Napster ups UK track count ahead of Sony, Apple launches

Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2004/06/07/napster_catalogue_up/

Competition hots up

Posted in On-Prem, 7th June 2004 09:54 GMT

Napster UK has upped the number of songs available from its online music service from 500,000 to 700,000.

The company said as much at its launch last month, but today's announcement puts its track catalogue well ahead of competing UK-based music services.

Napster UK has all the major labels in its bag, along with many of the UK's leading independent labels, courtesy of its tie-in with indie trade body the Association of Independent Music (AIM).

Napster's UK site went online on 20 May, followed a week later by its Canadian service. The company won't say specifically how successful it's been at signing up British music fans, either for one-off downloads or for its £9.95 ($18.32) subscription package. However, UK communications director Adam Howorth told The Register that the company was "very pleased" with the figures to date.

Napster faces two key challenges this month: the launch of Sony's Connect service and - more importantly - the arrival of Apple's iTunes Music Store, which is believed to debut in just over a week's time, on 15 June. ®

Napster ups UK track count ahead of Sony, Apple launches

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