# Last.fm API: Get artist

> Looks up a Last.fm artist by name and returns listening statistics, profile, top tracks and albums, similar artists, and upcoming events.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Last.fm.

- Page: https://fous.com/methods/last.fm/get-artist
- Method: `last.fm/get_artist`, version 1
- Website: last.fm
- Returns: artist name, listeners, scrobbles, genre tags, bio, top tracks, top albums, similar artists, upcoming events
- Effect: read (it gets data and changes nothing)
- Sign-in: none needed
- Cost: 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free
- Verified: Nov 2, 2026

## Inputs

| Field | Type | Required | In the run below | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `artist` | string | yes | `"The xx"` | Artist or band name, such as Taylor Swift. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `12` | Maximum items in each top tracks, top albums, and similar artists list, such as 10. Default 10. |

## Output

From a run on Oct 23, 2026, shortened. Its input:

```json
{
  "artist": "The xx",
  "max_results": 12
}
```

Its output:

```json
{
  "link": "https://www.last.fm/music/The%20xx",
  "artist": "The xx",
  "short_bio": "The xx are an English alternative rock band from Wandsworth, London, formed in 2005. The band consists of Romy Madley Croft (guitar, vocals), Oliver Sim (bass guitar, vocals), Jamie Smith, also known as Jamie xx (beats, MPC, record production), and formerly Baria Qureshi (keyboard, guitar).",
  "genre_tags": [
    "indie",
    "electronic",
    "british"
  ],
  "image_link": "https://lastfm-img.freetls.fastly.net/i/u/ar0/45cdc7157b9241f3855e81348c194842.jpg",
  "top_albums": [
    {
      "link": "https://www.last.fm/music/The+xx/xx",
      "rank": 1,
      "title": "xx",
      "listener_count": 2106471
    },
    {
      "link": "https://www.last.fm/music/The+xx/Coexist",
      "rank": 2,
      "title": "Coexist",
      "listener_count": 1011872
    },
    {
      "link": "https://www.last.fm/music/The+xx/I+See+You",
      "rank": 3,
      "title": "I See You",
      "listener_count": 462844
    }
  ],
  "top_tracks": [
    {
      "link": "https://www.last.fm/music/The+xx/_/Intro",
      "rank": 1,
      "title": "Intro",
      "listener_count": 1665392
    },
    {
      "link": "https://www.last.fm/music/The+xx/_/Crystalised",
      "rank": 2,
      "title": "Crystalised",
      "listener_count": 1403472
    },
    {
      "link": "https://www.last.fm/music/The+xx/_/Islands",
      "rank": 3,
      "title": "Islands",
      "listener_count": 1203669
    }
  ],
  "listener_count": 2803528,
  "scrobble_count": 189821286,
  "similar_artists": [
    {
      "link": "https://www.last.fm/music/Oliver+Sim",
      "name": "Oliver Sim"
    },
    {
      "link": "https://www.last.fm/music/Lykke+Li",
      "name": "Lykke Li"
    },
    {
      "link": "https://www.last.fm/music/alt-J",
      "name": "alt-J"
    }
  ],
  "upcoming_events": [
    {
      "city": "Mexico City",
      "date": "2026-11-20",
      "link": "https://www.last.fm/festival/5023242+Corona+Capital+2026",
      "venue": "Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez",
      "country": "Mexico",
      "event_name": "Corona Capital 2026"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Run it

From code, with a Fous API key in `FOUS_API_KEY`; the answer's `data` holds the output:

```bash
curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"method":"last.fm/get_artist","input":{"artist":"The xx","max_results":12}}'
```

From an AI agent connected to the Fous MCP server: its `run` with the same method and input. To connect one, give it `set up https://fous.com/SKILL.md`.

## Ask your agent

- How many listeners and scrobbles does Radiohead have on Last.fm?
- Show me the genre tags and bio for Fleetwood Mac, plus their top 15 tracks.
- What are the top albums and similar artists to Daft Punk? Give me up to 8 of each.
- Any upcoming concerts or events listed for Tame Impala?
- On last.fm, pull up Kendrick Lamar's profile with his top 20 songs and similar artists.

## Input schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "artist"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "artist": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Artist or band name, such as Taylor Swift."
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 10,
      "maximum": 50,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum items in each top tracks, top albums, and similar artists list, such as 10."
    }
  }
}
```

## Output schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "artist",
    "link",
    "image_link",
    "listener_count",
    "scrobble_count",
    "genre_tags",
    "short_bio",
    "top_tracks",
    "top_albums",
    "similar_artists",
    "upcoming_events"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "link": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "artist": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "short_bio": {
      "type": [
        "string",
        "null"
      ]
    },
    "genre_tags": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "string"
      }
    },
    "image_link": {
      "type": [
        "string",
        "null"
      ]
    },
    "top_albums": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "rank",
          "title",
          "listener_count",
          "link"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "link": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "rank": {
            "type": "integer"
          },
          "title": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "listener_count": {
            "type": [
              "integer",
              "null"
            ]
          }
        },
        "additionalProperties": false
      }
    },
    "top_tracks": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "rank",
          "title",
          "listener_count",
          "link"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "link": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "rank": {
            "type": "integer"
          },
          "title": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "listener_count": {
            "type": [
              "integer",
              "null"
            ]
          }
        },
        "additionalProperties": false
      }
    },
    "listener_count": {
      "type": [
        "integer",
        "null"
      ]
    },
    "scrobble_count": {
      "type": [
        "integer",
        "null"
      ]
    },
    "similar_artists": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "name",
          "link"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "link": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "name": {
            "type": "string"
          }
        },
        "additionalProperties": false
      }
    },
    "upcoming_events": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "date",
          "event_name",
          "venue",
          "city",
          "country",
          "link"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "city": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "date": {
            "type": "string",
            "format": "date"
          },
          "link": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "venue": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "country": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ]
          },
          "event_name": {
            "type": "string"
          }
        },
        "additionalProperties": false
      }
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false
}
```

## See more

- [Last.fm API: List similar artists](https://fous.com/methods/last.fm/list-similar-artists.md): Finds artists similar to a named artist on Last.fm, ordered by similarity. Similarity percentages are null because public pages do not show them.
- [Spotify API: Get artist](https://fous.com/methods/open.spotify.com/get-artist.md): Gets a Spotify artist's public profile from their name, artist link or ID: listeners, followers, world rank, top cities, popular tracks, latest release and release counts.
- [SoundCloud API: List artist tracks](https://fous.com/methods/soundcloud.com/list-artist-tracks.md): Lists a SoundCloud artist's public tracks in latest or SoundCloud popular order, with profile and track details. SoundCloud's popular list may contain fewer than 100 tracks (currently at most 30).
- [Apple API: Get artist](https://fous.com/methods/music.apple.com/get-artist.md): Gets an Apple Music artist profile by name or artist link. The profile includes the latest release, top songs and albums.
- [MusicBrainz API: Get artist by name](https://fous.com/methods/musicbrainz.org/get-artist.md): Looks up an artist or band on MusicBrainz by name, optionally narrowed by country, and returns reference details, recorded members, aliases, genres and official links.
- [Songkick API: Get artist tour dates](https://fous.com/methods/songkick.com/get-artist-tour-dates.md): Gets an artist's upcoming concerts and tour dates on Songkick, optionally filtered by country, with ticket links and start times when listed.
- [setlist.fm API: Get concert setlist](https://fous.com/methods/setlist.fm/get-concert-setlist.md): Get one artist's concert details and songs from setlist.fm by date or city. With only a city, returns the most recent matching concert there. Start times are local clock times because the pages do not supply a timezone.
- [Genius API: List an artist's songs](https://fous.com/methods/genius.com/list-artist-songs.md): Lists an artist's songs on Genius by popularity or newest release date, with featured artists, release dates, page views and song art. The artist can be given by name or by Genius artist link; dates or views may be unavailable.
- [All Last.fm methods](https://fous.com/methods/last.fm.md)