Napster

The consumer electronics giant is handing over its Napster subscribers and other related assets to Rhapsody in exchange for a minority stake in the combined company. This amounts to a surrender of Napster, which Best Buy acquired just three years ago. Let's go over the three likely reasons why.

Sony has launched Music Unlimited, a subscription-based music-streaming service, but the move to leverage its music studio and numerous music-playing devices is surprisingly tardy. Trying to breaking in now could sound some sour notes.

Near the start of the new century, the Internet gave us Napster, the peer-to-peer network that allowed people to trade and download songs and albums for free, illegally of course. Since then, the way people purchase music has been altered and the music industry has taken notice. In 2007, the...

Nine Inch Nails' latest album "The Slip" hit retail stores last week, but devoted fans have owned the tracks for months, and for free. In May, the band released the album on its website with a note from lead singer Trent Reznor. "Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years -- this...