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Napster brand recognition key to success
updated 05:45 pm EDT, Mon October 13, 2003
Napster -- this time as a pay service -- and this week Apple's iTunes expands from the Mac to the Windows world. Napster 2.0, bears little relation to the original free-swap phenomenon, according to USA Today. The new version sells songs for about $1 and charges a monthly subscription fee of $10. U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray analyst Eugene Munster of says Napster is likely to quickly gain market share -- a recent consumer study found Napster had 92.5% brand recognition, compared with 29.5% for Apple and 15% for Rhapsody. "People will check out Napster, because they've heard of it," he says.
you go Napster
10/13, 06:36pm reply
...not too likely..
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Hey napster
10/13, 07:08pm reply
Good luck with that.
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Sure
10/13, 07:25pm reply
People will check it out, but a lot of that 92% brand recognition will leave once they realize they must pay for music. (pay AND subscribe, if you believe the write-up).
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Poll
10/13, 07:40pm reply
I read this article this morning, there was a poll attached. I don't know what happened to the poll, but it was something like "Which music-download service will you use." I checked back this afternoon and iTunes was in the lead with 45% of the vote, followed by "continue using kazaa, etc." at 21% and Rhapsody at 11%. The poll is no longer there, but I found it intriguing that iTunes was the highest.
What I don't believe in the article is that iTunes is given 3 stars and Rhapsody is given 3.5 stars when you can't even have copy on your computer. They say "For the user who doesn't put a premium on portability and is happy to listen near the computer ..., Rhapsody is the best bet." There must be something I'm missing here, but how do I go and take a walk and listen to the music I pay for? I guess I could burn a CD, but with other services available, what's the point?
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Again an opportunity lost
10/13, 08:03pm reply
The bandwagon had just passed and Apple is still sleeping in its own little island. Napster, Musicmatch, Bestbuy...this brand names are staple to wintel people and as usual Apple has nothing to offer uniquely. Wake up Apple you're already way too late!
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Learn from Microsoft
10/13, 08:14pm reply
Release and profit now...
fix the bugs later!
or was it release with minimal profit now...
and the bugs will fix it later!
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iTMS will kick its...
10/13, 10:21pm reply
A$$.
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Bandwagon hasn't passed
10/13, 10:38pm reply
Anyone who thinks Apple is too late to the gate: Remember that Wesley Clark's candicacy was considered too late to make any difference. Now he's leading in the national polls. (Still, he needs to boost his numbers in NH.)
I doubt that name recognition will help the new Napster, since the differences between the new & old Napsters will be apparent to all. You'll notice how name recognition didn't help Audiogalaxy when they morphed into Listen.com and Rhapsody.
As much as I like iTMS, I'd pay to see Audiogalaxy restored to its former glory/infamy. There was a wonderful sense of community among fans that's utterly lacking in the iTMS. Anyone who remembers the group "The Church & Related" will know what I'm talking about.
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NapsterMiles Reward Point
10/14, 02:09am reply
Napster Music is going to be free again with reward miles! Thanks Napster!
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Napster Miles
10/14, 02:16am reply
Here is the link http://www.napstermiles.com
Even Starbucks is giving away rewards.... with NapsterMiles you get free music! GREAT IDEA!
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