Does Napster have a positive influence on the music business?

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Extended Essay

Does Napster have a positive influence on the music business?

Inke Kauer

ITGS

18. November 01

Candidate No. D 0828 016

Word Count: 3792


Abstract

The arrival of Napster on the music scene had an immediate positive impact on the music consumer but attracted the wrath of the rest of the music industry causing it to unite an effect to harm Napster’s appeal.

First I will deal with the technical viewpoint. The different technologies Mp3 and P2P are discussed as well as the new system of free Mp3 file sharing, Napster.

To make it a bit more visual, I will show and explain what a Napster network looks like and how it works.

Afterwards I will investigate the influence of these technologies on people. It will look at new groups and bands that became famous through this new technology, and the role that the record companies now play and used to play.

Then the consequences of using Napster in countries where music is controlled are explained further on. Finally I will deal with the whole illegal issue of Napster and also the consequences for Napster when the company must close down. Three systems will be shown that are quite promising to be able to step into Napster’s footsteps. As a conclusion, I must say that Napster had throughout a positive influence on the music business, however, I must also admit that Napster’s goal of sharing free Mp3 files is successful but people misused it by illegally burning songs onto CD’s. This meaning, that Napster never stored any illegal things, but made it easier for other people to make illegal copies and now Napster must pay for that.

Contents

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………..        4

Napster, P2P and Mp3 …………………………………………………………..         5

(i) First came Mp3 ………………………………………………………        6

(ii) P2P..…………………………………………………………………        7

(iii) Napster ……….…………………………………………………….        9

What does a Napster network look like? ………………………………………..        11

New Groups through new Technology …………………………………………        12

Groups become known all over the World ……………..……………………….        13

What is happening to Napster right now? …………………………………..…..        14

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………….…        18

Bibliography ……………………………………………………………………        19


Introduction:

Many people have asked the question if Napster does have a positive influence on the music business recently. In this essay I will look at aspects concerning Napster and its technology as well as the influence it had and has on the music business.

The arrival of the new computer programme Napster with its new technology changed the world in only a few months. Napster is a computer programme that managed to change the world of music on the Internet completely and successfully. In creating Napster, Fanning the inventor, not only transformed the music business, but he also helped launch a new programming movement and a whole wave of start-ups dedicated to what has become known as P2P, or peer-to-peer, client based Internet software. It allows computer users to exchange files directly, avoiding server bottlenecks. This programme became so popular that it had the fastest growing number of users in history. It managed to pass the 25 million mark in less than a year of operation. For its users, Napster has become another appliance, like a toaster or washing machine. Just call it a music appliance: log on, download, play songs. The simplicity of the programme is part of its genius. The technology used will be discussed later on in this essay.

 

Personally, I have been drawn to this subject because I like music and I also enjoy listening to music. However, I always had trouble finding the right technology for me to carry around my music, until I discovered Mp3. Mp3 players and Napster together made it possible for me as well as for thousands of other people to listen to the music they want, whenever and wherever they wanted.

I am interested in this new technology with all its little details and possibilities. However, I believe that many people still do not know Napster or anything about the new technology and what it can be used for. From my background reading, I learned many things about the Napster technology and also the use of Mp3 files and players.

My decision to look at the topic in different sections was mainly do to the information found. I will investigate the technology beyond Napster, and how it came about. This will then lead into an overview on the impact it had on young and unknown groups and further on there will be a discussion about music and that it is listened to all over the world. Also aspects of Napster’s current situation are given, as well as other alternatives to Napster are explained.

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Napster, P2P and Mp3

Napster, P2P and Mp3 are names that are heard daily on the music and computer market right now. Napster being a new programme and P2P, Mp3 being old programmes recovered. P2P has been around for already many years, but nobody ever took advantage of this technology since at that point in time there was no use and need for it. The same goes for Mp3. However, the arrival of the new Napster program suddenly seamed to reawaken the other two technologies, which are today assumed to be common knowledge.


First came Mp3

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