 |
|
      
|
|
NAPSTER LAUNCHES THE WORLD’S FIRST PORTABLE SUBSCRIPTION MUSIC SERVICE
Napster To Go turns the traditional music business model on its head by allowing music fans to fill and refill MP3 players with tracks from Napster’s 1 million-strong catalogue for just £14.95 a month Portable subscription is an integral feature in the newly unveiled Napster 3.0 digital music service LONDON - (February 3, 2005) - Napster UK, Ltd. a subsidiary of Napster, Inc. (Nasdaq: NAPS), has today launched the world’s first portable subscription music service. Napster To Go enables music fans to fill and refill any compatible MP3 player with their choice of tracks from Napster’s 1 million-strong catalogue for just £14.95 a month. The new functionality is an integral part of Napster’s latest 3.0 digital music service and is in stark contrast to more traditional business models that charge per track to transfer music to portable players. UK music fans can take advantage of this groundbreaking new technology by downloading the free Napster 3.0 jukebox at www.napster.co.uk. There are already five portable music devices that UK consumers can use with Napster To Go: Creative Zen Micro MP3 player; iriver H10 MP3 player; iriver Portable Media Centre; Creative Zen Portable Media Centre; and Samsung YH999 Portable Media Centre. Within three months, it is expected a further 18 devices will be compatible, including 14 more MP3 players. This figure is set to increase considerably over the year as more manufacturers incorporate the necessary Microsoft Windows Media Audio-based software into their devices. The launch of Napster To Go will be accompanied by a major multi-million pound marketing campaign by Napster in the UK, supported by strategic alliances with the Dixons Group retail chain and leading consumer electronics manufacturers including Creative Labs. "Napster To Go will change the music industry forever," said Chris Gorog, Napster chairman and CEO. "Our dream has been to offer music fans the key to the world’s music library for a low monthly cost, and by extending online access to those on the move we have put in place the final piece of the jigsaw in delivering the most innovative, versatile and best value music service on the planet. The biggest brand in digital music has once again underlined its pedigree as an industry pioneer and we are extremely proud that Napster is first to market with this revolutionary new way to enjoy music." Alongside portable subscription, today’s release of Napster 3.0 continues to offer subscribers unlimited full-length song streaming from the largest digital music catalogue in the world, as well as over 25 interactive, advert-free radio stations, four decades of Official UK Chart information and a host of other features. For non-subscription members, Napster also offers the Napster Light a la carte download store that sells individual tracks for 79 pence and albums for £7.95. About Napster Napster, the world’s biggest brand in digital music, is a subscription service that enables fans to access the world’s largest and most diverse online collection of music and experience the largest number of features. Napster subscribers have more ways to discover, share and acquire new music and old favorites with community features like the ability to email tracks to friends and browse other members’ collections. Subscribers to Napster can listen to full-length songs from every major record label and hundreds of independents on demand and transfer songs to their favourite Napster To Go™ compatible MP3 player for a low monthly fee. Napster also offers Napster Light, a "lighter" version of the service for those who just want to purchase songs and albums a la carte. Napster is headquartered in Los Angeles. Safe Harbor Statement Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release, in particular matters related to the effect of Napster To Go on the online music industry and Napster To Go’s compatility with portable music device manufacturers are forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties such as the new and rapidly changing nature of the online music industry, dependence on the growth of the Internet and broadband technologies, and failure of the Napster service to interoperate with the hardware of Napster’s customers, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Additional information on these and other factors are contained in Napster’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on January 21, 2005, copies of which are available at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Napster assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements included in this press release. Copyright © 2005 Napster, LLC All rights reserved. Napster, the Napster logo, Napster To Go, and Napster Light are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Napster, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks used are owned by their respective owners. Napster contact: Adam Howorth Communications Director Tel: +44 (0) 207 1017281 adam.howorth@napster.co.uk
* * *
|
