AfterDawn: News

Napster opens the world's largest DRM-free MP3 store

Napster has opened their own music store to compete with Amazon and Apple. Their music store is said to boast more than 6 million songs, more than Amazon or Apple's iTunes. All files are downloadable in MP3 format and are DRM-free, which makes them compatible with most of the music players, including Apple iPod and iPhone.

Changing directions from the previous all-you-can-eat subscription, the company hopes that it will grow interest amongst the customers who want to transfer their favorite songs to portable media players. Napster's service has an edge against iTunes with DRM-free files and larger catalog, but analysts don't see it topping iTunes mainly because of Apple's strong integration of iTunes into their PMPs.



The selection of 6 million songs includes music from all major and thousands of indie labels. Most of the songs will cost 99 cents and albums start from $9,95.

Chris Gorog, Napster chief executive still believes that their all-you-can-eat plan will eventually win over the customers. "We believe ultimately that consumers will be moving to an unlimited music model," he said.

Written by: Matti Robinson @ 20 May 2008 8:07

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• 7 comments

• tgok

  I don't understand why companies don't realize that the only reason why people use itunes music store so much is because when they plug in their ipod it's all right there automatically. Any idiot can use their store with no problems. Add that to the fact that buying music from the itunes store automatically puts it in your itunes library, and you've erased another tiny obstacle for the average idiot and/or lazy guy who would have otherwise grabbed the music for free somewhere else.

  20.5.2008 13:48 #1

• iluvendo

  Average idiot/ and or lazy guy. Unfortunately this sums up the public quite well.
  

  If it wasnt for bad luck, Id have no luck!
  "The flimsier the product,the higher the price"
  Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition

  20.5.2008 20:53 #2

• 7thsinger

  I'll just watch from the sidelines, see how it goes.
  
  DRM free is certainly a big plus.

  20.5.2008 21:55 #3

• sssharp

  Amazon is drm free with much cheaper prices. Example 3 Doors Down newest .99 cents for the album, others I looked at starting at 6.99 for entire album.

  20.5.2008 22:37 #4

• jetyi83

  Originally posted by tgok: I don't understand why companies don't realize that the only reason why people use itunes music store so much is because when they plug in their ipod it's all right there automatically. Any idiot can use their store with no problems. Add that to the fact that buying music from the itunes store automatically puts it in your itunes library, and you've erased another tiny obstacle for the average idiot and/or lazy guy who would have otherwise grabbed the music for free somewhere else.that is why i never will buy an ipod, i absolutely hate itunes. terrible program, and even worse store.
  
  someone needs to develop a media library program that just dominates and takes over. When people finally get mp3 players that dont suck, they can just drag files off a hard drive onto the removable device.
  
  they should joint with google, and have google produce a media library software.

  23.5.2008 13:06 #5

• givenlee

  spam removed

  10.6.2008 03:33 #6

• FredBun

  Is this napster service on any particular site?

  11.6.2008 23:06 #7