Too Good To Last: Last.FM To Start Charging Feb. 15

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Get ready to open your wallets: Last.FM is going to start charging. While the streaming music and Internet radio service is still going to remain free on the website and and for US and UK users of Xbox Live, the company is going to charge for other devices that use the service on Feb. 15. Relax, it’s only going to set you back $3 a month.

“We believe our radio -whether it’s a personalised station or artist and tag radio – is the best in the world and we’re proud of the depth and range of our catalogue of music from major labels, indies and unsigned artists,” Last.FM posted on their blog. “We’re committed to building Last.fm into a bigger service that gives listeners the best music discovery experience anywhere while financially supporting and promoting the artists who make the music we love.”

Last.FM said the reason for the new fees is because while the website platform allows for an ad-supported model, it just doesn’t makes sense on smartphones, some gaming consoles and other home entertainment devices. Those who pay to play will not have to listen to commercials as a bonus. The other features like music and event recommendations, social networking, wiki-based artist pages and scrobbling will remain free. Here’s a list of the devices that will need a paid subscription:

  • Google Android – free app; subscription required for radio in US, UK and Germany
  • Apple iPhone – free app; subscription required for radio in US, UK and Germany
  • Microsoft X-Box Live (also with Kinect) – App free with X-Box Live Membership in US and UK
  • Microsoft Windows Mobile 7 – Free in 2011 in US and UK; subscription required for radio in Germany
  • All Logitech Squeezebox products – subscription required in US, UK and Germany
  • All Sonos products – Free until mid-summer 2011 for US, UK and Germany; subscription required thereafter
  • Revo AXiS, Ikon, Domino, Heritage – subscription required in US, UK and Germany
  • Roberts Stream 63i, 205, Colourstream, 83i – subscription required in US
  • M3 Muvid Products – subscription required in Germany
  • Teufel Audio Raumfeld – subscription required in UK and Germany
  • Selected Onkyo AV receivers – subscription required in US, UK and Germany
  • Denon and Marantz selected AV receivers – subscription required in UK and Germany

The company argues that other like-minded services have already made the move to paid content, and it only cost as much as one “fancy coffee” a month. Will you fork over the cash or migrate to a new service?

More on TIME.com:

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MOG: Confessions Of An Online Music Hater