A Napster perspective

An avid Kaua’i Napster user (who prefers, for obvious reasons, to remain anonymous) shares his views on the service at the heart of the current controversy.

Before I got on Napster, I bought maybe 2-3 CDs a year because they were too expensive for not knowing what I am buying —the only form of the arts where that happens, by the way. I also resented the high prices in themselves as a matter of principle: But since I got on Napster a month ago, I have spent at least $400 on CDs and have several on order. Why?

Because I can share them with others who don’t have the money, who don’t have a Borders or a Tower Records, who have never been exposed to different kinds of music.

When we share music we’re sharing something fundamental and vital in the human soul. Probably no art connects us more than music. Ever hear of the universal language?

I love to share what I have — 1,500 files — watch to see what kinds of music people download, message them to say “Aloha” and “Isn’t that music great?” or “If you like that you might like this.” If I see someone downloading one of my favorites, I take a look at his library because there’s a chance he’ll have something I like. Usually it will be just one song – and so then, guess what? I go out and buy the album! I have chatted with people all over the world this way. Once I saw some songs I thought might be Turkish; I’ve never heard much Turkish music, never heard modern popular Turkish music. So I downloaded some and found I kind of like some of it. But I chatted with the guy, who is a Turk living in Guatemala, where he owns a restaurant in Guatemala City. When I chatted with him, it was just after closing and the crew was cleaning up while he got onto Napster for awhile. He was downloading Iz.

Imagine, a Turk in Guatemala listening to Iz, at midnight in his restaurant!

—”ST”