MSNBC features an intresting article about the founder of Napster, Shawn Fenning. He was the one that came up with the idea and who coded the first Napster versions. He is currently unemployed and takes care of his 15-year-old half-brother which he has adopted. It's pretty sad to see that no company is hiring someone that has come up with such a great idea!
In the article Shawn also tells about how Napster started, what he did and what he thinks of the current music industry and the file sharing networks. Shawn has never been rich from his work, but he also didn't seem to regret about starting Napster. He is also very clear about filesharing hurting the record sales.
WSJ: Compact disc shipments fell 7% in the first six months of this year. The recording industry says its data show consumers who download music from the Internet are purchasing fewer CDs. Do you agree that the Internet-based music services are hurting the music industry? |
Mr. Fanning: It may be hurting the music industry at this point, but my view is when consumers have the ability to learn about new and interesting music '” and the barrier is lowered in a way that gives them control over how they experience it '” I think those are positive things.
As Napster grew and ultimately hit its peak, if you look at CD sales [they] were up as long as Napster was popular. The point at which Napster started filtering (blocking out certain songs after a court order in March 2001) is the point at which the record industry announced that this constant increase in their CD sales suddenly changed.
Too bad Napster is now in the hands of a company that really doesn't know what to do it. Actually, Napster is dead and for sale. Read the entire interview here.
Source: MSNBC.com
