Last.fm Start Charging Some Music Listeners

London-based Internet radio and social music site Last.fm will start charging listeners outside the UK, US, and Germany from the end of the month.

In a blog posting, co-founder of the site, Richard Jones, said:

"In order to keep providing the best radio service on the web, we need to ask our listeners from countries other than USA, UK and Germany to subscribe for three Euros (four dollars) per month."

He said those subject to subscription will first be allowed a 30-track free trial and he also stressed that everything else on Last.fm (scrobbling, recommendations, charts, biographies, events, videos etc.) will remain free in all countries, like it is now.

"Sure, this was a business decision," said Last.fm's Matthew Ogle, in response to a number of queries that users raised on the company's blog.

"But after looking at our resources and opportunities we think it's the best way to keep improving Last.fm radio (and also support all the other free services on Last.fm)."

Since the company was bought by US media powerhouse CBS Corp. in 2007, Last.fm has had enough staff in the UK, US and Germany to generate advertising revenues to cover its licensing costs there.

The company says that elsewhere; the costs will have to be covered by subscription.

Tell us what you think.....Is it fair to charge music listeners in other countries when listeners in the UK, US & Germany get it free? Will people start using alternative music sites?