Last.FM – Worth Paying For?
I have been an avid listener to Last.FM since I joined the service near the end of December 2008. Since then I’ve streamed over 10,000 tracks and have loved all of them.
My musical tastes are very selective and I’ve never before come across any radio station which delivers great tunes and recommendations within my favourite genres. Progressive, Symphonic, and some Gothic Metal are my main focus when selecting music.
Imagine my disappointment last month when Last.FM announced they were going to a subscription service.
My initial reaction was, “Fine! I’ll just expand my offline collection to include the favourites I’ve discovered though their service.”
Even with this there was still something missing. Sure, I could listen to my favourite tracks any time I like, but where were those odd gems that Last.FM would throw at you every now and then? That one tune that made you stop everything you were doing just to see who was playing it. That type of thing just doesn’t happen when listening to your offline collection.
But that was just part of what I was missing. I also enjoyed seeing other people’s shouts (comments) on some of my favourite tracks. There is nobody in my real life who enjoys my musical tastes. (Then again, I don’t get out much!) It’s nice to see other people enjoying the same music as myself.
So, after a month of trying to live without Last.FM, I took the plunge and subscribed. It’s only $3.00USD/month and for the first time in my online experience, I feel I’ve found an online service which is actually worth paying for. A service I use quite a lot, which my 10,000 plays should tell you. 
I’m now happily cruising to Last.FM once again. If you’re into Progressive/Symphonic/Gothic metal, check out my library at http://www.last.fm/user/LarryMonte
