I want my MP3, Week 2, 1.1

Task 1.1 Signing up for a lastfm account

For once I thought I'd look at the Terms and Conditions and the first thing that struck me in the first paragraph was that lastfm could change the terms, without notice at any time.  The user is responsible for checking back at the T&C from time to time to see if they've changed.  Given that you have to use an email address to sign up I don't see why they can't notify users that they've changed.  While the service is primarily web-based it does require access to information on the user's computer - eg. iTunes.

I was a bit suspicious about how this service works, but after I plugged in a dozen or so names of artists I like the service pulled up matching albums and similar artists to buy.  Some of those suggested were pretty accurate.  And it also did a search for free mp3s that were available (none).  One of the bands I plugged in was a less well known Australian band from the mid-90s and it returned a number of their albums - their radio station didn't respond particularly well.  I switched to the station associated with Sarah Blasko's and the associated station played artists that had definite appeal to me.  There is something strangely engaging about knowing someone is listening to that song at that very moment - I will confess I crave Spotify.  I found lastfm not particularly easy to navigate and work out how it is meant to network.  I'm not the sort of person to put in keywords and seek out people who might be listening to similar things; I prefer things a bit more random.  If friends were using it I would be inclined to seek them out.

I have noticed that after playing 50 tracks for free the service will end unless I pay $3.00 per month.  But, I'm feeling really uncomfortable exploring, downloading addons (scrobbler) and linking profiles with twitter or facebook - I'm just not sure I want to be associated with this sort of service.  I do not think it's right to be streaming music without any royalty structure to the artists.  Having said this, I discovered a bonus album that came with an album I own - except I didn't get that edition.  So, off I trotted to iTunes and bought it for around $10 - as easy and spontaneous as that.

I already had a Grooveshark account that I signed up to early in 2011.  I got onto this through following Adelaide Fringe on Facebook and Twitter.  Each Friday they would set up a theme and invite requests from followers and add them to their playlist.  Each playlist stayed there and I could access it anytime.  I also set up one or two of my own playlists (from music listed on there that I already owned) for accessing when I didn't have my ipod or it wasn't convenient.  Nice idea; except that the site doesn't seem to have the necessary permissions from copyright owners, so, I have disables my account.  A fellow student also pointed out detail of one of the T&C's which was the decider for me to deactivate the account:  "You are solely responsible for any necessary payments that may become due to any third parties as the result of your posting of or linking to the User Content and EMG's use thereof"

I am very curious about Spotify, the music service that Facebook has linked with in the US (and maybe UK?), where you can see what your friends are listening too in real time.  This service does have licensing for millions of songs, so I think they are starting to recognise the value of friends recommendations.