Napster claims launch of world's largest MP3 store
In a direct challenge to Apple's dominant iTunes Store, music subscription service provider Napster on Tuesday launched a new a la carte download service filled with DRM-free tracks that are compatible with both the iPod and iPhone.
With 6 million songs, the new offering is billed as "more than 50 percent larger than any other MP3 store" and not only the "largest major label MP3 catalog in the industry, but also the largest library of independent music available anywhere."
Apple's iTunes also boasts a catalog of over 6 million songs, but tracks from the service are served up in AAC format (not MP3) and only a fraction of those are offered free of copy restrictions by record label EMI.
Other labels have thus far refused to make their catalogs available on iTunes in DRM-free format, and have instead offered that courtesy to competitive services like Amazon MP3 in an effort to curb Apple's stronghold on the market for legal downloads. However, there's little indication the strategy is paying off for the labels.
Last month, iTunes showed no sign of wear as it out-muscled Wal-Mart to to become the number one music retailer in the US with a 19 percent share. At the same time, data from Nielsen SoundScan suggests the download service also maintained a commanding lead as an online retailer, with over a 85 percent share of the market in the US and more than 50 million customer accounts.
Meanwhile, Amazon MP3, which now stands as the world's second-largest DRM-free MP3 service behind Napster, recently placed a distant fourth in the overall retail rankings, having captured just a 6 percent share of the market.
Napster said pricing for downloads on its new service is set at 99 cents for single MP3 tracks and $9.95 for most MP3 albums -- about the same fees charged by iTunes. The majority of the catalog will be available at a high-quality 256kbps bitrate, and downloaded tracks will also include high-resolution album art, the company added.
The service, however, is not compatible with Apple's Safari web browser.
With 6 million songs, the new offering is billed as "more than 50 percent larger than any other MP3 store" and not only the "largest major label MP3 catalog in the industry, but also the largest library of independent music available anywhere."
Apple's iTunes also boasts a catalog of over 6 million songs, but tracks from the service are served up in AAC format (not MP3) and only a fraction of those are offered free of copy restrictions by record label EMI.
Other labels have thus far refused to make their catalogs available on iTunes in DRM-free format, and have instead offered that courtesy to competitive services like Amazon MP3 in an effort to curb Apple's stronghold on the market for legal downloads. However, there's little indication the strategy is paying off for the labels.
Last month, iTunes showed no sign of wear as it out-muscled Wal-Mart to to become the number one music retailer in the US with a 19 percent share. At the same time, data from Nielsen SoundScan suggests the download service also maintained a commanding lead as an online retailer, with over a 85 percent share of the market in the US and more than 50 million customer accounts.
Meanwhile, Amazon MP3, which now stands as the world's second-largest DRM-free MP3 service behind Napster, recently placed a distant fourth in the overall retail rankings, having captured just a 6 percent share of the market.
Napster said pricing for downloads on its new service is set at 99 cents for single MP3 tracks and $9.95 for most MP3 albums -- about the same fees charged by iTunes. The majority of the catalog will be available at a high-quality 256kbps bitrate, and downloaded tracks will also include high-resolution album art, the company added.
The service, however, is not compatible with Apple's Safari web browser.
Comments
It may have the largest number of DRM free tracks but the user experience will still be crap.
No one will ever use it.
not only does it not work with Safari but it also does not work with Macs or iPods.
How will Napster Mp3s not work with iPods?
'Dominant' or preferably 'predominant' not "dominate" in the first line surely.
Their use of the word is correct.
Remember when we used to download songs together? Remember the hours I spent browsing with your crude version 1.0 interface? Man, things were sweet back then.
I'm writing because I need to tell you something, and I'm sorry but there's no other way to say it than to be blunt: You had a great ride for a few years, but it's a new world now. Things have changed. I think it's time for you to start thinking about retirement.
Look, old friend, I'm not saying it out of iTunes allegiance -- I don't even really like iTunes -- I'm saying because... well... because you're embarrassing yourself. It's hard for me to say it, it really is, but I think you should quit while you still have some dignity left.
But chin-up, dear friend, you will always have a very fond place in my heart. I'll still visit you every once in a while for nostalgia's sake.
Until next we meet,
your pal,
-Clive
Dear Napster, my friend....
Your letter is certainly telling of the people the labels intend to pull into their anti-iTunes fold. There is a sense of nostalgia and familiarity with downloading music from Napster that Amazon doesn't have. I'm not sure if it will work, but this is a great strategic step.
How will Napster Mp3s not work with iPods?
He is talking about the store not the songs.
Not only is there service unaccessible to Safari - most of the site is! I can't even download the Napster App on OS X (goodness only knows why a company would check OS to prevent download of an app - failure to run is surely guard enough against that, and surely I'd never be tempted to try it in VMWare/Parallels).
The whole Napster site seems to be a big anti-iPod/iTunes campaign, I particualarly like the comparison on this page (http://www.napster.co.uk/using_napst...d_napster.html) - hmm nearly $8k to to fill that old iPod, or a mere $15 a month for Napster - lies, damn lies and statistics! Did Napster's CEO get fired from an Apple Store or something in their youth? I can't see any reason why any self respecting business would go out of it's way to avoid mentioning it's DRM-free material works perfectly well on the market leading MP3 player.
The big 'No-iPod' sign is a nice touch too.
Me also smells a rat...Apparently (according the above page) - some iPod users still use Napster to listen to Natpster's 2,000,000 (yes, TWO million) songs on their PC....The classic anti-pod image tells us we can have our choice of 1,000,000 (yes, ONE million) songs to put a selection on our compatible MP3 player (no-ipods welcome of course), then there's the front page which advertises 5,000,000 songs and of course the latest bit of news, that full 6,000,000 songs DRM free of course (cos' that means Napster kicks iTunes, nahahah).
I'm still non the wiser just exactly how many tracks Naptster has on it's books, or why they'd choose to prevent me downloading an App I know I'm capable of running (based my browsing OS), or why they'd play down the fact that their DRM free music works on an iPod (I never trust businesses which seem to willingly turn away trade) or just why the hell Napster thinks it's still relevant.
Rant over. Sorry it went on a bit.
Ryan
It should of course be "Napster", not "Naspter".
But... Naspter, Raspter, who cares?
With 6 million songs, the new offering is billed as "more than 50 percent larger than any other MP3 store" and not only the "largest major label MP3 catalog in the industry, but also the largest library of independent music available anywhere.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
I thought the part I put in bold above is funny. Not only do they have more tracks but more tracks that the vast majority of the mainstream market will not download!
Hmm, not available outside the U.S, well, how could that be the worlds largest online music store? iTMS is available outside of the U.S
The article clearly states they are referring to quantity, not the sqaured land area of every country that has access.
Plus, they do a slightly shady?but completely true?marketing technique by referring to MP3s. That term is ubiquitous and colloquial enough to refer to any digital music player, but how many people will read that and know the difference?
Apple is probably biding its time for renegotiation with the music labels, then it will say "give us DRM-free tracks", labels say "no" and Apple hits them with a $2 Billion lawsuit for anti-trust and collusion for the restriction of fair competition. It will be a huge event in september. Then Apple can lower every product it sells by $100.
You can quote me on that!
Mad-elph
I thought the part I put in bold above is funny. Not only do they have more tracks but more tracks that the vast majority of the mainstream market will not download!
I guess that's funny, if you don't know how to read, or choose to ignore the line that came before it...