Napster Acquired for $207M: New Era for the Former Piracy Giant

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Napster, the brand that once defined the music piracy era before evolving into a legitimate streaming service, has been sold to tech commerce company Infinite Reality for $207 million.

Infinite Reality announced the acquisition on Tuesday, unveiling plans to reshape Napster into a more interactive and immersive music platform. The company envisions a space where artists can engage directly with fans, host virtual concerts, and monetize their music more effectively.

“The internet has evolved from desktop to mobile, from mobile to social, and now we are entering the immersive era. Yet, music streaming has remained largely the same. It’s time to reimagine what’s possible,” said Napster CEO Jon Vlassopulos in a blog post.

As part of its transformation, Napster will introduce 3D virtual spaces for live performances and merchandise sales, alongside enhanced analytics for artists and labels to gain deeper insights into audience behavior.

Infinite Reality’s Chief Business Officer Amish Shah emphasized the company’s vision, stating, “We can think of no better use case for our technology than putting it in the hands of music artists who are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.”

Initially launched in 1999 by Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker, Napster revolutionized music sharing before facing legal challenges from the recording industry and artists like Metallica. After shutting down in the early 2000s, it was later revived as a streaming service by Rhapsody in 2011.

With this latest shift, Napster is set to undergo yet another transformation—this time, embracing the digital future in a way that could redefine how music fans and artists connect.