Napster
Early song swapping
Napster was a pioneering peer-to-peer file-sharing service launched in 1999 that allowed users to share MP3 music files directly with one another.
It became synonymous with digital music piracy and sparked landmark legal battles with the recording industry, fundamentally changing how people thought about music distribution.
Though the original service was shut down in 2001, its name has been licensed to various legal music services since.
Back in the Napster days, everyone was downloading music for free.
Remote-to-local data transfer
- uploadTransfer data outward
- MP3Lossy audio compression standard
- clientOne who hires professionals
- networkInterconnected system
decentralized · protocol · indexing · search · library · bandwidth · transfer · swapping
Lossy audio compression standard
- tracksMarks showing passage
- albumsBound music collections
- artistMaker of creative works
- songsMusical vocal compositions
catalog · library · playlist · ripping · encoding · bitrate · bootleg · rare tracks
Civil court proceeding
- RIAAMusic industry trade group
- MetallicaSandman's musical summoners
- copyrightExclusive reproduction rights
- infringementViolation of rights
piracy · litigation · Dr. Dre · settlement · injunction · shutdown · Ninth Circuit · damages
Music streaming platform
- streamingReal-time digital delivery
- iTunesApple's media organizer
- subscriptionPaid recurring access
- Best BuyMajor electronics chain
relaunch · revival · branding · nostalgia · cautionary tale · music industry · transformation · digital distribution
Forceful interruption of process
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- innovationCreating something original
- dotcomInternet-based commercial enterprise
- startupNew business enterprise
first-generation · breakthrough · trailblazer · paradigm shift · catalyst · game-changer · digital music · early adopter
download
Remote-to-local data transfer
network · decentralized · protocol · indexing · search · library · bandwidth · transfer · swapping · Kazaa
MP3
Lossy audio compression standard
songs · catalog · library · playlist · ripping · encoding · bitrate · bootleg · rare tracks · live recordings
lawsuit
Civil court proceeding
- RIAAMusic industry trade group
- MetallicaSandman's musical summoners
- copyrightExclusive reproduction rights
infringement · piracy · litigation · Dr. Dre · settlement · injunction · shutdown · Ninth Circuit · damages · cease and desist
Spotify
Music streaming platform
- streamingReal-time digital delivery
- iTunesApple's media organizer
- subscriptionPaid recurring access
Best Buy · relaunch · revival · branding · nostalgia · cautionary tale · music industry · transformation · digital distribution
disruption
Forceful interruption of process
- revolutionViolent governmental overthrow
- innovationCreating something original
- dotcomInternet-based commercial enterprise
startup · first-generation · breakthrough · trailblazer · paradigm shift · catalyst · game-changer · digital music · early adopter · Silicon Valley
- Defunct BrandsPan Am, Enron, Woolworth's, Circuit City, RadioShack
- defunct techAIM, GeoCities, Google+, Myspace, Vine
- 2000s TechiPod, MySpace, YouTube, Facebook, Google
- 90s TechWindows 95, Windows 98, dial-up, Netscape, AOL
- audio appsSpotify, Apple Music, Pandora, SoundCloud, YouTube Music
- Music PlatformsSpotify, Apple Music, Pandora, SoundCloud, Deezer
NapsterSpotify
Music streaming platform
Apple Music · Amazon Music · Tidal · Deezer · Pandora
NapsterRIAA
Music industry trade group
copyright enforcement · record labels · major labels · copyright holders · iTunes