| Very few people have not heard of "Napster", | | | | 1. In the public domain |
| originating with a teenager's idea that basically changed | | | | 2. Uploaded by artists who are trying to get exposure |
| how the Internet, the music industry, and how we as | | | | 3. Released by record companies, trying to build |
| consumers think of online music. The words "intellectual | | | | interest in a CD |
| property" has taken on a whole new meaning due to | | | | 4. Paid for the right to download, with the site paying |
| a young man's innovative ideas. Eighteen-year old | | | | the artist or record company the royalties. |
| Shawn Fanning, in 1999, wrote the code for the utility | | | | The media companies successfully destroyed the |
| "Napster", the nickname for Shawn Fanning for his hair. | | | | original Napster in 2002, yet it's service was co-opted |
| The program combined three key functions into one: | | | | by AOL, Yahoo, and Microsoft. Their |
| search engine dedicated to finding MP3 files only; file | | | | instant-messenger products have allowed people to |
| sharing to trade MP3 files directly; and the Internet | | | | swap music files, photo files, etc., with their friends. |
| Relay chat (IRC) as a way to find and chat with other | | | | Also, Sony distributes some of its music through |
| MP3 users while they were online. When he | | | | ScourExchange. |
| downloaded the original beta version to download.com, | | | | Here are a few legal services that charge reasonable |
| it immediately became one of the hottest downloads | | | | amounts and are respectable names: |
| on the site. | | | | 1. AOL Music Now- America On Line is a major name |
| MP3 files in Napster were stored on each user's | | | | in the internet world and boast over 1.5 million songs in |
| machine, instead of on one big central computer. This | | | | their database for members to use. You can try |
| new process was called "peer-to-peer sharing", or | | | | AOL's service on a free trial then download per song |
| P2P. Each song that was downloaded from someone | | | | for $0.99. |
| else's machine, which could be located anywhere in | | | | 2. F.Y.E. - A leader in downloadable music, F.Y.E. |
| the world. The main requirement was for the utility | | | | provides 1.2 million songs to choose from for a flat $1 |
| Napster to be required on each machine for the | | | | per download after a free trial period. |
| transfer (or file sharing) to work. These songs that | | | | 3. MSN Music- Another leading name in the internet |
| were downloaded as MP3 song files into each PC | | | | and the name in computers, Microsoft offers one |
| computer for listening, could then be transferred to | | | | million songs that are available for $0.99 per download. |
| MP3 players, such as the iPods or the Zen Micros, to | | | | MSN does not offer a free trial period. |
| listen to. | | | | 4. MusicMatch- The MusicMatch software will make |
| The ability to download free music online, instead of | | | | personal recommendations for you and charge $0.99 |
| purchasing a CD, made this program very popular. But | | | | per download for the music of your choice. |
| the music industry nor the music artists, or even the | | | | MusicMatch does not offer a free trial period. |
| song writers, were able to get paid for their music. | | | | 5. Napster- The name that started it all is now one of |
| Thousands of copies of copyrighted songs were | | | | the premier outlets for music downloads on a monthly |
| downloaded for free, upsetting the music industry. | | | | membership fee basis. Napster offers downloads for |
| Napster became banned from about 40% of US | | | | $9.95 a month on up to three computers with around |
| colleges and universities when it was illegal, with college | | | | one million songs in their database. Napster offers a |
| students being its biggest users. Several reasons were | | | | seven day free trial. |
| for this: college students really like technology, more | | | | 6. PassAlong- This is a relatively new site with a |
| than most; and also the colleges and universities make | | | | smaller database than most download services at |
| available to the college students high-speed Internet | | | | around 400,000 songs, but offers a nice perk in |
| access. The website was sued by record companies | | | | exchange. When you make recommendations to your |
| because they did not have copyrighted materials | | | | friends for certain types of music you get bonus points |
| available for the students to download online, even | | | | to reduce the price of future downloads. PassAlong |
| though they were paying royalties on everything sold. | | | | starts at $0.99 per download and does not offer a |
| The Napster lawsuit attracted the attention of | | | | free trial. |
| everyone, regardless which side a person was one. | | | | 7. Wal-Mart- The name in bargain shopping offers the |
| The thing to remember is that once someone has | | | | cheapest price for Plays for Sure compatible |
| purchased or will purchase their MP3 player, it is | | | | subscription services on the market. Offering the same |
| important to play legally by the rules. Listed on the | | | | 400,000 song capacity as PassAlong, Wal-Mart can |
| Internet are some song rules for legally downloading | | | | offer the best prices because of their corporate |
| song files: | | | | structure. Wal-Mart does not offer a free trial. |