Software:Napster (pay service)
| File:NAPSTER.png | |
| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Online music |
| Fate | Acquired by Rhapsody International Inc. |
| Predecessor | pressplay |
| Founded | March 2003 |
| Defunct | November 2011 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Key people | Mike Davis, CEO[1] |
| Products | Napster Napster to Go Napster MP3 Store |
| Revenue |  $111.08 million United States dollar (FY 2007) |
 $36.83 million United States dollar (FY 2007) | |
Number of employees | 138 (2007) |
| Parent | Best Buy (2008–2011) Roxio (2003–2008) |
| Website | www |
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.
History
 Napster 5.0 beta | |
| Developer(s) | Napster, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 4.6.3.4
/ August 31, 2010 |
| Preview release | 5.0
/ 2012 |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Wii U |
| Type | Media player |
| License | DRM-free MP3, WMA |
| Website | Napster.com |
As a Roxio subsidiary
In 2002, Roxio bought the assets of the original Napster at its bankruptcy auction and acquired PressPlay in May 2003 for $40 million.[5] After integrating the services, Roxio launched a revamped Napster in October 2003, whereby users were able to download songs a-la-carte or pay for a monthly unlimited download and streaming media service.[6][7] Users were also able to share playlists and browse other users' libraries.[8]
Napster MP3 player
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.[9]
Free Napster
In May 2006, Napster launched Free Napster, a free, advertising-supported Web-based music player that enabled 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.[10][11] Visitors could also purchase DRM-free MP3 downloads. It was discontinued in March 2010.[12]
As a Best Buy company
In September 2008, after introducing its Insignia line of portable media players, Best Buy acquired Napster for $121 million. At that time, Napster was incurring significant losses due to new competition and had approximately 760,000 subscribers.[13][14][15] In January 2010, after losing subscribers, the CEO position, held by Chris Gorog, was eliminated.[16]
Purchase by Rhapsody
In 2011, the company was acquired by Rhapsody, which rebranded the combined application as Napster (streaming music service).[17][18]
See also
- Windows Media Player
- Streaming media
- DRM
- Online music store
- MusicStation
- Comparison of media players
References
- ↑ Napster: Napster Management.
- ↑ "Napster Homepage". Napster. http://www.napster.com.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Viksnins, Rebecca (October 8, 2004). "Napster 2.0 Review". CNET. https://www.cnet.com/reviews/napster-2-0-preview.
- ↑ "Porno company offers to buy Napster". CNET (CNET Networks). September 12, 2002. http://news.cnet.com/2100-1023-957784.html?tag=fd_top.
- ↑ "Roxio Buys Pressplay, Napster Lives". Wired. Associated Press. May 19, 2003. https://www.wired.com/2003/05/roxio-buys-pressplay-napster-lives/.
- ↑ "Roxio Sets Date for Napster Launch". The Wall Street Journal. October 9, 2003. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10657189516375100.
- ↑ "Roxio Reveals Details Of Retooled Napster". Billboard. October 10, 2003. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/roxio-reveals-details-of-retooled-napster-68716/.
- ↑ Viksnins, Rebecca (October 9, 2003). "Napster 2.0". CNET. https://www.cnet.com/reviews/napster-2-0-preview/.
- ↑ Wiley, M. (October 9, 2003). "Samsung Napster YP-910GS". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/09/samsung-napster-yp-910gs.
- ↑ "Napster Available For Download". Forbes. September 19, 2006. https://www.forbes.com/2006/09/19/napster-ubs-sale-tech-media-cx_rr_0919napster.html.
- ↑ Chmielewski, Dawn (September 19, 2006). "Napster Hires UBS to Explore a Possible Sale". Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-sep-19-fi-napster19-story.html.
- ↑ Greenfield, Rebecca (December 1, 2011). "Napster's Seven Lives Are Finished". The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/12/napsters-seven-lives-are-finished/334838/.
- ↑ "Best Buy To Acquire Napster". TechCrunch. September 15, 2008. https://techcrunch.com/2008/09/15/best-buy-to-acquire-napster/.
- ↑ Skillings, Jon (September 15, 2008). "Best Buy nabs Napster for $121 million". CNET. https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-buy-nabs-napster-for-121-million/.
- ↑ HANSELL, SAUL (September 15, 2008). "Best Buy Bails Out Failing Napster". The New York Times. https://archive.nytimes.com/bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/best-buy-bails-out-failing-napster/.
- ↑ Paczkowski, John (January 6, 2010). "Former Napster CEO’s “Dream” More of a Nightmare When You Really Think About It". All Things D. https://allthingsd.com/20100106/former-napster-ceo%E2%80%99s-dream-more-of-a-nightmare-when-you-really-think-about-it/.
- ↑ Popper, Ben (June 14, 2016). "Rhapsody rebrands itself as Napster because ¯\_(ツ)_/¯". The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/14/11936974/rhapsody-rebrands-as-napster.
- ↑ BISHOP, TODD (June 14, 2016). "Rhapsody will rebrand as Napster, creating ‘one global brand’ for longtime music service". GeekWire. https://www.geekwire.com/2016/rhapsody-rebrand-napster-u-s-creating-new-global-brand-longtime-music-service/.
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