Last.fm has returned to being an independent entity, nearly twenty years after its acquisition by CBS for $280 million. The company confirmed this transition in a recent announcement on its forum, stating, "Today, Last.fm begins a new chapter as an independent company." Users can rest assured that their profiles, including scrobbles—plays of songs tracked across various platforms—will remain unchanged.
Since its inception as an internet radio station in 2002, Last.fm has evolved to track music listening habits via services like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music. The service will also maintain users' data, privacy settings, and any active Pro subscriptions. The company reassured its audience that the experience will continue seamlessly, with no immediate changes to functionality.
Last.fm's integration of scrobbling began shortly after its merge with the original team behind the tracking process. Following the separation from Paramount Skydance, the firm plans to share further details about the transition in upcoming weeks, while ensuring that the platform operates as it has in the past.