Quote:
Originally Posted by fredr123
I read that as the UK, USA and Germany are the only markets large enough to make an ad-supported strategy pay off. They don't make enough off of ads in places like Canada to cover the costs of paying the requisite fees to labels and artists. If anything, it sounds like the revenue USA, UK and Germany may have been supporting Canadian listeners...
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That makes sense, I guess. I think it's a bad decision, though, allowing people in three countries to continue to listen for free while everyone else has to pay fo rthe same service. Good business or not, that doesn't sit well with me. But hey, if it helps their business, more power to them.
It just means we'll have to look elsewhere. I've become an avid listener of many artists thanks solely to the service last.fm provides. It provides exposure to a lot of bands I would have otherwise not heard of. I'm not sure I'm in a financial position comfortable enough to be dishing out $6 a month for it.
And how do artists from countries other than US, UK, and Germany feel? Now they know that they're less likely to gain support in their home countries through last.fm listeners. Much less likely.
I think this is bad news for everyone. Last.fm, artists, and fans alike.