Last.fm Integration: Better Similar Artists With One API Key

What the key changes

With a key configured, Last.fm supplies similar artists, trending artists, tag search and the top tracks flows use. Without one, those fall back to ListenBrainz plus MusicBrainz genres.

The practical difference is depth. ListenBrainz similarity skews towards popular artists, so a listener with deep, niche taste gets recommendations for names they have already heard of. Last.fm tends to surface the artists adjacent to the ones you actually play.

• No key: works immediately, broader and more mainstream results.
• Last.fm key: closer matches, and it becomes the source for tags and trends.
• Adding or removing the key rebuilds everyone's recommendations.

Per-user listening history

Each user chooses their own history provider in the profile: Local only, Last.fm, ListenBrainz or Koito. Aurral always uses the plays recorded inside itself and adds history from whichever provider is selected.

Changing provider rebuilds your recommendations, which is worth expecting rather than being surprised by. Local only is the private option, since nothing is sent anywhere.

Last.fm as an import source

The Last.fm tab offers three stations — Library, Mix and Recommended. Each import saves the username with the playlist so later syncs do not need it, and a synced station follows Last.fm as the station changes underneath.

This is a different use of Last.fm from the API key: the key powers recommendations, while the station import works with just a username.