This looks suspiciously like an outbreak of common sense amongst the record labels: royalty payments directly to the artists? Free full-length playback of sample tracks, with opt-in for unlimited numbers of plays? Tight integration with iTunes and other music players to track real-time listener data?
On the other hand, this could only come about after the labels had basically neutered independent Internet radio streams with their insane royalty structures. Funneling everything through Last.fm gives them a single entity with whom they can negotiate and from whom they can extort^M^M^M^M^M^M collect payment.
It's only direct royalties for independent artists. Naturally artists who signed those rights away to record labels won't get them. Why the hell should they?
"Ooops, forgot to mention that info on the new subscription stuff is only visible/available in our launch countries today (US, UK, and Germany). Apologies!"
You can already buy some tracks from last.fm on a purchase rather than subscription model, via 7digital.
From the UK the subscribe page says:
Unlimited Listening Subscription
We're publicly beta testing our new free listening service. You can listen to most tracks up to three times for free.
When the beta is over, we'll offer a subscription package with unlimited access to a catalogue of music built on partnerships with Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner, EMI and over 150,000 independent labels and artists.
We will continue to offer our existing Basic Subscription.
Yahoo announce today also that they will offer free music. It's the beginning of new recession and the beginning of a new dawn for music. If the labels had any clue they would have built last.fm themselves.
On the other hand, this could only come about after the labels had basically neutered independent Internet radio streams with their insane royalty structures. Funneling everything through Last.fm gives them a single entity with whom they can negotiate and from whom they can extort^M^M^M^M^M^M collect payment.