Does Apple Music work on scrobble?

What is Scrobble and Last.fm?

Scrobble is a feature that tracks music listening and sends it to Last.fm (https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-is-last-fm-scrobbling). It allows Last.fm to keep a record of what music you listen to. The term “scrobble” was invented by Last.fm as a way to describe this tracking process. Whenever you listen to a song, your music player or streaming app “scrobbles” it, meaning it sends the track name to Last.fm.

Last.fm is an online music service that records your listening history through scrobbling. It takes the data from your scrobbles and uses it to provide personalized recommendations and customized radio stations based on your taste. You can create profiles on Last.fm to connect with other users who have similar music interests and see detailed statistics about your listening habits.

Does Apple Music Have Scrobble Support?

Apple Music does not natively support scrobbling to Last.fm or other scrobbling services. Unlike Spotify, Apple Music lacks built-in integration to track listening data and scrobble it to Last.fm (source: https://www.reddit.com/r/lastfm/comments/af0ukb/scrobbling_on_apple_music/).

To enable scrobbling from Apple Music, you need to use a third party app or service. This is because Apple does not allow access to Apple Music listening data through its official APIs (source: https://www.last.fm/about/trackmymusic). Third party scrobbling apps and services use various workarounds to “listen in” on your Apple Music activity and scrobble it.

How to Connect Apple Music and Last.fm

There are a couple different ways to connect Apple Music to Last.fm for scrobbling:

Using a scrobbler app like Eavescrob is one of the easiest options. Eavescrob runs in the background on your iPhone or iPad and detects what you’re listening to in Apple Music, automatically scrobbling it to your Last.fm profile. Just download the app, connect your Last.fm account, and enable scrobbling for Apple Music in the settings. The app does require a small subscription fee but works seamlessly.

You can also scrobble Apple Music by using Stamp. This app connects Apple Music to your Last.fm account to track and submit everything you listen to. After linking accounts, Stamp will automatically detect songs in Apple Music and scrobble them. The app has a free version but the paid subscription unlocks additional features like vocals removal.

Pros of Scrobbling Apple Music

One of the biggest pros of scrobbling Apple Music to Last.fm is that it keeps track of your full listening history in one place. With scrobbling enabled, every song you listen to in Apple Music will automatically be added to your Last.fm profile. This allows you to keep a comprehensive record of everything you’ve listened to, even if you switch between different services like Spotify, YouTube, etc. According to a Reddit user, scrobbling gives you “better statistics on what you actually listen to rather than what you just play once in a while.”

Another major benefit is that scrobbling Apple Music helps Last.fm give you better personalized recommendations. As stated on Lifewire, Last.fm uses your scrobbling data to analyze your taste and suggest music you’ll like. The more you scrobble your Apple Music listens, the better Last.fm can tailor recommendations for your specific tastes. This can help you discover great new artists and songs you may have otherwise missed.

Cons of Scrobbling Apple Music

There are some downsides to consider when scrobbling Apple Music. One major issue is that using a third party scrobbler app can drain your battery life quicker than just using Apple Music normally. This is because the scrobbler app needs to constantly run in the background to detect your plays. According to discussions on Reddit, some users have noticed reduced battery life of 1-2 hours when scrobbling compared to not using a scrobbler ¹.

Another potential downside is privacy concerns with sending your listening data to third parties like Last.fm. While Last.fm states they don’t share personal listening data with advertisers, some users may still feel uncomfortable sharing their full listening history and habits with an external service they don’t fully control ². This highlights the privacy trade-off that comes with scrobbling Apple Music.

Scrobbler App Options

There are a few scrobbler apps available for iOS that can help connect Apple Music to Last.fm:

Eavescrob

Eavescrob (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/eavescrob-scrobble-last-fm/id511424221) is a popular free scrobbler app for iOS. It can scrobble music from Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube and more. Some key features include:

Automatic background scrobbling
Manual scrobbling and “Now Playing” updates

Love/ban tracks and albums
View recent tracks and profile stats

TrackMyMusic

TrackMyMusic (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/trackmymusic-scrobbler-last-fm/id1469950852) is another free scrobbler option for iOS. Highlights include:

Scrobbles from Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, Pandora and more
Scrobbles in the background when the app is closed
Fast and lightweight app

View scrobbles history and stats

QuietScrob

QuietScrob (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/quietscrob-last-fm-scrobbler/id741599377) is a simple, yet powerful $3 scrobbler designed just for Apple Music. Key features:

Designed solely for scrobbling Apple Music

Scrobbles in the background
Love/ban songs
View profile and charts

These are just a few of the top scrobbler apps available for connecting Apple Music and Last.fm on iOS devices.

Tips for Scrobbling Apple Music

Here are some tips to help ensure your Apple Music plays properly scrobble to Last.fm:

Allow background app refresh – Make sure background app refresh is enabled for both the Apple Music app and your scrobbling app like Eavescrob. This allows the app to continue scrobbling when not actively in use.

Check scrobbler app permissions – Ensure the scrobbling app has permission to access your media and Apple Music. On iOS, check the app’s permissions in Settings > Privacy > Media & Apple Music.

Troubleshoot connection issues – If scrobbling stops working, try reconnecting, logging out and back in, or reinstalling the scrobbler app. Check that your devices and apps are updated. Restarting your device can also help.

For more reliable scrobbling, use a dedicated third party app like Eavescrob rather than relying on the mobile Last.fm app. Be patient when starting to scrobble a new app or device. Test that scrobbling works by checking your Last.fm profile after listening to a few tracks.

Last.fm Subscription Options

Last.fm offers both free and paid subscription options. The free account provides basic features like creating playlists, cataloging music, and viewing song recommendations. However, advanced features require a paid subscription.

Last.fm’s paid subscription is called Last.fm Pro. It costs $3 per month or $30 per year, with two months free for annual subscriptions (source). Last.fm Pro unlocks the following key features:

Viewing detailed monthly listening reports

Editing scrobbles
Changing your username
Accessing advanced stats

Viewing “Blasts from the Past” (rediscovering old tracks)
Accessing historical listening reports

The paid Pro subscription primarily appeals to hardcore music fans who want deeper analytics and historical data. Casual listeners may find the free account sufficient. Overall, Last.fm Pro adds more customization options and a visual history of your music (source).

Alternatives to Scrobbling

While scrobbling Apple Music via Last.fm is a popular option, there are some alternatives worth considering:

Apple Music Replay

Apple Music Replay is a built-in feature that provides insights into your listening habits over the past year. It shows your top songs, artists, albums and playlists. This can provide similar stats to scrobbling services without needing any third-party apps or integrations. However, it only updates on an annual basis rather than in real-time like scrobbling. See: Apple Music Replay

Manual Song Logging

You can manually log each song you listen to using a spreadsheet or notebook. While this takes effort, it gives you full control to track stats however you like. Popular online services like Last.fm and snd.wave make logging and analyzing your data easier.

Shared Playlists

Creating shared playlists with friends can provide insights into mutual listening habits and music tastes without formal scrobbling. Compare your “Top 25 Most Played” playlists or create collaborative “songs of the month” mixes.

Summary

To recap, Apple Music does have scrobble support to connect with Last.fm and track your listening stats. However, it requires using a third-party scrobbling app and doesn’t natively support scrobbling your Apple Music plays to Last.fm.

The benefits of scrobbling Apple Music to Last.fm include being able to keep comprehensive records of your listening habits, discover personalized music recommendations, and showcase your favorite artists. Limitations include potential inaccuracies in scrobble tracking and having to rely on a third-party app that may not always work perfectly.

To set up scrobbling for Apple Music, you need to download an app like Eavescrob, Web Scrobbler, or Lastify. Connect your Last.fm account in the app settings, then enable scrobbling for Apple Music. The app will automatically send your Apple Music plays to your Last.fm profile. Some troubleshooting may be required if scrobbles are missing or inaccurate.