Google to acquire Napster?

The New York Post (read: one of our very best sources for tech news) is claiming to have the exclusive scoop on Google’s anticipated foray into digital music. Citing “sources within the music industry,” the Post says that Google is “considering an extensive alliance” with the possibility of an “outright acquisition” of once-renegade Napster. Not that this would come as a surprise given the recent launch of Google’s Video download service and Napster’s struggle to turn a profit off its 500k or so subscribers. One thing’s for sure, Napster stands a better chance of success snuggled up to the likes of Google than they ever did with those mad CD burnin' folks over at Roxio… that was just like, so Y2K.

[Thanks, Lang]

Update: Big surprise, a Google rep in the UK denies ever being in talks with Napster over a buyout, and that the "have no plans at this time to develop a music store, or to compete with existing online and offline music retailers." Well, alright then.

[Ren @ Jan 31st 2006 9:11AM]

I would so use services google comes up with. yeah.

[Andre de Cavaignac @ Jan 31st 2006 9:23AM]

I hope not, I hate Google -- I'd cancel my account.

[edmund @ Jan 31st 2006 9:24AM]

i hope google will take napster, add thousands of artists, and make it compatible with mac. oh wait, i have to pay every month just to listen to "my" music? um, no. i'll take the iTMS any day of the week.

[Konstantinos @ Jan 31st 2006 9:48AM]

What is this? Slashdot? Three comments and no-one has noticed that the "Read" link is broken.

[jason @ Jan 31st 2006 9:52AM]

edmund - its not your music -- you'd be renting it. if apple came out with a subscription program, you'd be singing a different tune. i have an ipod, but my next player will not be an ipod specifically so i can take advantage of the subscription based programs like napster.

[DM @ Jan 31st 2006 9:56AM]

#3 Yea, you'll have to pay every month to get access to Napster million+ song collection... But the advantages of that kind of service is obviously too hard for you ipod morons to figure out until Mr. Steve Jobs wet-farts out his own iTunes music subscription service...and you go on licking the shit behind him proclaiming it to be the next best thing since sliced bread... uh yeah, so STFU.

[Tony @ Jan 31st 2006 10:08AM]

Brilliant...this is exactly what Google needs, because it fits so perfectly into the existing business plan. Think about itunes, it is all about searching for music, napster is all about searching for music. It is a perfect fit, and interestingly gives Google a solid new revenue stream. NOW, i hope they don't try to add ad words into the songs. :)
I thought Google had no more tricks up their sleeve, but they come out with the bombshell.

[HeyNow @ Jan 31st 2006 10:40AM]

Ahhh yes, the "reliable" source NY Post. The same people that reported that Howard Stern was married over this past Christmas vacation. He didn't... and the same source that reported that Stern had purchased a car for a stripper a few years back... another story they got wrong.... and the same source that claimed Howard was going to be censored by Sirius satellite management. Not happening. Yes, very reliable, very, very reliable source.

[TorontoGuy @ Jan 31st 2006 10:44AM]

Sorry, but if Google is involved then I don't want anything to do with it.

"Do no Google"

[Paranoised @ Jan 31st 2006 10:50AM]

Im sorry but this has to be said, #8 is a moron. And although he seemingly claims that he has a 'worthy job'; he talks like a 12 year old.

Moving on...

All of Google's services including the Video Store are all well done, this is gonna be interesting.

[DM @ Jan 31st 2006 11:00AM]

#7 Have you ever thought that people might want to LISTEN to music before they buy it so that, y'know they figure out whether they like it or not?

Oh, whats that sound? Hmm, seems like Steve Jobs farted again, and unfortunately he doesn't have any toilet paper...you know what to do, don't ya?

[DM @ Jan 31st 2006 11:06AM]

Ohh, sorry I pointed at myself...hahah...now maybe the 12 year old can make some jokes about that since he cant find anything in defence of itunes anymore....

I meant #9...

And for the record, I will give you $1.99 to kiss my ass...

[Jaxim @ Jan 31st 2006 11:07AM]

"All of Google's services including the Video Store are all well done, this is gonna be interesting."

Google has some great products, but I would say that they're ALL done well. For example:

Google's Personalize Page - you can't import your bookmarks, you can't place news headlines with corresponding image on the page - MSN's and Yahoo's (My Yahoo) personalize pages are much better.

Gmail - Is there an EASY way to view your messages with 2 of the labels? Is there an EASY way to view messages that do not yet have any labels assigned to them?

Google's services are pretty good, but most of them seem unfinished. They could be so much better!

[Dingo128 @ Jan 31st 2006 11:13AM]

#3 You do not have to use the Napster subscription service to use Napster. You can buy your songs for $0.99 just like ITunes.

[Rich @ Jan 31st 2006 11:36AM]

Or you could buy your songs for $0.05 from AllOfMP3.com...

[xaque @ Jan 31st 2006 11:44AM]

Google + Napster = Best logo ever.

[anonymous coward @ Jan 31st 2006 12:05PM]

"oh wait, i have to pay every month just to listen to "my" music? um, no. i'll take the iTMS any day of the week."

I felt the same way until someone gave my school a free year's worth of Yahoo music unlimited. Gotta admit, it totally rocks. When the year's up, i'm either renewing or going with a competing service.

Money (or the lack thereof) wasn't really a big impediment to my music purchases before, but I still listen to far more acts now that I can get pretty much anything at a whim.

[dp123 @ Jan 31st 2006 12:12PM]

People are missing an obvious problem here: WMA and MS DRM. I think Napster is about to disappear and I think Google is about to get into this market, but I don't see any deal between the two.

[mike @ Jan 31st 2006 12:22PM]

would so use services google comes up with. yeah.

---

yeah.. Napster is a sinking, and no one cares about their arrogant 'we're the number one brand in online music' BS.. . Google.. who knows nothing about music, is going to come along and solve the gordian knot.. (competing with the iPod)..

yeah right..

best case scenario... Google's brand power plummets after being associated with POS Napster 2.0

[MattVB @ Jan 31st 2006 12:29PM]

This should be interesting considering Napster runs on MSFT's "Plays for sure" platform.

Paranoised - You must work for some obscure group at Google that hasn't seen the light of day for weeks considering Google themselves said their rollout of Video was a miserable failure.

[Shane @ Jan 31st 2006 1:31PM]

why are people ripping on Google, #2 & #11 - what have they done other than make advertising revenue? Google could beat up all of your dads. Bow down pansies

you're just mad you didn't buy them when they went public. $336 profit per share in 5 months anyone?

[Mike @ Jan 31st 2006 2:13PM]

I see we have some 'reasonable' people here (LOL)! I generally purchase items based upon the quality of the item and the price point. It's really smart to subscribe or cancel based upon your view of the company rather than the quality of the product. Hey... here's a brilliant thought... check out the service and make a decision based upon that! If you don't like it then cancel. You will be out a whole $20 if you aren't happy. If you can't afford the $20 hit, spend more time in school rather than posting ridiculous comments.

[mike @ Jan 31st 2006 2:53PM]

#5

Google's core business is to have access to all the worlds informtion in a digital form and be able to search it... music is in the category, so it makes perfect sense...

it would actually fit in well with googles music/artist search they started a while back, there can be a link to purchase the song from Napster, which they own and would make them money

[TorontoGuy @ Jan 31st 2006 3:39PM]

Yes, there are lots of products produced by underpaid, exploited workers in abominable conditions but what's 'really' important is "the quality of the item and the price point"...ethical decisions shouldn't enter into personal buying decisions!
These days it is more important that we support, buy from and invest in ethical companies and to avoid dealing with those groups for whom there is no 'right and wrong' but only what is expedient for them.

'Do no Google'

[carl @ Jan 31st 2006 3:54PM]

Re#5: Jarod

Apple needs to stick to its core business... computers. What does Apple know about music? They surely can't open a music/video service and expect any kind of success, they don't know jack about it! Their stock will certainly take a nose dive and they'll fizzle out if they attempt these shenanigans. Then they'll learn their lesson.

oh wait....

[Beowulf @ Jan 31st 2006 3:55PM]

a) cool logo

b) Google says it ain't so.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11115503/from/RS.3/

[bhauth @ Jan 31st 2006 4:27PM]

I remember when the comments on Engadget were civil and insightful - the price of success, huh?

As for me, I think that this would be a dumb move for google (I thought that google overpaid for what they got of AOL too) and refuse to use any major online music store, though I did buy a dozen ITMS songs off a gift certificate and then swore it off after having to strip the DRM to get it onto all of my computers and discovering the inadequacy of the sound quality.

If google really wants to get into the online music business, they should build it themselves.

[Shane @ Jan 31st 2006 5:21PM]

#28 - why would you spend millions of dollars allocating resources in order to research and develop their own system when there's a great system all set to go! Napster is reporting losses, why not buy & revamp?

Makes more sense, especially since they're going balls out to get market share in every aspect of the internet.

[edmund @ Jan 31st 2006 6:15PM]

I do own an iPod, but I am not a Jobs-worshipping moron. I just think that the Napster/Yahoo model is ridiculous: people want to OWN their music, not rent it. Plus, the iTMS has a better interface, is more user-friendly, is compatible with BOTH mac AND windows, and is built in to the best jukebox software there is (oh wait, i'm sorry, are there any musicmatch users out there?).

[mike @ Jan 31st 2006 7:36PM]

I do own an iPod, but I am not a Jobs-worshipping moron

----

ah, amazing huh? if you actually meet some Apple customers you find.. wait.. oh my god.. they're not Mac zealots.. they're just customers who chose between a computer that works and one that doesn't. Amazing! Capitalism is amazing!

[mike @ Jan 31st 2006 7:39PM]

I do own an iPod, but I am not a Jobs-worshipping moron

----

ah, amazing huh? if you actually meet some Apple customers you find.. wait.. oh my god.. they're not Mac zealots.. they're just customers who chose between a computer that works and one that doesn't. Amazing! Capitalism is amazing!

[AG @ Jan 31st 2006 8:07PM]

I subscribe to Napster and I have used both Yahoo and Rhapsody. I own a iRiver H10. I have a choice: Burn my CD's, download MP3's, or rent them. I think Google could do wonders to the Napster interface and experience. It could also make the Microsoft DRM platform more viable. I think because you can rent and buy, it is superior to Fairplay, the DRM that Apple uses. At the very least it gives all of you free music advocates a place to check out tunes before you download!

[Echo_ @ Jan 31st 2006 9:43PM]

For those saying google should stay in their own area of expertise...

Google is suppose to bring us information, webpages,images,basically anythign that is out there hence google videos now google music.

makes cents to me (haha what a great pun)

[Scott @ Feb 1st 2006 8:52AM]

Napster is great.... I wouldn't spend 99 cents per song as I would be spending way over the subscription cost each month..... Just like Blockbuster and Netflix in the video rental space, there is a whole new large market for music rental. Apple will need a subscription service to compete, the IPOD brand craze is coming to an end!

[Greg @ Feb 3rd 2006 7:31AM]

I have Napster and love it, i hope Google Takes it Over! Napster is the best online music store ever!