Agreed!  I still have all my vinyl and all of my CD's (and I've bought several CD collections from people moving to streaming), but I figured for $49.95/year it was worth being able to listen to anything I desired - especially to sample new/different music, find old music from the past that I don't own, etc.  At the current rates of $120/month (off the cuff approximate average across providers) I'm not so sure...


From: "Paul Ryak" <w1pr@cox.net>
To: "Ken Alker via SBARC-list" <sbarc-list@lists.netlojix.com>
Cc: "digital" <digital@sbarc.org>, "Ken Alker" <ka6ken@alker.net>
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2026 12:14:54 PM
Subject: RE: [Sbarc-list] Napster - again again

Try vinyl. Pay once, enjoy forever 


-------- Original message --------
From: Ken Alker via SBARC-list <sbarc-list@lists.netlojix.com>
Date: 1/30/26 8:21 AM (GMT-08:00)
To: sbarc-list <sbarc-list@lists.netlojix.com>
Cc: digital <digital@sbarc.org>, Ken Alker <ka6ken@alker.net>
Subject: [Sbarc-list] Napster - again again

Napster has re-created itself a second time (third instance, if you will).  See https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/napsters-back-and-its-new-ai-first-app-wants-you-to-help-create-the-music-not-just-listen-to-it.

I thought Brian (K6BPM) would like this particularly, considering his mentions of personality trade-marking.

The first re-creation of Napster was when they took over the Rhapsody brand, which is why I was researching them.  I have had a Rhapsody (now Napster) music streaming subscription since 2006 as a beta tester for Sonos (wow - how time FLIEs).  I got a special deal at $49.95/year but it only works with my Sonos system.  When I tried to stream music yesterday on my Sonos system it told me that they no longer support Napster (formerly Rhapsody) and that I should delete the icon from my Sonos app entirely.  Hmmm... I've already been charged my $49.95 for the year by Napster.

I think Rhapsody may have been the first ever music streaming service (not sure, though; maybe just "one of the first").  Another one bites the dust.

Ken
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