Napster: Cheap, Legal Music Downloads

The History of Napster

However, because Napster allowed people to download music for free and didn't pay royalties to copyright holders, Napster started raising suspicion and became the target of criticism. In 2000, the band Metallica filed a lawsuit against Napster when members learned that a track of its demo "I Disappear" was circulating on the Internet before it had been publicly released. Madonna also filed a suit when she found out that her track "Music" was circulating on Napster.

Although Napster settled both of these lawsuits, it was unable to successfully appeal an injunction from the Ninth Circuit Court that ordered it to shut down and prevent the sharing of copyrighted material. As a result, Napster shut down its system in July 2001.

How Napster Works: The Advantages of Napster

• Napster doesn't require you to subscribe to browse through its vault. This means that you can browse anonymously without having to plug in a credit card number.
• Napster's downloads are encoded as high-caliber 192 Kbps WMAs. This encoding ensures the highest quality fidelity and sound.
• Napster files are compatible with any device supporting secure WMA files.
• Napster has about 500,000 music tracks, more songs than any other competitor.
• Napster's interface is streamlined and user-friendly. Search for an artist, track or another Napster member using the search bar, or cruise through the Top Picks section.
• Napster's network can make recommendations of music you might enjoy based on your current selections.
• Napster tracks typically cost 99 cents per song or $9.95 for a full album. These prices make Napster a strong competitor in the realm of cheap music downloads.
• The Playlist of the Day feature allows you to scope out fresh, interesting song combinations that can expand your musical horizons.
• You can burn any purchased tracks an unlimited number of times.
• You can buy songs one at a time or sign up for a monthly subscription. Monthly subscriptions cost $9.95 and offer unlimited downloading and streaming, as well as access to 40 music streams.

The Downside of Napster

• Free streaming won't work on Apple's Safari browser or Internet Explorer for Mac. Firefox runs streaming songs with some glitches.
• Napster does offer cheap music downloads but not the cheapest. Virgin Digital and Yahoo! Music Unlimited offer cheaper subscription plans.
• Napster has a three-computer limit for downloads you purchase. That means you can access your downloads on only three computers.
• Streaming songs can be played only a handful of times (five) and aren't encoded to the highest quality (only 32 Kbps).
• There are some miscellaneous or mislabeled files that may not be compatible with your computer.