Napster announced
the launch of the world’s largest and most comprehensive MP3 store at
www.napster.com/store.
Napster’s download store is more than 50% larger than any other MP3
store and boasts not only the largest major label MP3 catalog in the
industry, but also the largest library of independent music available
anywhere. All Napster download sales in the U.S. will now be in the
user-friendly, DRM-free MP3 format, which is compatible with virtually
any MP3 player or music phone including the iPod and the iPhone.
Napster is the first music subscription service featuring major label
content to offer 100% of its catalog in the MP3 format for download
sales.
Pricing for download sales will remain at 99 cents for single MP3
tracks and $9.95 for most MP3 albums, Napster confirmed. The vast
majority of the MP3 catalog, including all major label content, is
available at a high-quality 256kbps bitrate, and downloaded tracks
include high-resolution album art. Consumers can visit and browse the
download store with no obligation or commitment, and can also choose to
subscribe to Napster’s on-demand streaming service, which is web-based
and can be accessed from any Internet-connected computer without
downloading software.
Napster gives music fans the freedom of choice to discover,
experience, and buy music on their own terms. With its web-based, open,
innovative products and services, Napster gives consumers the ability
to enjoy music across their desktop, living room, portable music
player, and mobile phone.
“Music fans have spoken and it’s clear they need the convenience,
ease of use and broad interoperability of the DRM-free MP3 format, and
they want to be able to find both major label artists and independent
music all in one place. Napster is delighted to deliver all of this and
more with the world’s largest MP3 catalog,” said Napster’s Chairman and
CEO Chris Gorog. “Our new MP3 store, together with our award-winning
‘all you can eat’ music subscription service, provides the most
comprehensive and exciting music experience available. Virtually any
portable device in the world can now be used to enjoy tracks purchased
at Napster, which is an important breakthrough for our company.”
“Our goal is to enrich your life with music, in ways that are
personalized to you,” said Chief Operating Officer Christopher Allen.
“Napster now offers a truly complete and synergistic digital music
destination, where music lovers can not only discover and listen to
music, but also buy and own everything they want in MP3 format, which
works on any music player. The combination offers consumers the best of
both worlds.”
“Developing online music services into true go-to consumer music
destinations depends in large part on reducing hurdles to adoption,”
said Susan Kevorkian, IDC’s Consumer Markets program director, “By
offering millions of high quality, MP3-encoded DRM-free tracks from all
of the major labels as well as independents, this service is
well-positioned to appeal to the broad spectrum of music lovers,
including iPod and iPhone owners.”