Could 64 Million Napster Users Be Wrong?
Industry watchers are divided on what impact the ongoing Napster saga could have on Etc Music’s success. Napster’s clampdown to protect RIAA members’ copyrights may, in fact, sway reluctant record companies to open their vast music troves to Etc Music if they feel copyrights are protected, Scheirer says. Or, a damaged Napster could dampen the interest of people to build and manage digital music collections online, says Ric Dube, analyst with the market research firm WebNoize. That could translate into fewer people being willing to pay MusicTeller for access to a digital music locker, Dube says. “If Napster succeeds or fails, it is not going to affect us,” Hardie says. Analysts don’t hear a hit yet. Obstacles abound, such as outfitting MusicTellers to support the multitude of digital music players already on the market. Another challenge is persuading the music industry to let Etc Music sell their tunes. To date, the music industry hasn’t shown any interest in innovative new technologie
