Last.fm Partners With Sony: Should Have Been Apple

Recent announcement of Last.fm partnering with Sony:

[from Last.fm Partners With Sony: WebProNews]

Online social music network, Last.fm has partnered with Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

As part of the partnership Sony BMG will offer its catalogue of recordings to the 20 million users of Last.fm’s radio streaming service. Users will be able to find new artists from the Sony catalogue using Last.fm’s recommendation system.

I had suggested in past posts, prior to CBS’ purchase of Last.fm, that Apple should acquire the product and build into a socialized version of iTunes (which is still desperately needed, btw).

Looks like Last.fm is destined for a strange collection of deals, rather than a strategic role in a contender to the iTunes/iPod/iPhone triumvirate. Although I am not sure who can mount a credible attack on that. Even Microsoft hasn’t got a chance. Nokia?

Well, its moot, since Last.fm is part of CBS. It has to make it or break it based on its own merits, and maybe some better economics for users acquiring music, not on some integration with other major software partners.

9 July 2007
last.fmcbssonyapplemicrosoftnokiasocial music
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