Last.fm announced on May 27, 2026, that it is now an independent company again, after being owned by CBS (now Paramount Global) since 2007. The announcement was made on the Last.fm support forum. The music scrobbling platform had been widely considered neglected under corporate ownership, with users and former staff lamenting lack of development. The move to independence was celebrated by longtime users, including Mastodon CEO Eugen Rochko and others.
last.fm dropped a forum post saying it's independent again after two decades under cbs. the music tracking site had been basically abandoned by its corporate parent, and now it's free. people on mastodon are hyped.
Last.fm's independence marks a rare reversal of the typical acquisition-to-neglect pattern in tech. For a platform that defined music discovery for millions in the 2000s, the move could signal a revival of community-driven services. It also highlights growing frustration with corporate stewardship of beloved internet platforms, as users increasingly celebrate buybacks and spin-offs.
a rare win for internet preservation — last.fm escaped the corporate graveyard. after two decades of neglect, it's independent again. maybe the old web isn't completely dead.
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