Napster is Back With New $5 Subscription Service

By Jane McEntegart
published

Napster is back and while it may be fee-paying, it’s still a far cry from iTunes-like practices of paying per song.

In a press release dated for tomorrow, May 19, Napster announced that for just $5 a month, subscribers will get unlimited, streaming access to the Napster library, which boasts 7 million tracks from both major and independent labels. Along with your unlimited streaming, you’ll also get five “unrestricted”  songs each month that you can burn, play and transfer as many times as you want. 

Throwing in "60 commercial-free radio stations and more than 1,400 expertly programmed playlists," this is a pretty awesome deal for those of us who spend a large part of our lives hooked up to the web. Sure five songs a month isn't great but if you're online for several hours a day, every single day, this seems like a no brainer.

This whole thing brings us right back to Microsoft’s claims that it will cost you thousands to fill your iPod with iTunes versus the $14.99 a month it’ll cost you for Zune Pass. In other words, the benefits of a subscription-based service rather than a pay-per-tune service. Assuming we’re all legal, law abiding citizens who pay for the music (we’re giving you the benefit of the doubt here), what kind of service do you use? Are you an iTunes fan or do you prefer these all-you-can-eat services? Let us know in the comments below!

Jane McEntegart
25 Comments Comment from the forums
  • I like pandora. It's free, and I get to be exposed to new bands that I've never heard of, but are within the styles that I like.
    Reply
  • vohnvest
    all you can eat with zune... plus i get 10 songs i can keep every month
    Reply
  • bustapr
    I prefer these all you can eat services.
    Reply
  • tenor77
    bustaprI prefer these all you can eat services.Stay away from the breadsticks. They fill you up faster.

    I'm for the open subscriptions as well. You may not own the song but you still have instant access to it as long as you keep the service. Sure there's songs you'll want to buy but a lot of songs loose their novelty.
    Reply
  • paranoidmage
    You’ll also get five “unrestricted” songs each month that you can burn, play and transfer as many times as you want.

    So most of the songs downloaded will be deleted after we listen to them? That's a great service.

    It also sounds a lot better than itunes. Let's do the math. $5 for 5 songs you can actually keep. 5 songs from itunes at 99 cents each will cost 4.95. That's a whole lot cheaper than itunes, right? You only loose 5 cents.

    My pirate ship seems to get songs at the lowest price though: free.
    Reply
  • stlunatic
    paranoidmageMy pirate ship seems to get songs at the lowest price though: free. +1
    Reply
  • JMcEntegart
    paranoidmageSo most of the songs downloaded will be deleted after we listen to them? That's a great service. It also sounds a lot better than itunes.
    You're not downloading the content, you're streaming it. You can't delete something you never had to begin with. You're essentially paying $5 for unlimited streaming and get to download five songs as a bonus.
    Reply
  • bustapr
    paranoidmageSo most of the songs downloaded will be deleted after we listen to them? That's a great service. It also sounds a lot better than itunes. Let's do the math. $5 for 5 songs you can actually keep. 5 songs from itunes at 99 cents each will cost 4.95. That's a whole lot cheaper than itunes, right? You only loose 5 cents.My pirate ship seems to get songs at the lowest price though: free.
    Who said you download the music? You get to hear all the songs you want at any time for the subscription fee + commercial free radio stations, which is really cool.
    Reply
  • Parrdacc
    Arrgh Matey! These waters there be monsters!
    Reply
  • ART-T
    I just went to napster.com which redirected me to http://www.napster.com/index.html?darwin_ttl=1242668830&darwin=0209A says $12.95/month

    where is the $5
    Reply