Alcopop!

So it’s happened – and about time too! Another shot into the bows of major labels, popular online personal radio station Last FM has somehow coerced the powers that be into allowing people to listen to whatever the hell they like online – for free, Free, FREE! It’s all explained over on Mashable, but the long and short of it is that users will be able to play full-length tracks up to 3 times, at which point they will be asked to sign up for a new Last.fm subscription service, where they will be able to enjoy unlimited listening.

Yup, and the other good news for listeners, and I’d argue, independent labels like ourselves who rely on the hardcore music fans like you, is that advertising revenue will be generated and paid directly too said labels, to be passed onto the bands – thus doing that little bit to help those releasing genuinely brilliant music to people who know what they like. After all (and I perhaps sound like a naive advert now), I think Last FM is a great way of introducing music to real indie fans, who don’t mind paying a few quid to own that limited slab of vinyl, joining a dedicated singles club (ahem) or picking up a CD at a show sometime.

Of course – the major loser in this is potentially MySpace, which may see artists leave in droves when the cheques from Last FM start popping through the door – but with exposure being as important as it is, I personally doubt it’ll have that much impact. What it does mean though, is that the Alcopop Last FM page – managed by the majestic Coxy – is the place to be!