en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/asia-research/journal The Last.fm journal for asia-research. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/asia-research/journal/2009/03/28/2lqi64_open_letter_to_the_lastfm_management Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:49:26 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/asia-research/journal/2009/03/28/2lqi64_open_letter_to_the_lastfm_management this letter arived from a solidary user from USA and should be widely read not only by the management. Thanks !

March 27, 2009

To the management of last.fm,

On Tuesday, 24 March 2009, last.fm announced that it would begin discriminating against last.fm users outside of the “Big Three” countries—the UK, the USA, and Germany—by charging the outsiders for formerly free radio streaming services, while the same services remained free to users who constituted geographical insiders. This letter of protest is written in the name of all last.fm users, both subscribers and non-subscribers, insiders and outsiders, who object to the adoption of this borderline unethical business practice, and to the arrogant way in which the announcement was handled.

Charging different groups of people a different price for the exact same services offends our universal sense of fairness. It is our deeply held conviction that all people in the international community should be treated fairly and equally, regardless of national origin. Although the decision to extend free radio services to some privileged countries while charging a fee to others may be a trifling injustice in the large picture, even a small act that strikes deeply at our most precious principles of equality must be objected to vigorously.

Reasonable users understand that last.fm is a venture for profit, and that it must obtain revenue, whether through advertising or subscription fees, to pay for server space, music licensing fees, salaries, and other costs. This recognition does not prevent us from objecting to this ill-conceived discriminatory pricing plan.

Although we are not privy to last.fm’s corporate board meetings, we believe that last.fm could have taken less offensive measures to solve any revenue issues they may be experiencing. Increases in advertising content, or scaling back the free catalogue for non-subscribers, are possibilities that come to mind. Of course, the most logical solution would be to raise the subscription fees slightly—but for all last.fm users equally, not just for those in favored regions that last.fm considers outside its core market. Any of these moves would be met with predictable grumbling from the last.fm community, but none would be as patently offensive as the option to discriminate against certain users that last.fm has actually chosen.

Which brings us to our second complaint: the dismissive way in which last.fm has treated its users with the announcement of the new charges. Last.fm badly bungled their notification; the official made no attempt to justify the necessity of this move to affected users. The official announcement gives no reason for the move, but brusquely states “we need to ask our listeners from countries other than USA, UK and Germany to subscribe for €3.00 per month.” Only after outraged users demanded an explanation for the discriminatory pricing scheme in the comments on the announcement did a last.fm representative supply a business justification for the move, based on a greater ability to sell advertising within the “Big Three.” Even accepting the reasons for the business decision at face value, affected users—who have promoted last.fm to their friends, provided valuable content for the site in the form of artists’ descriptions and pictures, and formed the loyal base of visitors which allows last.fm to set the advertising rates which provide it with revenue—deserved an honestm upfront explanation for this painful policy change. By giving no explanation for this change until pressed, last.fm has deliberately fostered the impression that they are sacrificing users outside the “Big Three.” Last.fm betrayed the loyalty these users invested in the company.

Predictably, waves of users from the “outsider” countries have already fled the last.fm community, either because of the decrease in services or from offense at being treated as second-class world citizens. More are sure to follow in the coming days and weeks. Part of last.fm’s appeal has been the creation of an international community, united not by nationality but by love of music. The ability to discover a common bond of music between users in Japan and Holland, Russia and the United States, to exchange ideas and develop lasting friendships, is one of the Internet’s noblest abilities, and last.fm was the most visible outlet enabling such musical connections. Sadly, last.fm’s latest corporate decision will diminish those opportunities and impoverish its community of users—a community which is its greatest business asset.

It is still not too late for last.fm to change course before alienating such an immense portion of its user base. It is as difficult, perhaps even more so, for a corporation to admit it has made a mistake, to say “I’m sorry, I was wrong and I will fix it,” as it is for an individual. But for last.fm to suddenly reverse course and scrap the discriminatory pricing scheme would not be a sign of weakness, but of rare corporate strength and courage. We hope that the management of last.fm will hear and consider our complaints, and make amends.

Signed,

A user from a “Big Three” country, on behalf of the last.fm user community
]]> http://www.last.fm/user/asia-research/journal/2009/03/26/2li63n_what_happens_to_lastfm_%3F Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:10:44 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/asia-research/journal/2009/03/26/2li63n_what_happens_to_lastfm_%3F first please read the blog
http://blog.last.fm/2009/03/24/lastfm-radio-announcement

We want a fair lastfm, the decission to close the radios to some countries is wrong and is discriminatory. We want another solution!

Did we miss the answer for this often questioned “Why are these three countries excluded?”? what makes Germans, British and Americans different to the rest of the world???

what can we do ? i don't know, but i hope for them and us that they will change this
decission.........
http://www.lastfm.it/group/lastfm+is+unfair]]> http://www.last.fm/user/asia-research/journal/2009/03/02/2j5yh8_open_project_%22tag_-_radiostations%22_from_multi_culti_world Mon, 2 Mar 2009 01:09:49 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/asia-research/journal/2009/03/02/2j5yh8_open_project_%22tag_-_radiostations%22_from_multi_culti_world open project "Tag - Radiostations" from multi culti world

What are the reasons to create Tag Stations ?

•we can only connect 200 artists to our “multi culti world” group radio, the world is much bigger .. I feel always like an executioner when I have to cancel an artist if I like to put a new artist in.

•sometimes only one song of artist is great, or it’s a limited artist project so it’s a nice possibility to take only this song or songs and not the whole connection to an artist.

•we can get our group more interactive , every member can take a part in, if he/she like.

•we can create different styles of our Tag stations. I like to propose in the beginning this 4 Tag stations :

1. Tag Station 1 “multi culti world” all styles, various, biggest database

2. Tag Station 2 “multicultigroup” more funky, ska , regga, patchanka, post punk, mestizo. Cabaret, experimental etc.

3. Tag Station 3 “multiculticlassic” typical music of a place - africa, cuba, rai, sufi, klezmer, etno, etc.

4. Tag Station 4 “multicultichill” chill, lounge, fusion, spirit, epic…etc.


How it works:

If you like to participate put one of this Tags on a song you like:
Example : You tagged Karunesh – Alibaba with ‘multicultichill’. just now

If more then five users use this tags the tags became from a personal tag a “global tag” that means the songs get connected in a bigger database…and it becames a global tag radiostation.

If you have some questions or comments feel free to add them here.
with love
bernd]]> http://www.last.fm/user/asia-research/journal/2009/03/02/2izj03_open_project_%22tag_-_radiostations%22_from_multi_culti_world Mon, 2 Mar 2009 01:09:49 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/asia-research/journal/2009/03/02/2izj03_open_project_%22tag_-_radiostations%22_from_multi_culti_world open project "Tag - Radiostations" from multi culti world

What are the reasons to create Tag Stations ?

•we can only connect 200 artists to our “multi culti world” group radio, the world is much bigger .. I feel always like an executioner when I have to cancel an artist if I like to put a new artist in.

•sometimes only one song of artist is great, or it’s a limited artist project so it’s a nice possibility to take only this song or songs and not the whole connection to an artist.

•we can get our group more interactive , every member can take a part in, if he/she like.

•we can create different styles of our Tag stations. I like to propose in the beginning this 4 Tag stations :

1. Tag Station 1 “multi culti world” all styles, various, biggest database

2. Tag Station 2 “multicultigroup” more funky, ska , regga, patchanka, post punk, mestizo. Cabaret, experimental etc.

3. Tag Station 3 “multiculticlassic” typical music of a place - africa, cuba, rai, sufi, klezmer, etno, etc.

4. Tag Station 4 “multicultichill” chill, lounge, fusion, spirit, epic…etc.


How it works:

If you like to participate put one of this Tags on a song you like:
Example : You tagged Karunesh – Alibaba with ‘multicultichill’. just now

If more then five users use this tags the tags became from a personal tag a “global tag” that means the songs get connected in a bigger database…and it becames a global tag radiostation.

If you have some questions or comments feel free to add them here.
with love
bernd]]> http://www.last.fm/user/asia-research/journal/2009/02/25/2ijj7b_free_downloads_in_our_multi_culti_world Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:37:59 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/asia-research/journal/2009/02/25/2ijj7b_free_downloads_in_our_multi_culti_world Also if you don't have so much money you can get a lot of free music on lastfm

Vavamuffinreggae hip hop >> Poland
Renato Ventura world fusion instrumental >>italy
Serkan Süleymaniye sufi >>turkish
Emma Forman acoustic female vocalist folk >>scotish
Castanets folk new weird america >> america
La Raíz fusion, patchanka, reggae ska fusion >> spain
Sudironda folk, tarantella traditional >>italy
Corrientes female vocalists, chillout, funny folk >>cuba

20.02.09
Brian Dunn folk, marijuana, hick-hop >> america
Patchanka ska, folk, reggae, latin >>denmark (only 1 song)
Fritanga ska, latin rock, ragga, alternativo >> ???

21.02.09
Los Microbios ska, rock, hip-hop, flute >>Russia
Hortense Ellis reggae, rocksteady, ska, women in reggae >> jamaica
Manga De Tanos latin, female vocalists, tango >> argentina
Yogurinha Borova drag-ones, pop, marica, pop travesti >> spain

22.02.09
Satelite Kingston ska, reggae, latin, world >> argentina
Shanghai Triad cabaret, mondiovision, jazz, folk >> china
Cidadão Quem rock, rock gaucho >>> brazil
X-Patriate (Alan J. Lipman) relax, blues, trip hop, world >>> French ???

23.02.09
Baka Gbinéafrica, ml red tape, mixed vocal ensemble >>> afrika
diha africa, pop >>> gambia
Angele Dimovski folk, balkan, traditional, ethno >>> macedonia

24.02.09
Eldad Lidor, acoustic, piano >>> israel
Jaime Heras electronica, space, jamendo, ambient >>> spain
RiT french, chanson francaise, nouvelle scene francaise >>> France
Hot Pants patchanka, ska, rock, rockabilly >>>> France
Poutatorvi circus, world music, rythmic, funk >>> finnland


25.02.09
Mskelectronic, downtempo, alternative >>> Italian
Oz Bambaz musica brasilera >>> Brazil
Halo Svevo electronic, experimental, dark ambient >> Germany
La Nef Des Fous french, indie, alternative, chanson >>> france
Mirko Fait jazz, bossa nova, saxophone, indie >>> italy
Guachupe rock, ska, funk, patchanka >>>> chile
Zootsings jazzy, bluesy, blues, acoustic >>> netherlands ??

26.02.09
КИТАЙГОРОД progressive rock, downtempo >>> Russia
Канцлер Ги pop, folk, vocals female >>>Russia
Atomica trip-hop, female vocalists, electronic, chillout


27.02.09
Devendra Banhart indie, freak folk, new weird america >>> America
Colectivo Etéreo nerdcore, latin, hiphop, hip-hop,>>> Spain
Ceylán psychedelic, electronic, electro, happy >>> Chile
M.A.U. electronic, pop, multi-cultural >>> Portugal
En Ventura shoegaze, dream pop, cocteau >>> Mexico


28.02.09
Abakuya folk, africa, experimental, world music >>> Africa
A.R.Rahman bollywood, hindi, soundtrack >>> India - only one song
Hoba Hoba Spirit arabic, gnawa, maroc, fusion >>> Marocco
Sir Alec Hendrix lounge, chillout, jazz, downtempo, smooth >>> ???
Zofka downtempo, chillout, easy listening, ambient >>>> France
Northbound electronic, nu-jazz, chill out, acid jazz >>>> ???
Арчер blues, minstrel, rolesong, blues guitarists >>> Russia
May Nasr arabic, folk, female vocalists >>> Lebanon
Zola Van piano, solo piano, tranqui, elite, melodical >>> ???


01.03.09
Sonia Pérez latin, salsa, female vocalists, >>> cuba
Quallofillelectronic, dream pop, chillout, avant-garde >>> netherlands
FitiSound dub, electro dub, electronic >>> turkey
Джем bard, fantasy, folk, menestrel >>> russia
Nabyla Maan maroc, amazigh, north africa >>> Marocco


02.03.09
Чеширский Кот rock, pop rock, >>> Russia
Веня Д'ркин bard, rock, singer-songwriter >>> Russia
Arabic Songs arabic dance music, funny, mix music, kot >>> Russia
Mustard Allegro surf, choke, bristol, alt rock >>> ??
chewbacca's surf, indie, instrumental, instrumental rock, >>> ??
Surf Sluts surf, surf punk, surf rock, rockabilly >>> ???
Alwaro Negro surf, surf rock, instrumental, punk >>> italy


03.03.09
Nouvelle Cuisine galician pop, pop independiente >>> Spain
Tuco Requena spanish, rumba, mestizaje, fusion, latino >>> Spain
AMINOS rock, alternative, alternative rock >>> Tunesia, France
Zeropage chillout, electronic, ambient, electronica >>> Swiss

04.03.09
alessandro timpanaro randhome, catania, billyboy, >>> italy
Bleeding Nature synthpop, darkwave, dreamwave >>> russia
Karolina balkan, eurovision, pop >>> macedonia
iannis loumakiselectronic, jazz, nu jazz >>> greek

05.03.09
Hal Weaver flute, traditional, native american, >>> america
Alborada folk, world music, native american >>> peru
PURA FE blues, native american, folk, female vocalists, >>> america

06.03.09
Korvapuusti gypsy, klezmer, folk, world >>> ???
José Antonio Delgado singer-songwriter, independiente >>> Spain
Pinchus Bobrovsky yiddish, klezmer, pinchas >>> america
Pedro of CBR electronica, downtempo, triphop >>> ???
André Geraissatigreat, acoustic, brazilian, acoustic guitar >>> brazil


09.03.09
Mersi Bowcos pop rock >>>> sweden
Aedi rock, pop, indie rock >>> italy
recorder* rock, alternative, iindie >>> germany
Zeropage chillout, electronic, ambient, electronica >>> swiss
Matema math, matema, noise, experimental >>> brazil


10.03.09
Uchpa rock, rock latino >>> peru
NUN synthpop, electro, electroclash >>> poland
Mill a h-Uile Rud punk, gaelic, rock, celtic >>> scotland
Sicilian AV project nujazz funk electronic >>>italy
Bugotak folk, throat singing, siberian, >>>> russia
Senny Stevens esperanto, translation, acoustic, cover >>> america


11.03.09
Freak Fandango Orchestra gypsy, folk, balkan, folk rock >>>???
The Bastard Fairiesindie, female vocalists, alternative >>>america
Sean Wright indie, john lennon, powerpop, cover >>>great britain
NEL's chillout, lounge, electronic, alternative >>>???
degauze triphop, trip hop, trip-hop, bullshit >>>???
Alien Masturbation Foundation electronic >>>> belgian
Camp Electronique electronic,synthpop, dance >>> finland

25.03.09
Desgavell ska, catala, reggae, valencian music >>> spain
An Danzza medieval, folk, celtic, fantasy, renaissance >>> ?
七瀬光 anime, soundtrack, instrumental >>> japan
Сергей Лазарев pop, dance, russian pop >>> russia
Municipale Balcanica balkan, klezmer, gypsy, folk >>>italy


27.03.09
The Kleptones mashup, hiphop, 50 cent, flaming >>>>???
Versailles visual kei, symphonic metal, j-rock, >> japan
SFIAS experimental, noise, avant-garde, psychedelic >>> ???
Vate electronic, electronica, ambient >>>mexican
Kimza International lounge, house, electronica >>> japan

28.03.09
Today only one artist with the background of this days
DoubleUIM jazz, lounge, funk, central point, soundtrack >>> netherlands


29.03.09
Ilario Vannucchi didgeridoo, didjeridoo, yrdaki, aborigeno >>> australia
Muzyka Końca Lata rock, polish, alternative, alternative rock >>> poland
Eggmore Blues Gang blues ... >>> ?

23.04.09
Lost Ideals ska post punk >>> ?
Kreti och Pleti blandband favorit fildelning funny >>> sweden
Le Petit Mort electronic, gimmicdance, piratfest >>> danish
Sort Stue rap, roskilde 07, hiphop, hip-hop >>> danish
French Teen Idol post-rock, ambient, electronic >>>italy
Ryan Farish new age, ambient, electronica, piano, jazz >>> america


28.05.09
Бурдон folk, ethnic, ethno, folk rock >>> ukraine
An Danzza medieval, folk, celtic, fantasy, renaissance >>>

28.10.09
Today a little bit "dark cabaret, cabaret" music
VERA BAXTER dark cabaret, cabaret, gotic >>> argentina
Frater Chaovsky and the God Fearing Mongrels dark cabaret >>> ?
Kitten On The Keys cabaret, circus >>>>
Peter Mamchich cabaret , alternative pop >>>> ukraine



please give me a hint if you find other fine tunes to download
so i will add them here.


greetings with love
bernd]]>