Napster has recently announced it will now be offering MP3 downloads. Never a company to be left behind, the pioneer in music downloading is eager to face this new market challenge. Per their CEO and Chairman, Chris Gorog, I am happy with the progress that Napster has made. No doubt, Gorog is counting on continued success in the MP3 offerings Napster is set to launch also.
Napster is not nearly the whole story when it comes to the MP3 revolution. Though leaders at first in music sharing, they were beaten to the punch by others when offering MP3 files for download. Internet Underground Music Archive, MP3.com, LiquidAudio and RealAudio were offering MP3 downloads first. Because they have been available for a longer period of time and have massive libraries of MP3 downloads available, these three will prove worthy competition for Napster. There are also some cutting-edge musical artists who offer MP3 download from their websites; their scope is limited, however, so poses a smaller threat.
So far, the vast majority of major record labels continue to hold back from allowing their music to be download as MP3 files on music download sites that is, unless they can be assured that proper protection and technology is in place. The significant decline in CD sales may eventually force record labels to rethink their decisions. What may well be the final catalyst for record companies to release some control is the overwhelming success of Apple, with its iPod and iTunes Music Store. While Apple does not produce the only MP3 players (others like Zune do too), they certainly produce the most popular and most widely used.
Mr. Robert Enderle, Principal Analyst for the Enderle Group, is among the skeptics who are not entirely sure Napster can be successful with MP3 downloads. He has stated I cannot picture many iPod and iTunes users shifting to Napster since iTunes software is so integrated with Apple music. He is not alone in this feeling; other experts have expressed the same concerns.
Robert Enderle, however, does not indicate there is no hope for Napster to grow in the MP3 arena. Napster might have a chance if they choose to focus on the right competition. Enderle feels if they focused on competition with the likes of Amazon, they would have a greater chance of succeeding. Why is Amazon a good target for Napster to pursue? Because Amazon is not primarily a music download site.
Despite the odds, it is not wise to count Napster out just yet. Like a Phoenix rising form the ashes, Napster has reinvented itself a number of times already and remains very successful. There is every reason to believe they will continue to change as the times dictate.
Isaiah Henry is a guru in the music industry; he has written such reviews on Yahoo Music review . If you have questions or comments post on the Music Download Forum .
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