date=15 January 2013 |access-date=7 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615052517/http://www.last.fm/stationchanges2010 |archive-date=15 June 2012 }}</ref> This change provoked an angry response among users.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/653360/4#f13717305 |title=Site update – forthcoming changes for subscribers – Feedback and Ideas – |publisher=Last.fm |date=21 October 2010 |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=20 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220082232/http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/653360/4#f13717305 |url-status=live }}</ref> Last.fm stated that the move was due to licensing reasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/653360/34#f13764621 |title=Site update – forthcoming changes for subscribers – Feedback and Ideas – |publisher=Last.fm |date=21 October 2010 |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=31 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331185652/http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/653360/34#f13764621 |url-status=live }}</ref> The change meant that a tag radio stream would now include all music tagged as such, rather than just that tagged by individual users, effectively broadening the number of tracks that could be streamed under any one tag set.<ref name="blog.last.fm">{{cite web |url=http://blog.last.fm/2010/04/12/yes-it-does |title=Last.fm – the Blog · Yes, it does! |publisher=Blog.last.fm |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=2 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902073741/http://blog.last.fm/2010/04/12/yes-it-does |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Website and desktop application redesigns (2012–2013)===  
In March 2012, Last.fm was breached by hackers, resulting in the compromise of more than 43 million user accounts.<ref name="hack">{{cite web|last1=Gallagher|first1=Sean|title=Over 40 million usernames, passwords from 2012 breach of Last.fm surface|url=https://arstechnica.com/security/2016/09/over-40-million-usernames-passwords-from-2012-breach-of-last-fm-surface/|website=Ars Technica|date=2 September 2016|access-date=24 September 2016|archive-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923062636/http://arstechnica.com/security/2016/09/over-40-million-usernames-passwords-from-2012-breach-of-last-fm-surface/|url-status=live}}</ref> The full extent of the breach, along with its connection to similar attacks against [[Tumblr]], [[LinkedIn]], and [[Myspace]] during the same timeframe, was not confirmed until August 2016.<ref name="hack"/> The passwords were protected using an outdated, [[Salt (cryptography)|unsalted]] [[MD5]] [[Cryptographic hash function|hash]].<ref name="hack"/> Last.fm informed users of the attack in June 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Last.fm Password Security Update – Last.fm|url=http://www.last.fm/passwordsecurity|website=Last.fm|access-date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926041058/http://www.last.fm/passwordsecurity|archive-date=26 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 14 February 2012, Last.fm announced the launch of a new beta desktop client for public testing.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/2031829 |title=Desktop Application Beta (2012) – Feedback and Ideas – |publisher=Last.fm |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502001428/http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/2031829 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/group/Audioscrobbler+Beta/forum/30705/_/2031831/_/17750201 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130213122515/http://www.last.fm/group/Audioscrobbler+Beta/forum/30705/_/2031831/_/17750201 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 February 2013 |title=Desktop Application Beta (2012) – Audioscrobbler Beta Discussions – |publisher=Last.fm |access-date=7 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/group/Audioscrobbler+Beta |title=Audioscrobbler Beta – Group at |publisher=Last.fm |date=15 January 2013 |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=29 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929234204/http://www.last.fm/group/Audioscrobbler+Beta |url-status=live }}</ref> The new scrobbler was subsequently released for all users on 15 January 2013.

On 12 July 2012, Last.fm announced a new website redesign that was open to public beta, inviting feedback from users participating in the testing phase.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/group/Last.fm+July+2012+Beta |title=July 2012 Beta – Group at |publisher=Last.fm |access-date=19 April 2014 |archive-date=20 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220012831/http://www.last.fm/group/Last.fm+July+2012+Beta |url-status=live }}</ref> The redesign officially went live for all users on 2 August 2012.<ref name="changesforum">{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/2067262/_/18400188 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130213151418/http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/2067262/_/18400188 |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 February 2013 |title=Site update – Catalogue Pages – Feedback and Ideas – |publisher=Last.fm |date=2 August 2012 |access-date=7 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.last.fm/2012/08/03/design-changes-to-lastfm |title=Last.fm – the Blog · Design Changes to Last.fm |publisher=Blog.last.fm |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=1 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901211909/http://blog.last.fm/2012/08/03/design-changes-to-lastfm |url-status=live }}</ref> 

While technology websites received the redesign positively,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/07/27/last-fm-redesign |title=Last.fm gets a pretty new UI for its most important pages |publisher=VentureBeat |date=27 July 2012 |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=9 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909005156/http://venturebeat.com/2012/07/27/last-fm-redesign/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://gadgetsteria.com/2012/07/27/last-fm-website-ui-refresh-shown-off-in-screenshots/ |title=Last.fm Website UI Refresh Shown Off in Screenshots. |publisher=Gadgetsteria |date=27 July 2012 |access-date=7 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802030149/http://gadgetsteria.com/2012/07/27/last-fm-website-ui-refresh-shown-off-in-screenshots/ |archive-date=2 August 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bryant |first=Martin |url=https://thenextweb.com/dd/2012/08/03/last-fm-rolls-out-redesigned-artist-album-and-track-pages-to-all-users/ |title=Last.fm Rolls Out Its New Design to All Users |publisher=The Next Web |date=27 July 2012 |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=22 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822041521/http://thenextweb.com/dd/2012/08/03/last-fm-rolls-out-redesigned-artist-album-and-track-pages-to-all-users/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://memeburn.com/2012/08/last-fms-new-image-heavy-and-responsive-redesign/ |title=Last.fm's new image-heavy and responsive redesign |date=3 August 2012 |publisher=memeburn |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=28 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528012639/http://memeburn.com/2012/08/last-fms-new-image-heavy-and-responsive-redesign/ |url-status=live }}</ref> many users expressed dissatisfaction with the changes on the website's forum.<ref name="changesforum"/>

On 19 June 2012, Last.fm launched Last.fm Originals, a new website featuring exclusive performances and interviews with various musical artists.<ref name="originals">{{cite web|url=http://blog.last.fm/2012/06/19/lastfm-originals|title=Last.fm Originals|first=Chris|last=Price|publisher=Last.fm|date=19 June 2012|access-date=15 July 2012|archive-date=22 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622215025/http://blog.last.fm/2012/06/19/lastfm-originals|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 13 December 2012, it was announced that Last.fm would discontinue its radio service after January 2013 for subscribers in all countries except the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil.<ref name="2013change">{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/announcements/radio2013 |title=Radio changes to Last.fm from Tuesday 15 January 2013 – |publisher=Last.fm |date=15 January 2013 |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=28 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928045940/https://www.last.fm/announcements/radio2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bryant |first=Martin |url=https://thenextweb.com/media/2012/12/13/last-fm-to-kill-its-radio-feature-in-many-countries-next-month-making-it-a-paid-feature-in-the-us-uk-and-germany/ |title=Last.fm to Kill its Radio Feature in Many Countries Next Month |publisher=Thenextweb.com |date=13 December 2012 |access-date=7 September 2013 |archive-date=12 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130912174944/http://thenextweb.com/media/2012/12/13/last-fm-to-kill-its-radio-feature-in-many-countries-next-month-making-it-a-paid-feature-in-the-us-uk-and-germany/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Additionally, radio in the desktop client would require a subscription in the US, UK, and Germany, although the website radio would remain free in those countries.<ref name="2013change"/>

===End of radio streaming and redesign (2014–present)===  
In January 2014, the website announced on-demand integration with [[Spotify]] and introduced a new [[YouTube]]-powered radio player.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.last.fm/2014/01/29/did-someone-say-on-demand |title=Last.fm – the Blog · Did Someone Say On Demand? |publisher=Blog.last.fm |date=29 January 2014 |access-date=19 April 2014 |archive-date=27 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327234519/http://blog.last.fm/2014/01/29/did-someone-say-on-demand |url-status=live }}</ref> With the introduction of the YouTube player, the standard radio service became a subscriber-only feature.

On 26 March 2014,<ref name="lastfmshutdown">{{cite web |url=https://www.You2ber.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208123459/http://you2ber.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 February 2011 |title=You2ber.com |publisher=You2ber.com |access-date=19 April 2014 }}</ref> Last.fm announced that it would discontinue its streaming radio service on 28 April 2014. In a statement, the site indicated that the decision was made to "focus on improving scrobbling and recommendations".<ref name="2014change">{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/announcements/subscriptions2014 |title=Changes to Last.fm Subscriptions – |publisher=Last.fm |date=26 November 2013 |access-date=19 April 2014 |archive-date=16 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161116144434/http://www.last.fm/announcements/subscriptions2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 15 April 2015, Last.fm released a subscriber-exclusive beta version of a new website redesign.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/2245350 |title=Last.fm Alpha/Beta |access-date=17 April 2015 |archive-date=25 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025145523/http://www.last.fm/forum/21717/_/2245350 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Digital Spy]] described user reactions on the site's forums during the week of the redesign as "universally negative".<ref name="feedbackforums">{{cite web|title=Last.FM Support Community|url=https://getsatisfaction.com/lastfm|website=Get Satisfaction|access-date=18 August 2015|archive-date=21 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821182128/https://getsatisfaction.com/lastfm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="digitalspy">{{cite web|title=Last.fm unveils new site design and most users are really upset about it|website=Digital Spy|author=Eames, Tom|date=18 August 2015|access-date=18 August 2015|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/news/a664005/lastfm-unveils-brand-new-site-design-and-most-users-are-really-upset-about-it.html#~plKw0PF4TqT9Pz|archive-date=19 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819104256/http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/news/a664005/lastfm-unveils-brand-new-site-design-and-most-users-are-really-upset-about-it.html#~plKw0PF4TqT9Pz|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, Music Manager was discontinued, and music uploaded to the site by musicians and record labels became inaccessible. After the integration with Spotify, these tracks could still be played and downloaded where the option was available; however, following the change, artists themselves were unable to access their songs in the Last.fm catalog.<ref name="auto"/>

The website experienced a slight revival during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], beginning in 2020, linked to its popularity within music communities on the communication platform [[Discord]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-25 |title=On Discord, Music Fans Become Artists' Besties, Collaborators, and Even Unpaid Interns |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/discord-music-fandoms/ |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US |archive-date=9 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009204931/https://pitchfork.com/features/article/discord-music-fandoms/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Last.fm celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Last.fm is 20: VP of Product Michael Horan on Last.fm's 20 years in music-tech - and the future of data in the music industry - Music Ally |date=25 November 2022 |url=https://musically.com/2022/11/25/last-fm-20-music-tech-michael-horan/ |access-date=2022-12-22 |archive-date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222221536/https://musically.com/2022/11/25/last-fm-20-music-tech-michael-horan/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Third-party developers have created programs that integrate users' listening statistical data with Discord, including a popular bot from the Netherlands that has over 400,000 total users.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob |date=2022-11-22 |title=Last.fm turns 20 and now has a following on Discord |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/22/23473358/lastfm-discord-bot-neil-young-spotify |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=The Verge |language=en-US |archive-date=9 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009204932/https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/22/23473358/lastfm-discord-bot-neil-young-spotify |url-status=live }}</ref>