Preview the New Napster

*ZiggyP0P* writes "Napster has finally released a preview/teaser of their new business model. Seems kind of sad that so much work will be done on something that noone will use. Quite interesting the part about their own file format..."

Comments

Farking link?

[agentZ]

Is there a reason why the link to Napster is going through fark.com?? They don't appear to have anything to do with Napster...

Translation: "hack this code"

[mblase]

There will be some unrestricted files in MP3 format, but when the rights holder requests it, we'll wrap their music files in a security format that defines how the file can be used.

In other words: we've been legally required to implement a security layer on most MP3 files. But it's just a code wrapper, and if you're persistent enough, you can strip it right back off. Just don't mention our name on your "Downloads" page.

Re:I'll pass...

[donutz]

If you want to support the artist, then you should buy the cd, instead of going through another layer to "borrow" some of the profits

isn't it clear to you that people don't want to buy the 12 track cd for the 2 songs they want to hear? I'm not saying that it's a good thing that they only like the songs that are spoon-fed to them on MTV, but that's what they want. If they can get just those songs, why buy the CD? Or if it comes down to listening to just those songs that they paid for thru napster, or not buying the CD at all....which does the musician prefer? I guess we could do a full analysis of the situation, make a few estimates, plug in some formulas....

Personally, I think this whole capitalism/free market thing sucks, but it sucks a little less than the alternatives...so if a musician "goes out of business" cuz he can't afford to just make music...well its just too bad. if a musician wants to make money because he likes it and he's good at it....well there's plenty of people in the world who don't like their jobs, so the musician can go flip burgers like the rest of them, then go home at night and whine about it in a song.

ok, enough ranting.

Re:Why I'll Use It

[ichimunki]

Why do you people insist on posting the Salon link to Courtney's ripoff version of Steve Albini's article, which can be found (along with a lot of other great articles on the music industry and copyright at this page?

Sad truth: artists need record companies

[evilandi]

AC: record companies are indeed a great evil

Why specifically record companies? Why not anyone who deals in someone else's intellectual property? Booksellers, publishers, librarians... all these are scum of the earth too, according to your logic.

Thing is though, your logic is flawed. You presume that the artist is the thing that deserves the most reward.

It's not actually that difficult to make a really good song. It's not even difficult to distribute it, provided it is done digitally. So how come there aren't lots of great songs going around on Morpheus that don't exist on CD?

Because what is difficult is to market a really good song. As in, publicise it, take it to the masses and actually bring in the money.

Firstly, radio station playlists don't come from a team meeting of benevolent DJs who spend their time searching out new sounds. Playlists come from record companies bombarding radio stations with publicity. Wise up, sucker. Commercial radio stations (and even the BBC) have fixed playlists controlled by marketting hype. It's only on the unprofitable grass-roots stations that have DJs who actually do any research.

Secondly, every artist who has tried to make a living (actually pay their bills, without claiming social security) SOLELY out of online trading of their IP has failed. You can only do this if you are already established, ie. have already shifted lots of coasters. Not forgetting that you need a decent way to accept payments.

So the horrid harsh reality is that ARTISTS NEED RECORD COMPANIES. Sorry, but they do. Record companies are not evil, they are actually the largest part of what makes pop music pop.