Episode 148 - Metallica vs. Napster

In June of 1999, two college programmers launched a program that would go on to change the face of the entire music industry. Napster was the first mainstream program that allowed users to share and download mp3's on a centralized, user-friendly peer to peer network. Within months of launching, Napster had millions of users sharing and downloading tens of millions of songs all over the world.In March of 2000, Metallica learned that an unreleased and unmixed version of their forthcoming single, "I Disappear" had been leaked to radio stations all over America. The leak was traced to Napster where Metallica also learned their entire catalogue was available for free. This prompted an April lawsuit and a year of bad press for Metallica as they sought not only to shut Napster down, but also to start a public dialogue about the relationship between commerce, art, intellectual property and the delicate future of artistic control in a digital age.In 2002 Napster filed for bankruptcy and liquidated it's assets. But in it's wake, countless other file sharing programs surfaced. Torrenting sites soon became ubiquitous. It seems that everything Metallica fought to protect was taken from them regardless of how the Napster controversy ended. What was left besides a tarnished reputation for Metallica?In this episode Clint, Ethan and their long time friend, Grammy nominated producer Paul Moak, break down the entire Napster saga in detail. They talk through the origin of Napster, the relevant details of the lawsuit, the demise and unlikely future of Napster and discuss the reaching implications into modern day streaming from the point of view of seasoned music industry professionals.If you think Metal Up Your Podcast has value, please consider taking a brief moment to leave a positive review and subscribe here:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/metal-up-your-podcast-all-things-metallica/id1187775077You can further support the show by becoming a patron. All patrons of Metal Up Your Podcast receive every volume of our Cover Our World Blackened EP's for free. Additionally, patrons are invited to come on the show to talk about any past Metallica show they've been to and are given access to ask our guests like Ray Burton, Halestorm, Michael Wagener, Jay Weinberg of Slipknot and members of Metallica's crew their very own questions. Be a part of what makes Metal Up Your Podcast special by becoming a patron here:http://www.patreon.com/metalupyourpodcastOfficial Website here:http://metalupyourpodcast.comPurchase Cover Our World Blackened, Volume 1 here:https://music.apple.com/us/album/cover-our-world-blackened-vol-1/1442721389Purchase Cover Our World Blackened, Volume 2 here:https://music.apple.com/us/album/cover-our-world-blackened-vol-2/1464606181Follow us on all social media platforms.  If you get value from Metal Up Your Podcast, the best way to support the show is to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/metal-up-your-podcast-all-things-metallica/id1187775077Want more MUYP?You can support the show directly by becoming a Patron.Patrons at the $5 tier receive:Volumes 1–4 of our Cover Our World Blackened EPsInvitations to appear on the show to discuss Metallica concerts you’ve attended.The ability to submit questions to past guests including Ray Burton, Halestorm, Michael Wagener, Jay Weinberg, and members of Metallica’s crew.Join us here:https://www.patreon.com/metalupyourpodcastJoin the MUYP Discord Server to continue the conversation:https://discord.gg/nBUSwR8tSupport Clint’s music:Lunar Satan: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lunarsatan/lunar-satanVAMPIRE: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/clintwells/vampireStream or purchase Cover Our World Blackened and Quarantine Covers:https://metalupyourpodcast.bandcamp.comFollow Metal Up Your Podcast on social media and write in anytime:[email protected]