last.fm removes track streaming

I feel like I've been neglecting posting anything lately and wow...! nothing for almost 2 weeks. That Go review I was promising is still in the works—well, yet to be begun actually—for whatever reason. I can’t think of a good excuse. Perhaps when I scramble all my thoughts together again, that will be posted, and soon I hope since I’m yet again behind on other things I would like to write about.

Sometime around last week, I think, some dramatic changes took place on last.fm. Primarily, the site has been stripped of all on-site track streaming and instead suggests redirecting the user to an alternative streaming service, all which claim to “scrobble” tracks like normal. Yes, this even happened to artists and labels who initially uploaded their music on their own to share with the last.fm community. No doubt, this instantly infuriated users who subscribe to last.fm, as the main service they pay for with their subscription is for on-site music streaming. I, personally, don’t subscribe since I live within the countries that are offered limited on-site streaming, but I would never even consider it now. What use is there in paying a company for a service when they only redirect you to an otherwise already free alternative site? Absolutely none, I think. It's only a complete waste of time and a selfish move on the part of those behind these changes. The last.fm “community” has been severely tampered with, and I don’t believe it will continue to exist in the same way as before. I used to be able to suggest and support last.fm for its convenience and excelling functionality in providing music for the online community, but now I can’t say that I will be able to speak for it as much.

[currently listening to: Mílanó - Sigur Rós]