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CBS Lets You Decide What's on the Radio

New site lets users play any song they want, for free

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 24, 2008 12:53 PM CST

(Newser) – CBS’ Last.fm used to be plain old Internet radio – you picked a station, and listened to whatever it streamed. That all changed yesterday, when the company announced its plan to let users listen to any song they wanted for free, a risky but potentially game-changing move that has the music industry nervous, the New York Times reports.

The music business so far has preferred to limit that kind of consumer freedom to subscription-based services like Rhapsody, but CBS is going with the old radio model, paying for everything with advertising. “I listen to the users, and the first thing users want is free streaming,” said CBS’ Interactive president. Music executives are watching carefully, worried the model won’t make economic sense.

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CBS Lets You Decide What's on the Radio

New site lets users play any song they want, for free

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More Newser Stories

Google Planning Music Store

Company aims to have service up before iTunes Match

And the New Top-Selling Digital Album Is ...?

Adele's 21 not your typical pop hit

Apple Teases Huge iTunes News

Could it be the death of the MP3?

Apple Widens Music Strategy, Buys Startup Lala

In case people get music from a cloud, not an iPod

Lily Allen Rode Piracy to Fame, But Now It's Not OK?

Singer ripped others' music for own mixes before she was a star

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CBS Lets You Decide What's on the Radio

New site lets users play any song they want, for free

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

music industry • CBS • digital music • Internet radio • streaming media

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Google Planning Music Store

Company aims to have service up before iTunes Match

And the New Top-Selling Digital Album Is ...?

Adele's 21 not your typical pop hit

Apple Teases Huge iTunes News

Could it be the death of the MP3?

Apple Widens Music Strategy, Buys Startup Lala

In case people get music from a cloud, not an iPod

Lily Allen Rode Piracy to Fame, But Now It's Not OK?

Singer ripped others' music for own mixes before she was a star

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?