Best Buy tuning out of digital music service Napster

Best Buy is tuning out of Napster, a digital music service that struggled to evolve from its renegade origins as a free file-sharing network that riled the recording industry. Napster’s subscribers and other assets will be sold to another digital music service, Rhapsody, as part of a deal announced Monday. Best Buy will get an […]

Best Buy is tuning out of Napster, a digital music service that struggled to evolve from its renegade origins as a free file-sharing network that riled the recording industry.

Napster’s subscribers and other assets will be sold to another digital music service, Rhapsody, as part of a deal announced Monday.

Best Buy will get an undisclosed stake in Rhapsody after the swap is completed. The exchange is expected to be completed by end of November.

The deal ends Best Buy’s efforts to groom Napster into a brand that would have broad appeal to shoppers buying gadgets at its nearly 1,400 stores. Best Buy, which is based in Richfield, Minn., bought Napster for $122 million in cash in October 2008.

Media Articles

30 Under 30 is back with a new name, new outlook

No more age limit! The New Establishment brings 30 Under 30 in a new direction, starting with media professionals.

As Prime Minister, Kellie Leitch would scrap CBC

Tory leadership hopefuls are outlining their views on national broadcaster's future

‘Your Morning’ embarks on first travel partnership

Sponsored giveaway supported by social posts directed at female-skewing audience

KitchenAid embraces social for breast cancer campaign

Annual charitable campaign taps influencers and the social web for the first time

Netflix debates contributions with Canadian Heritage

Netflix remains wary of regulation as some tout 'Anne' and 'Alias Grace' partnerships

Canadians warm up to social commerce

PayPal and Ipsos research shows "Shop Now" buttons are gaining traction

Online ad exchange AppNexus cuts off Breitbart

Popular online ad exchange bans site for violating hate speech policy

Robert Jenkyn is back at Media Experts

Former Microsoft and Globe and Mail exec returns to the agency world

2016 Media Innovation Awards: The complete winners list

All the winning agencies from media's biggest night out!