Frequently Asked Questions

bijou.fm is a music analytics service that brings your favorite music services together in one place. We integrate with:

• Last.fm - For detailed listening history
• Spotify - For playback and recommendations
• Apple Music - For seamless iOS integration

We offer multiple ways to access your music stats:

• iOS App - Our feature-rich mobile experience
• Apple TV App - Beautiful visualizations for your TV
• Web Interface - What you're using right now!

Learn more about our story and mission on our About page.

Spotify's algorithm for calculating top charts isn't fully transparent. While their documentation states it's "based on calculated affinity," the exact method remains unclear.

Since these calculations can sometimes differ from actual listening patterns, we recommend using Last.fm through Spotify for more accurate statistics. Last.fm tracks every play and provides a clear, verifiable record of your listening history.

Key differences:

1. Spotify's method - Uses proprietary algorithm
2. Last.fm's method - Counts actual plays

Yes, Last.fm is free to use with all core features included. They offer a Pro subscription that provides additional features like ad-free browsing, detailed listening reports, and early access to new features. The basic experience of tracking your music and viewing statistics remains completely free.

Currently, we don't have an Android version of bijou.fm, and it's not in our immediate plans. As a small team, we're focusing our resources on delivering the best possible experience for iOS, Apple TV, and web users.

While we understand this may disappoint some users, we believe it's better to excel on fewer platforms than to spread ourselves too thin. You can read more about our platform strategy on our About page.

We currently support iOS 16 and above.

On iOS, bijou.fm integrates with:

• Last.fm - For listening statistics
• Spotify - For playback and library access
• Apple Music - For seamless iOS integration
• Genius - For lyrics and song information

The Apple TV app and web versions currently support Last.fm integration, providing detailed insights into your listening habits. We continue to evaluate and develop new integrations to enhance the service across all platforms.

Check our About page for the latest updates on our service integrations.

Bijou Premium unlocks all features and charts across our platforms. As a solo developer project, your subscription directly supports continuous development, improvements, and new features. Premium members get access to enhanced tracking capabilities, detailed analytics, and early access to new features as they're released.

Widgets are currently available for Last.fm charts only. To add a widget:

1. Long press on your home screen until icons jiggle
2. Tap the + in the upper-left corner
3. Search for "bijou.fm"
4. Select and add your preferred widget size
5. Configure the widget by long-pressing it and selecting "Edit Widget"

Available Widgets

• Top Artists - Your most played artists
• Top Albums - Recent favorite albums
• Top Tracks - Most played songs
• Recent Tracks - Latest scrobbled songs

Supported Sizes

• Small - Shows top item with artwork
• Medium - Displays top 4 items
• Large - Shows top 8 items with detailed stats

All widgets automatically refresh in the background to keep your stats current. For best results, open the app periodically to ensure your data stays up to date.

Chart tracking is a feature that monitors your music charts for changes in the background. It uses iOS notifications to keep you updated on changes in your tracked charts. The frequency of updates is managed by iOS based on how often you use the app - regular app usage ensures more timely tracking updates. To maintain consistent tracking, it's recommended to open the app periodically.

The badge number on the app icon shows the number of tracks you have scrobbled since you last opened the app. This helps you keep track of your listening activity even when not actively using the app.