When I saw Napster sold for $207, I thought that sounded about right. Then I read the next word . . . Napster, which launched way back in 1999, just sold for $207 MILLION. Yes, the year is 2025.
A lot of people didn’t know it was even still around. It’s like Spotify or Apple Music, but not as popular. Their big selling point is the audio is less compressed, so people who want good sound quality prefer it.
A metaverse company called Infinite Reality just bought it. They say they plan to “transform” Napster into a “social and interactive music platform.” Or basically, virtual concerts.
You’ll buy tickets like normal, and use a V.R. headset to watch artists perform in more intimate settings. (I bet I’ll still somehow end up with crappy seats.)
“Imagine stepping into a virtual venue to watch an exclusive show with friends, [or] chat with your favorite artist in their own virtual hangout.” They say you’ll even be able to buy merch in there.
Napster was a hit with college kids when it launched in 1999, because you could download music for free. It eventually got shut down in 2001, then relaunched as a paid service and went bankrupt.
Best Buy bought it in 2008, and it’s been sold a few more times since then. So this isn’t new territory. It’s like an old relic of the early internet that refuses to die, and it’s somehow still worth $200 million.
