Music streaming pioneer Napster has been acquired by tech startup Infinite Reality for $207 million, with plans to transform the service into a social platform that connects artists with fans and streamlines monetization.
Napster’s CEO Jon Vlassopulos announced the move in a blog post, stating that the internet is evolving from desktop to mobile to social, and it’s time to reimagine music streaming. The company aims to create virtual 3D spaces for concerts and allow artists to sell digital and physical merchandise, as well as provide advanced metrics and analytics.
Infinite Reality’s CEO Amish Shah said the technology aligns perfectly with his vision, enabling music artists to push boundaries. Napster was initially launched in 1999 by Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker and faced significant backlash from the record industry over copyright violations before being shut down. The brand was later revived as a music streaming service in 2011 by Rhapsody.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/mar/25/napster-sold-infinite-reality