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The article reports on attempts by competitors to edge in on Apple Computer's iTunes service. Microsoft is attempting to compete with a music software and sales system similar to iTunes. The article presents short descriptions of some of the other competing systems, among them are eMusic, Yahoo Music, and Napster.

Reports on the lack of classical music for iPod and MP3 player fans. Popular sites such as Napster, Musicmatch and MSN Music which devote only 2%-10% of their offerings to classical works; How MP3 players are not set up to sort classical tracks; Virgin Group's Virgin Digital which is adding classical pieces and now has 70,000 tracks; Others who are following suit.

This section offers business news briefs, including the acquisition of Napster by online music subscription service Rhapsody International Inc. and the deal between Yahoo Inc. and ABC under which the former will feature more ABC content on its site.

The article reports on the move of Best Buy Inc. to sell outdoor patio products. According to analyst Colin McGranahan of Bernstein Research, the move is part of the strategy of Best Buy to provide a much wider product lineup on its Web site. It notes that Best Buy owns a music download service through its acquisition of Napster Inc. in 2008. Among the new product categories being tested by Best Buy are musical instruments, exercise equipment, electric scooters and pool tables.

The article reports on the acquisition of Napster Inc. buy Best buy Co. which amounts to $121 million. Napster became the latest company among others that have regrouped after trying to challenge the dominance of Apple Inc. in the digital music market. One of the biggest problem besetting these companies is their inability to work with Apple's Ipod, which accounts for more than 73% of the MP3 players market. Best Buy Executive Vice President Dave Morrish says that Best Buy hopes to expand Napster's offerings to include other options in the digital space.

The article reports that loss of music retailer Napster Inc. narrowed during its fiscal fourth quarter, ending March 31, 2008. In comparison with the same quarter of the previous year, Napster said its loss narrowed and sales increases with more people subscribing. It is reported that the company closed the quarter at about 760,000 paid subscribers worldwide.

The article reports on the plan of online music service Napster to sell all its downloads without the digital-rights-management (DRM) software. Company chief executive Chris Gorog states that the sale may be expected in April to June 2008 following agreements with major music companies including Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group Corp. It adds that the shift will not affect the firm's music subscription service. Gorog notes that they intend to challenge the dominance of the iPod-iTunes system of Apple.

The article unveils the plan of AT&T Inc. to make over five million songs available in the music catalog of Napster Inc. The music service will improve the download offerings of AT&T. Each song will cost $1.99 or $7.49 for five month. AT&T also plans to provide more music content for mobile downloading through making deals with artists.

The article presents updates related to mass media and marketing. The Interactive Advertising Bureau ordered comScore Inc. and Nielsen//NetRatings to submit to an outside audit concerning disparities in audience sizes for the same Web sites. Meanwhile, Napster Inc. announced its plans to partner with Circuit City Stores Inc. to launch a digital-music service.

The article reports on the expectations of Napster Inc. that its fourth quarter revenue in 2007 will increase due to subscriber growth.

The article reports that Napster Inc. has hired UBS AG to explore strategic alternatives related to the music service's narrower second-quarter loss.

The article provides an update on small capitalization stocks in the U.S. as of September 20, 2006 including the increase in stock price of Napster.

The article reports on the move of Napster Inc. to retain UBS Investment Bank to evaluate strategic alternatives for possible business venture and sale.

Reports on the service launched by music-download service Napster Inc. which offers customers the chance to listen to more than 2 million songs for free.

The article presents an update on the performance of small stocks of various business enterprises in the U.S., including Oregon Steel Mills Inc. and Napster Inc.

Reports on the net loss posted by digital-music provider Napster Inc. for the first quarter of 2005.

Reports on a partnership formed by Napster Inc. with Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson to develop a wireless version of Napster's online music service that can deliver full tracks directly to cellphones.

Presents updates on business from around the world as of April 2005, including the increase in the revenue estimate of Napster Inc.

Compares Napster To Go music downloading service against the industry standard, Apple Computer's iTunes. Comparison of the pricing methods each service uses, noting iTunes' price per song and Napster's monthly fee; How the Napster To Go service differs from other monthly subscription services, noting Napster's ability to download to portable players; Disadvantages of using the Napster service, noting subscribers must continue to pay a monthly fee if they want to continue to listen their downloaded music; Number of computers to which Napster will download; View that Napster software is more confusing than Apple's; Other problems the author had with Napster To Go.

Reports on a new rival for the popular iTunes music store from Apple Computer. Introduction of Napster To Go, a service that charges subscribers about $15.00 per month for access to all the music they want; Difference in Napster's plan from others on the Internet by offering portability of the music; Software from Microsoft that allows users to download songs onto portable players but not make copies of the tunes; Companies who are considering the same service such as RealNetworks, Inc., Virgin Digital and FYE.com; Figures on Internet piracy of songs.

Reports on the testing of Napster To Go online service which allows users to download unlimited amounts of music to portable music players, developed by online music company, Napster in 2004.

Reports on the agreement between Napster and Pennsylvania State University to offer college students a free access to Napster music service to fight music piracy on college campuses across the U.S.

Comments on the plan to reincarnate the music sharing Web site, Napster.

Announces that Napster Inc., the pioneering online-music service is getting another lease on life with the launch by the year-end 2003 of a legal, subscription-based music business.

Reports that Roxio Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire the assets of Napster Inc. in November 2002.

Presents an interview with Napster Inc. founder Shawn Fanning. Blockade of its sale to Bertelsmann AG by a bankruptcy court; His views on the ability of courts to stop the spread of illegal peer-to-peer file-sharing networks; Technological barriers to these networks; Impact of file-sharing on sales of CDs; His life since leaving Napster; Others.

Reports on the move creditors for Napster Inc. to sign a letter of intent to sell the Internet music service's assets to an unidentified party.

Reports that Napster Inc. won bankruptcy-court approval of bid procedures in connection with the Internet music service's proposed sale of its assets to Bertelsmann AG.

Reports the filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by Napster Inc. prior to a proposed sale of the company's assets to German media firm Bertelsmann AG in June 2002.

Reports on a deal for the acquisition of Napster Inc. by German media company Bertelsmann AG. Questions as to whether Napster would be popular as a commercial music download site rather than a free source for pirated music; Details on the agreement between Bertelsmann and Napster.

Reports on the resignation of top executives at Napster Inc. after the company failed to reach an agreement to be acquired by Bertelsmann AG.

Reports on the downsizing of Napster Inc. as it awaits its possible acquisition by German media company Bertelsmann AG.

Reports on the failed merger talks between Bertelsmann AG and Napster Inc. in March 2002.

Reports that Napster Inc. has been given time to obtain documents on their joint ventures with record companies in 2002.

Reports that Napster Inc. has laid off about 10% of its work force as part of its cost-cutting plan and unveils the delay of its service that respects record-label copyrights.

Reports on the decision of the U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel on the questioning of the validity of music copyrights by Napster Inc.

Reports on the tests conducted by Napster Inc. to a pay version of its computer music-swapping service.

Reports on the layoff of employees at Napster Inc. as it prepares to shift to a paid-subscription service from its original free file-sharing scheme.

Reports on the decision of Napster Inc., operator of the music-downloading service, to settle lawsuits filed by groups of songwriters and music publishers in the United States.

Reports that the recording industry of San Francisco, California has requested summary judgment for its copyright infringement lawsuit against Napster Inc.

Reports on the ruling of the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that Napster Inc. can reopen its music-sharing service in 2001.

Reports the settlement of the copyright infringement case filed by the rock bands Metallica and Dr. Dre against Napster Inc.

Focuses on the ruling by a federal judge that Napster Inc. could not resume its song-swapping service until it can prove it is not violating copyrights on musical recordings.

Reports that Napster Inc. has stopped its free online music-sharing service in preparation for the introduction of its subscription service in 2001.

Provides information on the licensing deal signed by music service Napster Inc. with the Association of Independent Music and Independent Music Companies Association, which represents European independent labels.

Reports that the 9th Circuit United States Court of Appeals affirmed a preliminary injunction that put limitations on the online song-swapping service Napster in June 2001.

Announces that Napster Inc. has selected Loudeye Technologies Inc. to help it screen copyrighted songs from the company's song-swapping service.

Reports that Napster Inc.'s licensing deal with MusicNet, has strained relations within the venture and is likely to lead to changes in how it operates.

Focuses on the licensing deal between Napster Inc. and MusicNet, a subscription music venture backed by three music companies and RealNetworks Inc.

Discusses confusion in the music industry about how to harness the power of the Internet. Controversy over German media group Bertelsmann AG's alliance with free-music Internet service Napster Inc.; Actions by Bertelsmann Chief Executive Thomas Middelhoff to move the company into online music; Copyright battles facing Napster, relating to the downloading of music.