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conflux

The Economist Napster�s wake-up call
"Napster�s success is significant for many reasons. It shows that online distribution of music is technically feasible; if record companies are not making greater use of the Internet, it is because they have chosen not to. They have, in fact, spent ages bickering over digital-rights management, and especially over producing a secure version of MP3 for online distribution as part of a �secure digital music initiative�. Their delays have merely left the field open to nimbler pirates."

"Most important, Napster shows that consumers find the idea of a huge online archive of recorded music very appealing. Since record companies have not provided it themselves, it has sprung up on its own. For many, if not all Napster users, its attraction lies as much in its convenience as in the fact that it is free. Indeed, according to one survey, more than half of college students who use Napster would be prepared to pay a monthly fee of $15 for a similar service. Evidently, there is much latent desire for online music-on-demand; yet the only way to satisfy it at present is to break the law. "

"There is thus a clear opportunity for a legal, commercial, universal jukebox service that could provide features that unofficial services such as Napster lack, on a subscription or pay-per-song basis. Switching to a new pricing model such as this might be painful (though online distribution would also cut costs). That is no doubt why record companies, reluctant to give up their huge margins, have been so glacially slow to respond to the Internet�s arrival. But that slowness is in turn why so many people are using Napster."

redux [05.13.00]
The Wall Street Journal Despite Lawsuit, Napster Offers A Model for Music Distribution
"...the record companies just don't get it. Like most entrenched interests facing a revolutionary business innovation, they are reacting to it purely as a threat, not as an opportunity. Even the few music companies that plan this year to put some name-brand music online are thinking of charging prohibitive amounts, like $2.50 a song, and building in all sorts of restrictions on usage.

Amazon.com, the biggest Web CD retailer, and RealNetworks, the biggest digital audio company, have told me in recent days that they stand ready to help the industry construct and manage an official version of Napster. Both are in Seattle. If I were a music executive, I'd be on the next plane there."

redux [03.25.00]
Salon Artists to Napster: Drop dead!
" Ask singer-songwriter Aimee Mann what she thinks of Napster, the ingeniously simple and wildly popular tool for exchanging MP3 music files, and you get a very concise response: "Artists should get paid for their work." It's a time-honored notion, but one that seems to be getting lost amid the Napster buzz."

Salon Courtney Love does the math
"Today I want to talk about piracy and music. What is piracy? Piracy is the act of stealing an artist's work without any intention of paying for it. I'm not talking about Napster-type software.

I'm talking about major label recording contracts.

"Since I've basically been giving my music away for free under the old system, I'm not afraid of wireless, MP3 files or any of the other threats to my copyrights. Anything that makes my music more available to more people is great."

redux [05.02.00]
Infoworld Napster sends a message to music industry: 'Your customers aren't happy'
"The Recording Industry Association of America wants to educate consumers with the message, "Artists deserve to be compensated -- artists won't make music if they can't make money." I can only imagine the public service announcements with multimillionaire artists pleading for their right to a seventh Porsche in the driveway. There's no rationalization for piracy; it is what it is. However, rampant music piracy online indicates that the music industry's distribution and pricing model is out of whack with what people want. The problem isn't the piracy; the problem is unhappy customers. And the music industry had better do something about it. This is a dinosaur moment -- with the big rock looming overhead -- where the music industry needs to ask itself how it will adapt."

MSNBC Napster holds talks with record labels to settle lawsuits
"Napster Inc. is in talks with the record industry to settle lawsuits that threaten to shut down the popular Internet music-sharing site next month.

�Someone has to pay the piper for what has happened,� the participant in the Napster talks said."

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