SONGPEOPLE.CO.UK LISTEN. RATE. WIN

More than most artists, the Pet Shop Boys have an incredibly extensive profile on the music streaming site Last.fm – a feat that can be attributed to their long and prolific career as stars in the world of highbrow synth pop.  From the Boys’ profile, users can stream tracks that date all the way back to their first single from the eighties, “West End Girls,” as well as their current single, “Love etc.,” [LINK]which is also the duo’s most-played song on the site. 

Pet Shop Boys fans who are also patrons of the site will be disappointed to know that Last.fm plans on charging residents outside of Germany, the UK, and US 3 Euros per month to continue to stream music from the site.  Last.fm officials came to the decision with revenue in mind, but tell the BBC that they hope the extra income will add to the quality of the site and otherwise benefit people who continue to use the site despite its no longer being free. It is expensive for the site, apparently, to pay the worldwide licensing fees needed to maintain it. 

The monthly fee will only apply to music streaming, and the rest of the artist features will remain free for everyone to enjoy.  Some of these features include photos, music videos, artist biography, Last.fm listener charts, and the site’s “scrobbling” feature.  Pet Shop Boys’ Last.fm profile is home to eight pages of music videos, so a fan outside of the aforementioned countries shouldn’t have a problem accessing enough of their music. 
Before the charges go into effect, users will have the option of a free trial, which will include the streaming of up to thirty songs.  Pet Shop Boys fans in Germany, the UK and the US will be able to continue to access the site as per usual, since Last.fm plans to continue to foot the licensing bill for these countries.