Napster tries Japan
p2pnet.net News:- The original Napster struck terror into the hearts of corporate music executives. So it was killed.
The labels squabbled over the still warm corpse and BMG tried to resuscitate it, but failed. Eventually, Roxio acquired it, re-name itself Napster and has ever since been trying to monetize the by then stone-cold p2p file sharing application.
Former Napster product development Don Dodge told it like it was, saying, “We changed the world, but failed to achieve business success.”
However, the ‘new’ Napster is no more successful than the old one and last month, it hired the UBS Investment Bank, “to help it look at strategic alternatives, which could include the sale of the company”.
Nonetheless and notwithstanding, Napster has launched a Japanese service owned 31.5% by Napster, and 53.5% by “closely held” Tower Records Japan, according to reports, says MarketWatch.
An investor group holds the rest.
Napster boss Chris Gorog says Napster Japan will, “deliver a product with a deep focus on local tastes,” says the story.
We hope the investors aren’t holding their collective breath.
Also See:
changed the world – Don Dodge on Napster, October 22, 2005
MarketWatch – Napster music downloads arrive in Japan, October 3, 2006
strategic alternatives – Napster up for sale?, September 19, 2006
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