Nap-Stars (Napster)

Member Name: Kurt_Cobain

Product:	Napster
Date:	05/08/01 (82 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: free music, introduction to new bands, enjoyment for all

Disadvantages: -, -, -

The pioneers of advertising and promotion have dawned upon the computering world, and the record companies are shutting them down.

This is my opinion on the recent events that have partaken involving the computer firm Napster. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Napster I will provide with a brief outline of what it is.

Napster

Napster is a mass downloadable search engine that lets you find any song or band and download it. It works because of its users. Each user who signs up and uses the engine may download what they wish. They may also upload songs onto their computer and others may then download those songs from each other's database. Every user who downloads a song shares it with the rest of the network and each can share accordingly.

Well that is how it works and here seems to lie the problem for those companies and persons who want them shut down. Napster is currently facing a mass legal battle to try and save it's little organisation. With over 45,000,000 users worldwide they have become quite popular. The bands and the companies are not pleased however that their adoring fans can listen to their music without them receiving a penny for it.

This may seem logical to some of you however I can pose (as can many other napster fans) an argument that benefits the music companies. By downloading single tracks you can then become introduced to a new band without having to fork out the money for an album. This may attract you to the band and encourage you to then buy the album. It is a proven fact that since Napster was first introduced album sales have increased, and since it shut down?, you guessed it, a drop in CD sales. It seems to me that these big companies have not done their homework( tut,tut).

Now I seem to have mainly commented on the legal battle facing Napster but let us not forget it's still in use. Although it is currently shut down a new filtering system will be introduced soon so t
hat you can't get some bands' songs. It seems to me that Napster can be used as a mass advertising agency. Me and some of my friends are sending our groups material to them which will then be readily available to all of those who have the programme. Napster has multiple purposes but is their mainly to spread music worldwide and give everyone the chance to listen to the music they like, shame the record companies don’t share the same dream

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