The Future of Last.fm Radio APIs

As you may have seen on our blog, we're making some changes to the way we structure our radio services.

Last.fm has never had a public radio API, although we've tolerated third-party clients using the undocumented calls that our client uses. This is finally about to change - we're going to make a public, documented streaming API available to everyone who has an API account. There are a few limitations:

1. Only subscribers will be allowed to stream using API applications unless you negotiate a separate deal with us - we need to get the money to cover royalties.
2. You won't be allowed to use our API to stream to mobile phones. This is unfortunately a limitation of some of our licensing agreements. (We may make exceptions to this)

These changes should be made by the end of next week. Alongside this, we'll be shutting down the remainder of the old, undocumented streaming APIs over the next couple of weeks.

edit - clarified that the mobile device restriction isn't set in stone.

last.fm, this is the worst business decision you've ever made. I bought a subscription a month ago after I'd discovered Mobbler. I can plug my mobile into my stereo and stream recommended tunes over my wireless connection within seconds - no need for a laptop - that's what made the subscription compelling.

Now I hear that you are going to break this method of listening to music.. I want my money back.

Russ said:
You won't be allowed to use our API to stream to mobile phones. This is unfortunately a limitation of some of our licensing agreements.

What defines a "mobile phone" in this case? What about, say, a Nokia N810, which is an Internet tablet/MID, NOT A PHONE. Would this be barred from using the API in an application such as Vagalume to stream music? What about dedicated internet radios? These are all "portable" devices that are not phones, but are certainly mobile.

And, as an aside - what is the rationale for the "no mobile phones" rule?

achitnis said:
What defines a "mobile phone" in this case? What about, say, a Nokia N810, which is an Internet tablet/MID, NOT A PHONE. Would this be barred from using the API in an application such as Vagalume to stream music? What about dedicated internet radios? These are all "portable" devices that are not phones, but are certainly mobile.
The N810 doesn't connect to a cellular data network, so it's not a phone.

And, as an aside - what is the rationale for the "no mobile phones" rule?
It's a restriction imposed by some of our music licensing partners, and not by us.

rhondalicious said:
What about programs that allow you to send the info regarding songs you play in your phone's native music program?

Scrobbling will always be free.

Being as polite about it as possible... this totally sucks!

Scrobbling on my mobile has always been a big plus point about Last.fm for me. It will be a sad day indeed when I can no longer use Mobbler. It's definately going to make me less inclined to use the site in general now.

I see this as the start of a steady decline.

Because you're eliminating 3rd party developed functionality, shouldn't you fill the gap?

Last.fm used to be great, sad to see this happening. I'm afraid the number of users will go down a lot quicker than who ever thought this was a good idea expected, and soon all of it will be shut down. :-(

Does this also mean that last.fm for iphone will be dropped?

I'm a paying subscriber (in Norway), and I'm looking to get an iphone when the new ones arrive

I'm also an avid Mobbler user, and a paying subscriber living in the U.S. - there is not currently an 'official' Last.FM application for my S60-powered smartphone, so I use Mobbler, where enthusiasts have filled the gap.

As such, I have a few questions:

1. Will the iPhone Last.FM application continue to stream (since it's official, and doesn't (presumably) use the API?

2. If I'm a paying subscriber, will 'unofficial' apps such as Mobbler then continue to stream, since I'm paying?

3. Since you're basically telling all of your enthusiasts who have filled the gaps you yourselves left in your service (mobile clients for various platforms, etc) to eat dirt, will you then be filling those gaps yourselves?

Ricky Cadden
Editor, Symbian-Guru.com

Russ said:

The N810 doesn't connect to a cellular data network, so it's not a phone.



So what do laptops with 3G dongles count as?

What about wifi enable phones (like my Nokia N95)? If I'm streaming over wifi with Mobbler, how is that different from streaming with an N810?

I'm working with third-party mobile client authors at the moment, and I'm fairly confident that we can allow them to use the new API in mobile mode for subscribers. No promises yet, though.

I'm saddened, but not the least bit surprised. It was so obvious that at one point this would happen. Last.fm wants users -> users wants content -> last.fm wants content -> label gives content -> last.fm gets its pairs of handcuffs.

Another point is the open source last.fm client. We'll still be able to look for bugs and solve them and compile the app (if/when the SVN will be fixed), but won't be able to use it, as we won't have an $API key. Hence, if we want to modify something, we can request it to be integrated by the last.fm staff and pray that it will be done. Not much use in an open source client then