Last.fm Launches Developer Gallery; Pumps FriendFeed

Launched today, the Last.fm developers gallery will help users find more ways to extend the music service and will get developers excited about what could be created. The platform has been available for several years and the gallery will help highlight not current just third-party add-ons, but also new enhancements. This developer gallery could become a new source of revenue for Last.fm as well by highlighting sponsor add-ons.

Last.fm shared the following statistic which shows how powerful "platforms" can be, "Last.fm estimates that activity around third-party applications on other Web sites added 19 million music fans to its user base in January".

This comes a week after the launch of the "artist stream" which allows for fans to monitor their artists movements including upcoming tours, new music releases, etc.

In their release, Last.fm highlights three companies using the developer platform effectively: BBC, Skype and FriendFeed. "helps friends share all their online discoveries, and includes the ability to share Last.fm Loved Tracks."

Check out our Web 2.0 music roundup from last year.