Napster Renewed

Frank Bergmann gives and overview of Napster and it's involvement in the music industry. The interest lies in his detailed description of how Napster grew into a huge online business in just a few short years. Two years after opening in 1999, Napster's user number had grown to more than the AOL internet service provider's (ISP) numbers.

Napster Broken Down. 

Firstly, Bergmann talks about the "Enabling Factors" (Bergmann). These are factors such as PC media programs (Windows Media Player), the Internet's ability as a distribution point for music and introduction of Mp3. All factors that give Napster the ability to work from.

Secondly, Bergmann talks of the "Online Sharing Communities" with the "Demand Diffusion Theory" (Bergmann). The point he focuses on is the user loop. "External" users find the Internet page or program with free music, they become "Users" and interact with the music files and then spread the word to "Potential" users (Bergmann).
Thirdly, Bergmann explores Napster as a business model and how Napster's involvement with the BMG Record Label merge.

Useful? 

I think so. This broken down look at Napster is a brilliant chronological reference point for my assignment later. It describes the history of Napster and how it came to success so early.

Further on in the source it shows with, text and diagrams, the "value chain" of the music industry (Bergmann). This shows exactly who is missing out on these royalties and may help me to understand why Napster caused such controversy in the world.

References: 

Bergmann, F. (2004). Napster & the music industry. Globel E-Business Master, 1(1.5), 1-19.