Last.fm Faces Backlash from BTS Fans Over Chart Changes
Last.fm has recently faced criticism from BTS fans, known as ARMYs, after the platform made changes to its daily charts. The charts displayed other artists in top positions, with no BTS tracks appearing prominently. Last.fm explained that the adjustments were made to prioritize unique listeners and combat manipulation in chart data, aiming to enhance chart accuracy by removing scrobbles identified as coming from bots. Consequently, BTS dropped from the number one spot to number 15 on the global top artists chart, despite having 4.46 billion lifetime scrobbles and around 2.5 million listeners on the site.
Following the changes, an X post shared screenshots from a Last.fm support forum thread titled "The K-pop Problem," where users and Last.fm team members discussed concerns over scrobble volumes from K-pop artists. The forum indicated that BTS and related artists might not be permanent fixtures on the charts page and trending tracks due to the update, with hopes to implement the changes before the release of the group's album ARIRANG.
In response to the alterations, ARMYs took various actions, including deleting their Last.fm accounts, uninstalling the app, and leaving one-star reviews on app stores. Platform ratings plummeted from 5 stars to as low as 2.4 on Apple and 2.8 on the Play Store. Users also shifted to alternative music tracking services like Musicat and Stats.fm, with some fans boycotting Last.fm and expressing their discontent on social media platforms.
Despite the backlash, Last.fm has not issued a new public statement regarding the situation. Users have reported difficulties with account deletion, experiencing delays or temporary issues in completing the process. The platform's ratings on app stores have dropped below 3 stars, with many users closing their accounts and switching to alternative services. Musicat acknowledged the influx of new users and technical challenges, while Stats.fm users mentioned limitations like manual sync requirements after a certain number of streams.
As the controversy continues, BTS is scheduled to perform at the Riyadh Metropolitan Stadium for their ARIRANG World Tour on June 26 and 27.