Editing Napster (streaming service) (section)

<!-- This edit's meant to clarify the difference between the current iteration of Napster and Rhapsody, who share the same corporate identity. -->
{{short description|Rhapsody music streaming service post-2016 rebranding}}
{{About|the current service operated as Napster|the defunct peer-to-peer file-sharing software|Napster|the former service that operated as Napster|Napster (pay service)}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Napster
| logo = 
| former_name = Rhapsody<br/>(2001–2003, 2004–2016)<br/>RealOne Rhapsody<br/>(2003–2004)<br/>RealRhapsody (2004)
| predecessor = TuneTo.com (1999–2001)<br/>[[Napster (pay service)]]
| industry = [[Music industry|Music]]<br/>[[Broadcasting]]
| founded = {{start date and age|2001|12|3}} (as Rhapsody)
| founder = [[Rob Reid]]
| hq_location_city = Seattle, Washington
| hq_location_country = United States
| key_people = Jon Vlassopulos (CEO)<ref>https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/napster-hires-roblox-former-global-head-of-music-jon-vlassopulos-as-ceo/</ref>
| owner = Listen.com (2001–2003)<br/>[[RealNetworks]] (2003–2010)<br/>Rhapsody International, Inc. (2010–2020)<br/>Napster Group PLC (2020–2022)<ref name="VR">{{cite web|title=MelodyVR to Rebrand as Napster, new App Coming Q4 2021|url=https://www.gmw3.com/2021/02/melodyvr-to-rebrand-as-napster-new-app-coming-q4-2021|last=Graham|first=Peter|date=February 10, 2020|work=GMW3}}</ref><br/>Hivemind (co-owner, 2022–2025)<br/>[[Algorand]] (co-owner, 2022–2025)<br>Infinite Reality (owner, 2025–present)
| area_served = {{collapsible list|title=33 countries<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.napster.com/availability|title=Napster: Music from Every Angle }}</ref>|titlestyle=font-weight:normal;font-size:normal;text-align:left|
{{Unbulleted list|United States|Andorra|Argentina|Austria|Brazil|Canada|Chile|Colombia|Costa Rica|Denmark|Ecuador|El Salvador|Finland|France|Germany|Greece|Guatemala|Ireland|Italy|Luxembourg|Mexico|Monaco|Netherlands|Nicaragua|Norway|Panama|Peru|Portugal|Spain|Sweden|Switzerland|United Kingdom|Uruguay}} }}
| brands = Napster
| website = {{URL|https://us.napster.com/|napster.com}}
}}
'''Napster'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theverge.com/2016/6/14/11936974/rhapsody-rebrands-as-napster |title=Rhapsody rebrands itself as Napster because ¯\_(ツ)_/¯: Sounds of the undead |surname=Popper |given=Ben |date=2016-06-14 |website=The Verge |access-date=2017-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.napster.com/2016/06/14/rhapsody-becoming-napster/ |title=Rhapsody is Becoming Napster |author=Napster Team |date=2016-06-14 |website=Napster Music News |access-date=2017-04-29}}</ref> is a [[Streaming media|music streaming]] service based in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], United States. Until 2016, the service was known domestically as '''Rhapsody''' before rebranding as Napster, the same name brand that was used by [[Napster (pay service)|Roxio's Napster]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Popper |first=Ben |date=2016-06-14 |title=Rhapsody rebrands itself as Napster because ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/14/11936974/rhapsody-rebrands-as-napster |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>

Napster started as an audio search engine named Aladdin that was purchased by Listen.com in May 2001 and became the basis for its new streaming service, called Rhapsody, that launched in December of the same year. Based on the [[Open Music Model]] principles, Rhapsody was the first streaming on-demand music subscription service to offer unlimited access to a large library of digital music for a flat monthly fee. In August 2003, internet media company [[RealNetworks]], anticipating the launch of [[Apple Inc.|Apple's]] [[iTunes Store]], acquired Rhapsody. On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody relaunched as a standalone company, separate from former parent RealNetworks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/04/kindalikeabigdeal.html |title=Rhapsody Announces Declaration From Parent Company RealNetworks |date=2010-04-06 |publisher=Rhapsody America LLC |access-date=2010-04-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409105142/http://blog.rhapsody.com/2010/04/kindalikeabigdeal.html |archive-date=2010-04-09 }}</ref> On August 25, 2020, Rhapsody International and the Napster name were sold for $70 million to virtual reality concerts company MelodyVR, which renamed itself Napster Group PLC following the takeover.<ref name="VR"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/9439418/napster-melodyvr-sale-price-details |title=Napster Sold to Virtual Reality Concert App MelodyVR for $70 Million |date=25 August 2020 |first=Marc |last=Schneider |website=www.billboard.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Napster sold for a song to UK virtual events company |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6737344b-76be-4ae4-80ad-11c12768bb40 |first=Nic |last=Fildes |date=August 25, 2020 |access-date=2020-09-22 |newspaper=[[Financial Times]]}}</ref> On May 10, 2022, Napster was sold to Hivemind and [[Algorand]]. On March 25, 2025, Napster was sold to Infinite Reality.<ref name="InfiniteReality">{{Cite web |title=Infinite Reality Acquires Iconic Music Service Napster |url=https://www.theinfinitereality.com/news/infinite-reality-acquires-iconic-music-service-napster |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=www.theinfinitereality.com |language=en}}</ref>