Last.fm is a popular music platform that allows users to track their listening habits and discover new artists. One of its key features is scrobbling, which automatically records the songs you listen to and adds them to your profile. While scrobbling is great for music, it can be frustrating when it starts tagging podcasts in your music library. If you're wondering how to keep Last.fm from scrobbling podcasts, you've come to the right place. This article will delve into the reasons why podcasts get scrobbled, provide you with detailed instructions on how to prevent this from happening, and offer alternative methods to track your podcast listening.
Why Does Last.fm Scrobble Podcasts?
Last.fm primarily focuses on music, and its algorithm often struggles to differentiate between music and other audio formats like podcasts. This can lead to podcasts being scrobbled, which can be confusing and inaccurate for your music library. There are a few possible reasons why Last.fm might be scrobbling your podcasts:
- Podcast metadata: Some podcast apps or websites might not include proper metadata tags that clearly identify the content as a podcast. This can make it difficult for Last.fm to recognize the difference between a podcast and a music track.
- Podcast format: Podcasts are often in audio formats like MP3 or AAC, which are also commonly used for music. This lack of distinction can cause Last.fm to misidentify podcasts as music.
- Scrobbling settings: Your Last.fm scrobbling settings might be too broad, allowing the platform to scrobble all audio files you play, including podcasts.
How to Stop Last.fm From Scrobbling Podcasts
Here are some steps you can take to prevent Last.fm from scrobbling podcasts:
1. Configure Your Last.fm Scrobbling Settings
- Adjust scrobbling filters: Most Last.fm clients offer settings to filter what gets scrobbled. Look for options like "Scrobble music only" or "Ignore specific genres" and adjust them to exclude podcasts.
- Disable scrobbling for specific apps: Some music players allow you to selectively disable scrobbling for certain apps, like podcast apps. This ensures that only music from designated sources gets scrobbled.
2. Use Podcast-Specific Tracking Tools
- Dedicated podcast apps: Many popular podcast apps offer built-in tracking features that allow you to track your podcast listening history without relying on Last.fm. These apps typically provide detailed statistics about your listening habits, including episodes listened to, time spent listening, and favorite podcasts.
- Specialized podcast tracking services: There are websites and services dedicated to tracking podcast listening. These tools often offer advanced features like episode-level tracking, recommendations based on your preferences, and social sharing of your listening habits.
3. Manually Adjust Your Last.fm History
- Remove scrobbled podcasts: If you find that podcasts have already been scrobbled to your Last.fm profile, you can manually remove them. This option is available through your Last.fm account settings and allows you to clean up your library by removing any unwanted scrobbles.
Alternative Ways to Track Podcast Listening
If you're not satisfied with Last.fm's handling of podcasts, you can explore alternative methods to track your podcast listening:
- Podcast app listening history: As mentioned earlier, many podcast apps keep a record of your listening history, providing a detailed view of your podcast consumption.
- Spreadsheet or notebook: For a simple approach, you can manually track your podcast listening in a spreadsheet or notebook. This allows for a customized approach to tracking your podcast preferences.
Conclusion
While Last.fm excels at music tracking, it's not always perfect at identifying and handling podcasts. By understanding the reasons why podcasts get scrobbled and following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your Last.fm profile reflects your music listening habits accurately, free from unwanted podcast entries. Whether you choose to adjust your settings, use podcast-specific tracking tools, or opt for alternative methods, finding a solution that suits your preferences and keeps your listening history clean is essential. Remember to adjust your Last.fm scrobbling settings to prevent future podcasts from being scrobbled, and explore the various options available to track your podcast listening in a way that aligns with your needs.
