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Napster`s Digital Music Conquers Japan

To compete with Apple Computer, Napster launched an online song distribution site in Japan. The company, a cooperation between Tower Records Japan and America`s Napster, will provide a service that allows users to download an infinite number of songs from the given database of 1.5 million songs.

The service will cost 1,980 yen a month, which is $16.80. In addition, the songs will be transferable to music players. . In order to transfer files, the users of the new Napster service will have to connect the computer with a special audio player, made by Sony and Toshiba. It is also possible to buy songs without the need to subscribe to the site. Brad Duea, Napster President said in an interview: "It would have been very difficult for us to enter this market without a local partner. Japan is a very unique market."

In Japan, where most of the people download music onto their cell phones instead of their personal computers, the digital music sites such as Napster`s new service and Apple`s iTunes are very popular. Napster Japan is expecting to gain over 1 million subscribers in the first three years, with around 1 million individual downloads per month. Tower Records Japan and Napster will work together and also offer information about artists and concerts, as well as provide info about sites where users can buy CDs.