Napster was believed to be stored in the Museum of Old Web icons. And yet the name will still turn. Infinite Reality, a company specializing in immersive experiences, has just released $ 207 million to afford the platform. Their idea? Transform Napster into a social place where music and virtual reality mix.
From pirate to social platform
Originally, Napster had turned everything up in 1999 with the sharing of musical files between Internet users. Something simple, effective … and illegal. Two years later, finished the party: trial, closure, then resumed in different more or less legal forms. Today, it’s off for a tour – but VR headset version and 3D avatars.
« We do not see anyone creating social spaces around music in current streaming “Said John Acunto, the boss of Infinite Reality. For him, Napster can become the playing field of artists and fans, with events to live together, rather than simple playlists to listen to solo.
In detail, Napster New version will offer virtual concerts, listening salons between fans, shops to Buy merchandising (physical or virtual), and even conversational agents boosted with artificial intelligence to discuss with fans. A bit like Clubhouse, but ” time thousand », Selon John Accent.
Jon Vlassopulos, CEO of Napster (and ex-music leading at Roblox), will remain in control. He talks about creating ” crazy environments, limited only by imagination ». Example: a virtual beach for a reggae concert, or a private show where to chat with his favorite artist during the release of his new single. Why not.
Napster already has a huge catalog: more than 110 million titles, with global licenses. A real asset to launch the new platform. According to Jon Vlassopulos, the idea is not to compete with Spotify or Apple Music, but to offer something else, more alive, more interactive. And above all, more profitable for artists.
Infinite Reality, for its part, has already got hold of several digital assets, such as the Racing League drone or the Obsess platform for shopping in virtual reality. With Napster, the company wants to expand its playground to music and connected fans.
It remains to be seen if users will follow. Because even with a name as cult as Napster, transforming concerts into virtual evenings and selling digital t-shirts, it requires a little more than a good blow of com ‘. But who knows? After all, Napster is not at its first transformation.
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