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Napster Launches UK Music Service

Posted by michael on from the all-jethro-tull-all-the-time dept.

amichalo writes "Napster just went multi-continent with the surprise announcement of a Napster UK on-line music service. From the website, singles at 1.09 British pounds, albums start at 9.95 pounds. Availability for other European nations not available. Apple has previously announced they would be entering the European market by the end of the year with rumors of singles priced at 1.49 Euro."

27 of 172 comments (clear)

  1. No iPod support by Phantom69 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Only secure WMA downloads available. Not the greatest idea IMHO bearing in mind the popularity of the iPod.

    1. Re:No iPod support by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Huh, Apple does not "hold" AAC.

      AAC is *not* an Apple format.

      AAC is *not* proprietary, contrary to WMA. It has designed and put out by the same people that brought you MP3, as a improved replacement for MP3, IIRC.

      The only thing Apple "holds" is the AAC+FairPlay combo, or, if you want, they seem to have some sort of exclusive license for FairPlay. I say "seem to have" because the exact origins of FairPlay seem to be nebulous (sp?).

    2. Re:No iPod support by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      You are 100% correct.

      I'm posting anonymously because I'd prefer Napster to _not_ know which school I'm from - they're currently in negotiations with us. I saw what happened to the last guy who spoke up on this topic, and I'd prefer to save us the hassle.

      Both Napster and Real/Rhapsody said the _same damn thing_ when we were talking to them: basically, that the RIAA was setting pretty much all the terms, and Apple/Real/Napster2 are just middlemen. If they could offer those songs at a cheaper price, _they would_. I don't trust any of them all that much, to be honest, but I really believe that they think the pricing and DRM schemes are bad, too.

      There's also a surprisingly large amount of oversight going on by the RIAA. When we were talking about volume pricing, both Real and Napster responded that they could offer us a better deal, but they'd _need to talk to the RIAA first_.

      Don't bitch at Apple, Napster2, and Real about the crappy prices and DRM. There's very little they can do about them. The RIAA is the bad actor here. You can get easy concrete proof of this because the academic contracts for Rhapsody and Napster2 both include the same terms about "stopping IP infringement on University networks".

      Since I posted as an AC, I understand a fairish number of you won't believe I'm telling the truth. That's fine, and I don't blame you. But for the rest of you: stop blaming Napster2 for being greedy with the prices and DRM. They're definitely not the ones responsible.

      It's another thing entirely to go say "this isn't a good value", though - I'm not sure it is.

    3. Re:No iPod support by Killer+Napkin · · Score: 3, Informative

      Nebulous? They own FairPlay. There's no ambiguity there. The grandfather post was basically saying that Apple isn't going to give up their hold on the AAC+FairPlay combo.

      To clarify, the RIAA is not going to allow any store (whether it be iTunes or Napster) to release songs without have a form of DRM. Since the AAC format is basically off-limits*, the only other viable alternative is DRMed WMA files.

      Also, don't pretend like AAC is some free format. It is patent-encumbered just like MP3 before it. As far as desktop is concerned, there will always be some guy who will write a decoder for free use. However, people who design hardware are not afforded these luxuries. The patent-holders WILL come down hard to collect their share of the royalties.

      For hardware developers, the choice is paying to use AAC and paying for some other non-FairPlay DRM or using WMAs with DRM and paying Microsoft. Either way, they're going to pay. Right now, WMAs are going to look the best. Maybe Ogg Vorbis and FLAC with some cheap DRM method will catch on, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

      Still, this industry is still a baby. Apple leads today, but WalMart, Napster, Microsoft, or anyone can basically take over.

      * Apple thinks that they can basically lock everyone else out of the market by being the only AAC+FairPlay vendor. Right now, they're using iTunes as a way get people to buy iPods, which is a HUGE money-maker for Apple. I'm not so sure this is a good idea, but that's the way it is.

  2. not competitive by davids-world.com · · Score: 5, Insightful

    both prices seem inacceptable - given the current exchange rate, a song should not be more than about 0.85 euros, or 1 euro max (to round it up).

    The price difference is very evident in times when the American prices at iTMS are just one click away. Ripping off customers is the wrong signal for both stores, and for the music industry. Will they ever learn?

    1. Re:not competitive by swright · · Score: 4, Insightful

      According to MacRumors.com the iTMS Europe will have songs for 1.29 Euros - but that includes a 19.5% sales tax. The [fixed] amount to be given to artists is 0.80 euro.

      Yes, more expensive than iTMS USA, but the USA price doesnt include a sales tax - apparently in states where there is a sales tax that is added on top.

      More info here

    2. Re:not competitive by ponxx · · Score: 4, Interesting

      That's completely normal. For some reason everyone has decided to simply charge more in Europe...

      I've recently tried to buy a new camera from Amazon. Canon EOS 300D is priced at:
      Amazon US: $850 (adding 20% sales tax-> $1020)
      Amazon UK: UKP 780 ($1400)
      Amazon Germany: EUR 1000 ($1200)

      I thought these markets are meant to be competitive? Why is Amazon UK charging a mark-up of more than 40% on a digital camera???

      Similar things go for cars, clothing, CDs, DVDs, etc. What is needed with all this globalisation is a complete freedom to re-import things from anywhere in the world, that would see prices crashing down right, left and centre!

    3. Re:not competitive by anonicon · · Score: 4, Informative

      I could be wrong, and since I'm posting on Slashdot, I probably am, but perhaps the reason why that Canon 300D is so much more in the UK or mainland Europe is because of government import taxes that are attached to it before it goes on sale.

      Every government charges differently, and since Amazon has to abide by their laws, the pre-sales tax cost will be different. Either that, or Amazon thinks UK shoppers are suckers. ;-)

  3. No link? by Mz6 · · Score: 4, Informative
    Seems the poster didn't want to include any links. For your reading pleasure..

    Napster beats iTunes to Europe with U.K. launch

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    Hmmm.
  4. 1.49 Euro by DrXym · · Score: 4, Funny
    1.49 Euro = 1.79 USD per track


    How do they keep their prices so low and still make a profit?

    1. Re:1.49 Euro by in7ane · · Score: 5, Funny

      You are not converting for the metric measurement properly.

      What you got to realize is that there are 10 bits per byte in the EU now, and so the costs are higher.

    2. Re:1.49 Euro by MoonBuggy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      1.09GBP = 1.95USD

      I think I speak for the majority of my country when I say "Napster, go cram your overpriced, lossy, DRMed WMAs that don't play on my iPod and cost more than a CD up your ass."

      I've yet to find an online store that has half of the bands I listen to available anyway. They have their CDs in Virgin Megastore, so it's not like I'm listening to anything that's totally obscure.

  5. Not that much cheaper.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    That's really not that much cheaper than a "real" single... and you only have to look at a site like to see that pricing for "real" albums is already less than 9.99!

  6. Bit bloody pricey eh? by phaze3000 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    1.09 for a single? When iTunes in the US is 99c (~ 0.56)?

    You're having a giraffe ain'tcha?

    --
    Blaming GW Bush for the Iraq war is like blaming Ronald McDonald for the poor quality of food.
  7. text for the hearing impaired? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    one thing i'm disappointed about those offerings is the fact that the formats they use can't store the text for the songs, so that hearing impaired people could follow a song while it's being played (alongside the vibration, the bass).

  8. pathetic browser support though by Gaima · · Score: 4, Informative

    I went along to the .com site last night, and was promptly redirected to the .co.uk as it has detected I was from the UK. Fair enough I guess.

    The free 11meg download intrigued me, so went to look. Didn't get far mind.
    At the bottom of the front page it does say:

    System Requirements
    PC only, Windows XP/2000, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1 or higher, Windows Media Player 7.1 or higher, Internet connectivity

    The page I was sent to, as a Konq user, was even worse:

    Napster is currently compatible with Windows XP/2000.
    Windows 95, Windows NT and the Mac OS are not supported at this time.

    They wouldn't have had my custom anyway, but even if they would have had, after that, no chance.
    Get with it Napster

  9. 10 quid? Fuck off by Enlarge+Your+Penis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can get it on a CD with no DRM for that. Hell, if I take advantage of the current exchange rate I can probably get it for half

    1. Re:10 quid? Fuck off by Zog+The+Undeniable · · Score: 3, Informative

      You're absolutely right. Of course, the CD version is also uncompressed and sounds better, so you're being doubly screwed.

      --
      When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
  10. 10GBP for an album? by perly-king-69 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    So, do I download and burn 14 WMP files for 10GBP, or go to CDWOW or play.com and buy it for 8GBP?

    --

    --
    This sig is inoffensive.

  11. Likely cost breakdown by JosKarith · · Score: 4, Interesting

    "1.09 British pounds" Lemme guess -
    0.20 Tax
    0.01 Payment to the artist
    0.78 Music industry profits

    and now with added -
    0.10 DRM administration

    And you don't even have a physical object, so if your HDD fries you have to buy it all over again...

    My housemate downloads large amounts of music - as he puts it - "I paid for it once on vinyl, once on tape, once on CD. After my CD's were stolen did they really think I was gonna buy them all over again?"

    --
    'Don't worry' said the trees when they saw the axe coming, 'The handle is one of us.'
  12. Ridiculous prices by Nadir · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The Apple iTunes price of 1.49 for a single is ludicrous. Especially considering that the Euro is at $1.19 now.
    Haven't they considered that average European salary is less than in the US ?

    Bah

    Tristan

    --
    --
    The world is divided in two categories:
    those with a loaded gun and those who dig. You dig.
  13. An album is not 1 pound! by L.+VeGas · · Score: 3, Funny

    This article is just full of errors. I have lots of albums, and NONE of them weigh more than a pound.

    --
    Best Windows Freeware
  14. Rip off Britain......again by DFJA · · Score: 3, Insightful


    GBP1.09 is expensive compared with US prices - iTunes at 99c (about GBP0.55, or half this price). This is yet another example of where us British have to pay substantially more for the same product than our American (and often European) counterparts. PCs and components have often been the same number of pounds here as dollars there. It's just not fair.

    Come on, we're fed up of being ripped off by international big businesses. DVDs are another example - and of course region encoding is designed to stop us from importing more cheaply from the US.

    All you British reading this, I urge you to boycott products at these prices - and write to the company concerned explaining your actions and why.

    At least car prices have started to become a bit more reasonable recently, but only compared to the rest of Europe. I believe they are still a lot cheaper in the US.

    DFJA

    --
    43 - For those who require slightly more than the answer to life, the universe and everything.
  15. I gathered that... by mdemeny · · Score: 3, Interesting

    When I saw a spray-painted logo of Napster.co.uk on the sidewalk outside my office this morning.

    Is it just me, or is this an especially despicable form of advertising? Marketers must love it... not having to pay for ad space, while at the same time making it more noticeable because the one place we can expect not to see ads is under our feet...lovely.

  16. The advertising campaign by pumaman_fly! · · Score: 4, Interesting

    That explains all the chalk grafitti that popped up everywhere in Edinburgh today.

    Pic here:here

  17. What's to stop me... by TintinX · · Score: 3, Interesting

    As one option is to pay Napster GBP9.99 for a month's worth of unlimited streams, what's to stop me from ripping them with a system sound recorder and making my own MP3s, Oggs etc.?

    I reckon of Napster's library of 500,000 tracks, I could probably find everything I like (and don't already have) and record it in this way in a month. That's gotta be worth a tenner of anyone's money ;)

    1. Re:What's to stop me... by GothChip · · Score: 3, Informative
      "As one option is to pay Napster GBP9.99 for a month's worth of unlimited streams, what's to stop me from ripping them with a system sound recorder and making my own MP3s, Oggs etc.?"

      That's what I thought until I tried their free "search engine" on the front page. It only gives an overview of the results recommendations, most of which are completely irrelevent to the search performed.

      eg. A search for the band Seize returned the following. Yes, we have multiple results for Seize on Napster.
      Members who like this artist also like: Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Sizzla, Shabba Ranks, Capleton, Sly & Robbie, UB40, Monica, O-Town, Backstreet Boys

      Not at all similar to a cutting edge electronica breakbeat act.

      Searching for small and exciting acts that have limited availability was part of what made the original Napster so popular. Without a decent and varied catalogue you might as well carry on shopping for cds on-line.