Last.fm Goes Independent After Breaking Up With Paramount Skydance

Source: Slashdot

Announcement

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.”

The statement also notes that Last.fm will keep its current team.

What remains unchanged

• All user accounts and scrobbles stay as they are.
• Privacy settings are unaffected.
• Pro subscriptions and billing information will continue without interruption.
• The service will function exactly as it did before the transition, at least for now.

Background

• 2002 – Last.fm launched as an internet radio station.
• A few years later, it introduced “scrobbling” after merging with the original team that created the tracking process.
• 2007 – Acquired by CBS Interactive (now part of the merged Paramount Skydance Corporation) for $280 million.
• 2014 – Discontinued its $3‑a‑month subscription radio service to focus on tracking listening habits across other providers such as Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music.

The company has promised to share more about what users can expect from the transition in the coming weeks.