Napster (streaming service)

{{short description|Rhapsody music streaming service post-2016 rebranding}} {{About|the current service operated as Napster|the defunct peer-to-peer file-sharing software|Napster|the former service that operated as Napster|Napster (pay service)}} {{Infobox company | name = Napster | logo = Napster logo.svg | logo_caption = 2022 logo | former_name = Rhapsody {{smaller|(2001–03, 2004–16)}} RealOne Rhapsody {{smaller|(2003–04)}} RealRhapsody {{smaller|(2004)}} | predecessor = TuneTo.com {{smaller|(1999–2001)}} [[Napster (pay service)]] | industry = [[Music industry|Music]] [[Broadcasting]] | founded = {{start date and age|2001|12|3}} (as Rhapsody) | founder = [[Rob Reid]] | hq_location_city = Seattle, Washington | hq_location_country = United States | key_people = Jon Vlassopulos (CEO)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/napster-hires-roblox-former-global-head-of-music-jon-vlassopulos-as-ceo/|title=Napster hires Roblox former Global Head of Music, Jon Vlassopulos, as CEO|date=September 26, 2022|website=Music Business Worldwide}}</ref> | owner = Listen.com {{smaller|(2001–03)}} [[RealNetworks]] {{smaller|(2003–10)}} Rhapsody International, Inc. {{smaller|(2010–20)}} Napster Group PLC {{smaller|(2020–22)}}<ref name="VR">{{cite web|title=MelodyVR to Rebrand as Napster, new App Coming Q4 2021|url=https://www.gmw3.com/2021/02/melodyvr-to-rebrand-as-napster-new-app-coming-q4-2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702072109/https://www.gmw3.com/2021/02/melodyvr-to-rebrand-as-napster-new-app-coming-q4-2021/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 2, 2022|last=Graham|first=Peter|date=February 10, 2020|work=GMW3}}</ref> Hivemind {{smaller|(co-owner, 2022–25)}} [[Algorand]] {{smaller|(co-owner, 2022–25)}} Infinite Reality {{smaller|(2025–present)}} | area_served = {{collapsible list|title=33 countries<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.napster.com/availability|title=Napster: Music From Every Angle|website=Napster}}</ref>|titlestyle=font-weight:normal;font-size:normal;text-align:left| {{Unbulleted list|United States|Andorra|Argentina|Austria|Brazil|Canada|Chile|Colombia|Costa Rica|Denmark|Ecuador|El Salvador|Finland|France|Germany|Greece|Guatemala|Ireland|Italy|Luxembourg|Mexico|Monaco|Netherlands|Nicaragua|Norway|Panama|Peru|Portugal|Spain|Sweden|Switzerland|United Kingdom|Uruguay}} }} | brands = Napster | website = {{URL|https://us.napster.com/|napster.com}} }} '''Napster''' is a [[Streaming media|music streaming]] service based in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], [[United States]].

Until 2016, the service was known domestically as ''Rhapsody'' before rebranding as Napster, the same name brand that was used by [[Napster (pay service)|Roxio's Napster]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Popper |first=Ben |date=2016-06-14 |title=Rhapsody rebrands itself as Napster because ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/14/11936974/rhapsody-rebrands-as-napster |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=The Verge |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707004812/https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/14/11936974/rhapsody-rebrands-as-napster|archive-date=2016-07-07|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 25, 2025, it was sold to Infinite Reality.<ref name="InfiniteReality">{{Cite web |title=Infinite Reality Acquires Iconic Music Service Napster |url=https://www.theinfinitereality.com/news/infinite-reality-acquires-iconic-music-service-napster |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=www.theinfinitereality.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Overview== Napster started as an audio search engine named Aladdin that was purchased by Listen.com in May 2001 and became the basis for its new streaming service, called Rhapsody, that launched in December of the same year.

Based on the [[Open Music Model]] principles, Rhapsody was the first streaming on-demand music subscription service to offer unlimited access to a large library of digital music for a flat monthly fee. In August 2003, internet media company [[RealNetworks]], anticipating the launch of [[Apple Inc.|Apple's]] [[iTunes Store]], acquired Rhapsody.

On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody relaunched as a standalone company, separate from former parent RealNetworks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/04/kindalikeabigdeal.html |title=Rhapsody Announces Declaration From Parent Company RealNetworks |date=2010-04-06 |publisher=Rhapsody America LLC |access-date=2010-04-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409105142/http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/04/kindalikeabigdeal.html |archive-date=2010-04-09 }}</ref> On August 25, 2020, Rhapsody International and the Napster name were sold for $70 million to virtual reality concerts company MelodyVR, which renamed itself Napster Group PLC following the takeover.<ref name="VR"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/9439418/napster-melodyvr-sale-price-details |title=Napster Sold to Virtual Reality Concert App MelodyVR for $70 Million |date=25 August 2020 |first=Marc |last=Schneider |website=www.billboard.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Napster sold for a song to UK virtual events company |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6737344b-76be-4ae4-80ad-11c12768bb40 |first=Nic |last=Fildes |date=August 25, 2020 |access-date=2020-09-22 |newspaper=[[Financial Times]]}}</ref>

On May 10, 2022, Napster was sold to Hivemind and [[Algorand]]. Since 2025, it belongs to Infinite Reality.

==History== ===Early days=== Rhapsody started as Listen.com in 1999, a music search engine, founded by Rob Reid, and a core founding team of Nick Tangborn, Sean Ryan, Dave Williams, Ranah Edelin and Niranjan Nagar. Listen.com developed an exhaustive music database allowing it not only serve content references for all the major bands, but also developed a key technology allowing it to link to music legally available on the web that fans of major bands and artists would enjoy. This allowed it to syndicate music search for all the major search portals.

Also in 1999, Tim Bratton, J.P. Lester, Sylvain Rebaud, Alexandre Brouaux, Nick Sincaglia and Dave Lampton were working on a new streaming audio engine. This engine was commercially deployed in the TuneTo.com customized radio service, and was also used in their "celestial jukebox" prototype, called Aladdin.

Listen.com acquired TuneTo.com in 2000 and integrated the music database, along with the core technology from TuneTo.com to create the foundation of the Rhapsody music service.

===Rhapsody=== In April 2001, TuneTo.com was acquired by Listen.com,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising/listencom-buys-tunetocom-47939| title=Listen.com Buys TuneTo.com | date=2001-05-01 | publisher=Adweek | access-date=2012-11-10}}</ref> a startup founded in [[San Francisco]] by author and entrepreneur [[Robert Reid (author)|Rob Reid]], that had built a large online music directory. Aladdin was transformed into the Rhapsody music service during the summer and fall of 2001 and was launched on December 3, 2001.<ref>{{cite news|last=Evangelista|first=Benny|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/music-firms-open-online-services-but-will-fans-2845907.php|title=Music firms open online services, but will fans pay?|date=December 3, 2001|page=E-1|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=June 14, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011220212821/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/12/03/BU214918.DTL&type=tech|archive-date=December 20, 2001|url-status=dead|url-access=limited}}</ref>

Rhapsody was the first streaming on-demand music subscription service to offer unlimited access to a large library of digital music for a flat monthly fee,<ref>{{cite web|last=Evangelista|first=Benny|url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Industry-starting-to-endorse-Net-music-2801248.php|title=Industry starting to endorse Net music / Listen.com to offer songs from all five major labels|date=July 1, 2002|work=San Francisco Chronicle|access-date=June 15, 2025|url-access=limited|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616013443/https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/industry-starting-to-endorse-net-music-2801248.php|archive-date=June 16, 2013}}</ref> a concept advocated by business theories such as the [[Open Music Model]]. At launch, Rhapsody's library was formed of content mostly from [[Naxos Records]] and several independent labels. Over the next several months of 2002, they secured licenses from [[EMI]], [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]], [[Warner Bros. Records]], and [[Sony]] to add their music to the service. In July 2002, Rhapsody added [[Universal Records]] to their catalog, signing the last of the five major record labels of the time.

[[RealNetworks]] announced plans to acquire Listen.com on April 21, 2003, one week before the launch of the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003. The transaction closed on August 3, 2003. The Rhapsody service was briefly known as ''RealRhapsody'' shortly after the acquisition, but was since shortened back to "Rhapsody".

By 2004, some [[blog]]s providing sharing of [[playlist]]s with comments, with names such as "Rhapsody Radish".<ref>{{Cite web |title= Rhapsody Blogs Make Subscribing More Fun |date= January 18, 2005 |work= GiantPath |url= http://giantpath.com/news/20050118_RhapsodBlogsMakeItFun.html |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050208162511/http://giantpath.com/news/20050118_RhapsodBlogsMakeItFun.html |archive-date= February 8, 2005 |access-date= August 1, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= Welcome to The Rhapsody Radish |publisher= ScoreCreep |url= http://www.scopecreep.com/Rhapsody/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040818020141/http://www.scopecreep.com/Rhapsody/ |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 18, 2004 |access-date= August 1, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= The Rhapsody Radish – Music Playlist Archive |url= http://www.rhadish.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070202004748/http://www.rhadish.com/ |archive-date= February 2, 2007 |access-date= August 1, 2013 }}</ref> In late 2007, [[MOG (online music)|Music On the Go]] (MOG) partnered with Rhapsody to allow Rhapsody subscribers to access all of Rhapsody's content through MOG.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/rhapsody-harmonizes-with-music-blog-network-mog-com/|title=Rhapsody harmonizes with music blog network Mog.com|last=McCarthy|first=Caroline|date=11 December 2007|work=[[CNET]]|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> In August 2007, RealNetworks formed a [[joint venture]] with Viacom's music network [[MTV]] named Rhapsody America. The underpinning software running the service would come from MTV's [[Urge (digital music service)|Urge]], a discontinued music service MTV developed in partnership with [[Microsoft]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2007/08/rhapsody-mtv-an|title=Rhapsody, MTV Form Joint Digital Music Venture|last=Van Buskirk|first=Eliot|date=Aug 21, 2007|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast|Condé Nast Publications]]}}</ref>

===Spinoff=== In February 2010, RealNetworks announced their intention to restructure Rhapsody into a [[Corporate spin-off|fully independent business]]. Recent problems with the online music subscription service prompted the CEO to make "crucial decisions and think some things through". During this period, dropping the subscription service was considered, but he felt it wasn't the right decision at the time. Instead, the whole Rhapsody team thought of ways to revamp the struggling company and in turn dropped RealNetworks as parent of the company. This was a very risky decision, as the company needed the support, but gained the support of MTV Networks and Viacom, and other independent companies. Since independence, Rhapsody has started the revamping process with a new logo and subscription price changes.<ref>{{cite news|title=RealNetworks, Viacom to Spin Off Rhapsody| url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704182004575055742931769102|publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|author=Kathy Shwiff|date=2010-02-09|access-date=2010-02-09}}</ref> [[File: Rhapsodysmaller.jpg|right|thumb|Rhapsody logo between 2010 and 2016, now used as a corporate identity]] As of January 2011, Rhapsody president Jon Irwin told Reuters the on-demand subscription music service had more than 750,000 subscribers, having added more than 100,000 since becoming an independent company.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rhapsody's added 100,000 new subscribers since April|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2011/01/21/today-in-music-rhapsodys-added-100000-new-subscribers-since-april/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123124154/http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2011/01/21/today-in-music-rhapsodys-added-100000-new-subscribers-since-april/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 23, 2011 | work=Reuters | date=January 20, 2011}}</ref> At that date Rhapsody had a catalog of 11,000,000 songs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rhapsody.com/about|title=Napster: The Music Service for Music Fans}}</ref>

On August 3, 2011, Rhapsody announced that from October 2011 they would no longer re-license DRMed music bought before three years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Message from your ebook retailer, from the future| url=http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=148859}}</ref>

On October 3, 2011, Rhapsody announced plans to acquire [[Napster (pay service)|Napster]] with the deal to be completed by November.<ref>{{Cite news |title= Rhapsody announces plans to acquire Napster |url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/10/03/rhapsody-announces-plans-to-acquire-napster/ |work= Engadget |author= Donald Melanson |date= October 3, 2011 |access-date= August 1, 2013 }}</ref>

On May 6, 2014, Rhapsody announced its parent company made its first outside investment and led a Series B round for Dubset Media, the operator of streaming music site [[Thefuture.fm]]. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

On April 21, 2016, Rhapsody named its first CEO, Mike Davis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rhapsody-international-names-mike-davis-as-ceo-300255472.html|title=Rhapsody International Names Mike Davis as CEO|first=Rhapsody|last=International|website=www.prnewswire.com}}</ref> Davis is the first CEO of Rhapsody International, which is the parent company to Rhapsody and Napster.

===Napster rebranding=== On July 14, 2016, Rhapsody phased out the Rhapsody brand in favor of Napster and has since branded its service internationally as Napster.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://blog.napster.com/2016/07/14/wearenapster | work=Napster Team | title=We Are Napster | date=July 14, 2016 | archive-date=July 17, 2016 | access-date=April 4, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160717135243/http://blog.napster.com/2016/07/14/wearenapster | url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Acquisition by MelodyVR === On August 25, 2020, Napster was sold to virtual reality concerts company MelodyVR.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-09 |title=MelodyVR raises $8.9m, prepares to rebrand as the Napster Group |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/melodyvr-raises-8-9m-prepares-to-rebrand-as-the-napster-group/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=Music Business Worldwide |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Acquisition by Algorand=== On May 10, 2022, Napster was sold to the blockchain company [[Algorand]] and the crypto-focused investment firm Hivemind. Following the sale, Emmy Lovell was announced as CEO of Napster.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hivemind and Algorand buy Napster "to once again revolutionise the music industry" |url=https://musictech.com/news/hivemind-algorand-buy-napster-revolutionize-music-industry/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=MusicTech |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vincent |first=James |date=2022-05-18 |title=Napster joins Limewire and Winamp by jumping on the web3 bandwagon |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/18/23122179/napster-web3-bought-hivemind-algorand |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>

On June 8, 2022, Napster released a new version of its music streaming app with refreshed branding.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Napster: Music From Every Angle |url=https://www.napster.com/us/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=United States |language=en-US}}</ref>

On March 9, 2023, the UK trading entity Napster Music Limited entered liquidation following a winding up notice from [[HM Revenue and Customs|HMRC]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=gov.uk |date=2023-03-09 |title=Napster Music Creditors Voluntary Liquidation |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13657274/filing-history|language=en}}</ref>

=== Acquisition by Infinite Reality === On March 25, 2025, Napster was sold to Infinite Reality for $207 million.<ref name="InfiniteReality"/> Following a 2025 lawsuit by Sony Music due to unpaid licensing fees, Napster removed its music library and announced a business model change to a subscription service for music produced by artificial intelligence with related hardware and software products.<ref name="SonyMusicLawsuit2025">{{cite web | url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/sony-music-napster-lawsuit-unpaid-royalties/ | website=Billboard | title=Sony Music Sues Napster, Claiming $9M in Unpaid Music Royalties | date=August 4, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Napster26">{{cite web | url=https://www.napster.ai/news/napster-lights-up-a-new-era-with-napster-26-platform-and-view-holographic-ai-device | website=Napster | title=Napster Lights Up a New Era with Napster 26 Platform and “View” Holographic AI Device | date=October 10, 2025}}</ref>

== See also == * [[List of Internet radio stations]] * [[List of online music databases]] * [[Napster]] * [[Napster (pay service)]]

==Notes== {{reflist|30em}} *[https://www.seattleweekly.com/music/rhapsody-perfecting-the-pitch/ Rhapsody: Perfecting the Pitch]

[[Category:Music streaming services]] [[Category:Online music stores of the United States]] [[Category:2020 mergers and acquisitions]] [[Category:2022 mergers and acquisitions]] [[Category:2025 mergers and acquisitions]]