Founders of the stellar music social network Last.fm have announced they will be leaving the company, two years after it was acquired by CBS. The note on the Last.fm blog promises nothing but a bright future for the site, proclaiming “Recent product releases such as the new visual radio, and the Last.fm on XBox announcement, are an indication of how much more Last.fm will achieve.”

We hope the changing of the guard doesn’t affect Last.fm’s cavalier and inventive spirit. This announcement follows recent accusations of the company providing private user data to the RIAA for its anti-piracy efforts. Hit the jump for the original message.

Message from the Last.fm founders, Felix, RJ and Martin
Wednesday, 10 June 2009

After two years running Last.fm within CBS we feel the time is right to begin the process of handing over the reins. This is the latest stage in a long journey for us founders, which began in a living room in East London in 2002, and took us to the headquarters of one of the biggest media companies in the world.

It’s been a privilege working with the incredible team here in our London office, and we’re extremely proud of what we’ve achieved together. Last.fm’s users have more than doubled in the last 12 months (we are now at an all-time high of 37.3M monthly unique visitors), and we’re confident the site will continue to go from strength to strength. Being a part of CBS, and the recently formed CBSi music group, continues to open up many opportunities for Last.fm. Recent product releases such as the new visual radio, and the Last.fm on XBox announcement, are an indication of how much more Last.fm will achieve.

A huge “Thank You!” has to be said to all of you in front of your computers. With your contribution, enthusiasm and scrobbles you have helped to make Last.fm into what it is today: the best place for music online. Big up yourself for that, as we say here in East London.

That’s all folks, we are going to miss you!

Felix, RJ and Martin