Were you anxiously awaiting the new subscription-based Napster service? If so, I'm sorry. The new service will most likely not be unveiled until 2002 because of Napster Inc.'s troubles in getting record labels to license content. Another factor in the delay of subscription Napster is the company's concern of competition.

On Monday, Konrad Hilbers, Napster's chief executive officer, told industry officials at the Webnoize 2001 conference that, "The biggest hurdle Napster faces is obtaining this content." Hilbers also added that the subscription model of Napster would "probably [be ready] in the first quarter of next year." This is months later than originally scheduled.

With Napster dead in the water since July, Hilbers is ready to get the file-swapping program back online. He has even asked Congress to pass compulsory licensing laws if labels won't share their coveted content. "Let's get this going before the buzz wears off," Hilbers said.

Wasn't Napster supposed to open its PAID SERVICE at the end of the summer of '01? Hmmm.....Problems Problems Problems....I will not subscribe. Keep the music free.

Napster?

poor napster. they just don't realize that no one will pay for something when they can already get it for free.

I haven't used Napster since February, and from the looks of things, I probably never will again. Sad. But they will always be credited (by me at least) w/bringing p2p to the masses. So long as no subsequent program offers the content nor user-friendliness that it once had, I'll still miss it.

lol