Napster jumps on the MP3 train :: Music News :: Articles

It’s been about eight years since Metallica was flipping its biscuits about the downloading machine that is Napster. Since then, the digital music base has found amicable ways of releasing tunes to the general public, teaming up with major record labels to offer DRM tracks for sale to paying subscribers.

Created by Microsoft, DRM (Digital Rights Management) songs are laced with road blocks that prevent the buyer from duplicating the track, as well as distributing it to unauthorized users. Unfortunately, DRMs have proven to be less than efficient, seeing as that these digital tracks can only play on certain music players and can often times not be transferred from computer to computer. Meanwhile, the relatively hassle-free iTunes increased in popularity, as did the MP3 frenzy within music lover communities and major labels alike. Add up all the factors, and it's easy to see why Napster began to fall way behind the digital music age it helmed for a time.

However, the music service has decided to keep up with the times, kicking DMRs to the curb and graciously welcoming in the use of MP3s. Napster Chief Executive Chris Gorog recently stated that the company “projected a year ago that there would be a critical mass of support for MP3, and we’re pleased to see the music industry is beginning to support it.”

Napster's embrace of the new format is set to settle in during the second quarter this year, possbily as soon as April.

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