Last.fm::An Introduction

Last.fm is an interactive site which gains interaction with the user with downloadable software that integrates itself with the user's personal music player. The software, used within programs like Itunes and Windows Media Player, works as a background plug-in, essentially recording the user's musical tastes. The program not only takes a record of each individual song played, but records all information relevant to that individual song, such as artist, number of times played, genre, etc. This recorded information is then sent through the internet to a user profile on Last.fm's website. The profile not only displays the user's musical tastes as recorded by Last.fm, but Last.fm also analyzes these recordings, and develops charts displaying musical preferences, playlists, and user recommendations. Essentially, Last.fm has developed software that pays attention to the music played on a user's laptop. As a song is played, the software "records" this play, and sends the information back to the user's online profile. The profile analyzes this play, and in turn, develops a cohesive definition of the user's musical preferences and tastes. The website passively engages a user by recording their music essentially as a "background plug-in."