This article is about the defunct pay service operating as Napster. For the defunct peer-to-peer music download software, see Napster. For the current service operated as Napster, see Napster (streaming music service).
Napster, commonly known as “Napster 2.0”,[2][3] was a music streaming service and digital music store, launched by Roxio in 2003 under the purchased name and trademarks of former free peer-to-peerfile sharing software Napster in the aftermath of the latter's 2002 bankruptcy and subsequent shut down after a series of legal actions taken by the RIAA.[4] Roxio purchased Napster and a music streaming service called PressPlay in 2003,[3] to create a new legal online music service that lets users access music through a subscription or on a fee-per-song basis. Napster was later acquired by Best Buy. The service was acquired by rival Rhapsody in 2011.
Roxio bought the assets of the original Napster company at its bankruptcyauction in 2002 and the online music service called pressplay in 2003, with the intention of using these assets as the basis of a new legal online music service which would let users access music through a subscription or on a fee-per-song basis. Roxio spent years revamping the company as a non-free online music service. This involved a great deal of management re-organization and the start of a new business model. Roxio spent years developing a network of business partners and relationships to ensure success for their new enterprise.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]
Soon after launching the revamped Napster, Roxio partnered with Korean electronics maker Samsung to create a Napster-branded MP3 player. The player, named Samsung Napster YP-910 came with a 20GB hard disk that ran for ten hours on a lithium-polymer battery. It used a special version of Napster software and drivers to transfer DRM-protected files to the built-in hard disk.[18]
Free Napster
In May 2006, Napster launched Free Napster. (via the URL http://free.napster.com/) It was a free, advertising-supported Web-based music player that enabled U.S. Napster users to stream full-length versions of all the songs in Napster's catalog of over 8 million tracks three times each, without downloading any software or making any service commitment. Visitors could also purchase DRM-free MP3 downloads. It was discontinued in March 2010.
As a Best Buy company
In 2008 Best Buy decided to enter the digital music market after introducing its Insignia line of MP3 players in the hopes of leveraging Napster's network to reach new consumers.[19] Stiff competition with iTunes, Amazon MP3 and MySpace Music seriously threatened Napster's relevance and by 2008 the company was recording millions of dollars in losses for the second year in a row.[20] Napster was formerly headed by Chris Gorog who served as Chairman and CEO, Bradford D. Duea who served as President and Christopher Allen who served as Chief Operating Officer. On January 6, 2010, Gorog and Duea stepped down from their positions. In an interview, Gorog stated that "After we understood the approach Best Buy was taking with Napster, it became clear the company didn't need a CEO, a president and a COO going forward".[21] Allen assumed the position of "General Manager," reporting to Chris Homeister, Best Buy's senior vice president of merchandising entertainment.[22][23]
The company was acquired by Rhapsody, another streaming and download service, in 2011. On July 14, 2016, Rhapsody formally changed its name to Napster, joining the 33 countries where it already operated as Napster to form one global brand.[24][25]
Services
Napster, the basic subscription tier, offers unlimited listening for $5–7 per month (£10 per month in the UK). US members may also purchase DRM-free MP3 downloads at a discount. Napster also offers an MP3 store, a pay-per-track store which does not require a monthly subscription fee.
Napster To Go, the company's portable subscription tier, allowed unlimited transfer of music for $8–10 per month (£8 per month in the UK). This service was discontinued after the takeover by Rhapsody.
Napster's mobile music service Napster Mobile enables users to search and browse Napster’s music catalog and preview, purchase and play songs on their mobile handset through an integrated music player.
^^ As of the 2006 fiscal year, the last year Real broke out dedicated Rhapsody subscriber numbers.
^^ Vance, Ashlee (November 7, 2003). "Penn State students revolt against Napster, DRM invasion". The Register.
^^ Napster, Inc (July 19, 2004). Global Napster Expands University Program with the Addition of Six Schools. Press Release.
^^ Viega, Alex (January 25, 2006). "Napster denies rumors of trouble amid layoffs". San Jose Mercury News.
^^ White, Michael (September 18, 2006). "Napster Hires UBS to Evaluate Possible Company Sale". Bloomberg.
^^ Hessaldahl, Arik (September 19, 2006). "A Needy Napster Searches for Takers". Business Week.
^Wiley, M. (October 9, 2003). "Samsung Napster YP-910GS". IGN.
^"Best Buy To Acquire Napster". TechCrunch. September 15, 2008.
^Skilling's, Jon (September 15, 2008). "Best Buy nabs Napster for $121 million". CNET.
^Q&A: Napster ex-CEO Chris Gorog by Antony Bruno, January 19, 2010
^Former Napster CEO’s “Dream” More of a Nightmare When You Really Think About It by John Paczkowski, January 6, 2010
^^ Dignan, Larry (September 15, 2008). "Best Buy acquires Napster; Eyes digital music distribution".
^"Rhapsody rebrands itself as Napster because ¯\_(ツ)_/¯". The Verge. 2016-06-14. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
^. Archived from the original on 2016-11-13. Retrieved 2017-01-15.
External links
Official website
March 12, 2023
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This article is about the defunct pay service operating as Napster For the defunct peer to peer music download software see Napster For the current service operated as Napster see Napster streaming music service Napster commonly known as Napster 2 0 2 3 was a music streaming service and digital music store launched by Roxio in 2003 under the purchased name and trademarks of former free peer to peer file sharing software Napster in the aftermath of the latter s 2002 bankruptcy and subsequent shut down after a series of legal actions taken by the RIAA 4 Roxio purchased Napster and a music streaming service called PressPlay in 2003 3 to create a new legal online music service that lets users access music through a subscription or on a fee per song basis Napster was later acquired by Best Buy The service was acquired by rival Rhapsody in 2011 Napster LLCTypeSubsidiaryIndustryOnline musicPredecessorpressplayFoundedMarch 2003 20 years ago 2003 03 DefunctNovember 2011 2011 November FateAcquired by Rhapsody International Inc HeadquartersLos Angeles California United StatesKey peopleMike Davis CEO 1 ProductsNapsterNapster to GoNapster MP3 StoreRevenue 111 08 million USD FY 2007 Net income 36 83 million USD FY 2007 Number of employees138 2007 ParentBest Buy 2008 2011 Roxio 2003 2008 Websitewww wbr napster wbr com Contents 1 History 1 1 As a Roxio subsidiary 1 1 1 Napster MP3 player 1 1 2 Free Napster 1 2 As a Best Buy company 1 3 Purchase by Rhapsody 2 Services 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditNapster Napster 5 0 betaDeveloper s Napster Inc Stable release4 6 3 4 August 31 2010 12 years ago 2010 08 31 Preview release5 0 2012 11 years ago 2012 Operating systemMicrosoft Windows Mac OS X Linux Wii UTypeMedia playerLicenseDRM free MP3 WMAWebsiteNapster comAs a Roxio subsidiary Edit Roxio bought the assets of the original Napster company at its bankruptcy auction in 2002 and the online music service called pressplay in 2003 with the intention of using these assets as the basis of a new legal online music service which would let users access music through a subscription or on a fee per song basis Roxio spent years revamping the company as a non free online music service This involved a great deal of management re organization and the start of a new business model Roxio spent years developing a network of business partners and relationships to ensure success for their new enterprise 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Napster MP3 player Edit Further information Samsung YEPP YP 910 Soon after launching the revamped Napster Roxio partnered with Korean electronics maker Samsung to create a Napster branded MP3 player The player named Samsung Napster YP 910 came with a 20GB hard disk that ran for ten hours on a lithium polymer battery It used a special version of Napster software and drivers to transfer DRM protected files to the built in hard disk 18 Free Napster Edit In May 2006 Napster launched Free Napster via the URL http free napster com It was a free advertising supported Web based music player that enabled U S Napster users to stream full length versions of all the songs in Napster s catalog of over 8 million tracks three times each without downloading any software or making any service commitment Visitors could also purchase DRM free MP3 downloads It was discontinued in March 2010 As a Best Buy company Edit In 2008 Best Buy decided to enter the digital music market after introducing its Insignia line of MP3 players in the hopes of leveraging Napster s network to reach new consumers 19 Stiff competition with iTunes Amazon MP3 and MySpace Music seriously threatened Napster s relevance and by 2008 the company was recording millions of dollars in losses for the second year in a row 20 Napster was formerly headed by Chris Gorog who served as Chairman and CEO Bradford D Duea who served as President and Christopher Allen who served as Chief Operating Officer On January 6 2010 Gorog and Duea stepped down from their positions In an interview Gorog stated that After we understood the approach Best Buy was taking with Napster it became clear the company didn t need a CEO a president and a COO going forward 21 Allen assumed the position of General Manager reporting to Chris Homeister Best Buy s senior vice president of merchandising entertainment 22 23 Purchase by Rhapsody Edit Main article Napster streaming music service The company was acquired by Rhapsody another streaming and download service in 2011 On July 14 2016 Rhapsody formally changed its name to Napster joining the 33 countries where it already operated as Napster to form one global brand 24 25 Services EditNapster the basic subscription tier offers unlimited listening for 5 7 per month 10 per month in the UK US members may also purchase DRM free MP3 downloads at a discount Napster also offers an MP3 store a pay per track store which does not require a monthly subscription fee Napster To Go the company s portable subscription tier allowed unlimited transfer of music for 8 10 per month 8 per month in the UK This service was discontinued after the takeover by Rhapsody Napster s mobile music service Napster Mobile enables users to search and browse Napster s music catalog and preview purchase and play songs on their mobile handset through an integrated music player See also EditWindows Media Player Streaming media DRM Online music store MusicStation Comparison of media playersReferences Edit Napster Napster Management Napster Homepage Napster Archived from the original on December 25 2003 a b Viksnins Rebecca October 8 2004 Napster 2 0 Review CNET Porno company offers to buy Napster CNET CNET Networks September 12 2002 Penn State and Napster team up to make legal tunes available to students Archived 2006 04 09 at the Wayback Machine FairUse4WM strips Windows Media DRM How To Steal Music Sort Of Audio extravaganza Do the Math advertisement TMO reports As of January 18 2006 See press release As of the 2006 fiscal year the last year Real broke out dedicated Rhapsody subscriber numbers Vance Ashlee November 7 2003 Penn State students revolt against Napster DRM invasion The Register Napster Inc July 19 2004 Global Napster Expands University Program with the Addition of Six Schools Press Release Viega Alex January 25 2006 Napster denies rumors of trouble amid layoffs San Jose Mercury News White Michael September 18 2006 Napster Hires UBS to Evaluate Possible Company Sale Bloomberg Hessaldahl Arik September 19 2006 A Needy Napster Searches for Takers Business Week Wiley M October 9 2003 Samsung Napster YP 910GS IGN Best Buy To Acquire Napster TechCrunch September 15 2008 Skilling s Jon September 15 2008 Best Buy nabs Napster for 121 million CNET Q amp A Napster ex CEO Chris Gorog by Antony Bruno January 19 2010 Former Napster CEO s Dream More of a Nightmare When You Really Think About It by John Paczkowski January 6 2010 Dignan Larry September 15 2008 Best Buy acquires Napster Eyes digital music distribution Rhapsody rebrands itself as Napster because ツ The Verge 2016 06 14 Retrieved 2020 04 04 Rhapsody is Becoming Napster Napster Music News Archived from the original on 2016 11 13 Retrieved 2017 01 15 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Napster pay service amp oldid 1129921166, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
