Rhapsody (online music service)
Encyclopedia
Rhapsody is an online music store
subscription service, launched in December 2001, and available in the United States
only. On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody officially declared its independence from RealNetworks
. Downloaded files come with restrictions on their use, enforced by Helix, Rhapsody's version of digital rights management
enforced on AAC+ or WMA files. The service also sells individual MP3s without digital rights management restrictions.
Rhapsody is considered one of the canonical examples of The Long Tail
theory. The service provided extensive data on consumer usage of the service for Chris Anderson's article "The Long Tail", which was published in Wired
in October 2004, and subsequently provided updated data for Anderson's book of the same name.
In April 2001, TuneTo.com was acquired by Listen.com, a startup founded in San Francisco that had built a large online music directory. Aladdin was transformed into the Rhapsody music service during the summer and fall of 2001 and was launched on December 3, 2001.
Rhapsody was the first streaming on-demand music subscription service to offer unlimited access to a large library of digital music for a flat monthly fee, a concept advocated by business theories such as the Open Music Model
. At launch, Rhapsody's library was formed of content mostly from Naxos Records
and several independent labels. Over the next several months of 2002, they were able to secure licenses from EMI
, BMG
, Warner Bros. Records
, and Sony
to add their music to the service. In July 2002, Rhapsody managed to add Universal Records
to their catalog, thus getting the last of the five major record labels of the time.
RealNetworks announced plans to acquire Listen.com on April 21, 2003, one week before the launch of the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003. The transaction closed on August 3, 2003. The Rhapsody service was briefly known as RealRhapsody shortly after the acquisition, but has since shortened back to "Rhapsody".
In February 2010, Rhapsody's owners announced their intention to restructure the company into a fully independent corporation. Recent problems with the online music subscription service prompted the CEO to make "crucial decisions and think some things through". During this period, dropping the subscription service was considered, but he felt it wasn't the right decision at the time. Instead, the whole Rhapsody team thought of ways to revamp the struggling company and in turn dropped RealNetworks as parent of the company. This was a very risky decision, as the company needed the support, but gained the support of MTV Network's and Viacom, and other independent companies. Since independence, Rhapsody has started the revamping process with a new logo and subscription price changes.
As of January 2011, Rhapsody president Jon Irwin told Reuters the on-demand subscription music service had more than 750,000 subscribers, having added more than 100,000 since becoming an independent company. At that date Rhapsody had a catalog of 11,000,000 songs.
In September 2011, Rhapsody announced that from October 2011 they would no longer re-license DRMed music bought before July 2008.
On October 3, 2011, Rhapsody announced plans to acquire Napster with the deal to be completed by November
them in MP3 portable media player
s (PMP) with the Rhapsody subscription service. It thus competes with Apple Inc.'s iTunes
software. , the latest version of the software is Rhapsody 4. Rhapsody 5 was delayed because the Rhapsody product team felt the company's future success would be in mobile apps and started working on apps for iOS (iPhone
), Android, BlackBerry OS
, and Verizon Wireless
's app store, all of which are deployed as of 2011.
Online music store
An online music store is an online business which sells audio files, usually music, on a per-song and/or subscription basis. It may be differentiated from music streaming services in that the music store offers the actual music file, while streaming services offer partial or full listening without...
subscription service, launched in December 2001, and available in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
only. On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody officially declared its independence from RealNetworks
RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is a provider of Internet media delivery software and services based in Downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The company is the creator of RealAudio, a compressed audio format; RealVideo, a compressed video format; RealPlayer, a media player; RealDownloader, a download...
. Downloaded files come with restrictions on their use, enforced by Helix, Rhapsody's version of digital rights management
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
enforced on AAC+ or WMA files. The service also sells individual MP3s without digital rights management restrictions.
Rhapsody is considered one of the canonical examples of The Long Tail
The Long Tail
The Long Tail or long tail refers to the statistical property that a larger share of population rests within the tail of a probability distribution than observed under a 'normal' or Gaussian distribution...
theory. The service provided extensive data on consumer usage of the service for Chris Anderson's article "The Long Tail", which was published in Wired
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
in October 2004, and subsequently provided updated data for Anderson's book of the same name.
History
In 1999, Tim Bratton, J.P. Lester, Sylvain Rebaud, Alexandre Brouaux, Nick Sincaglia and Dave Lampton were working on a new streaming audio engine. This engine was commercially deployed in the TuneTo.com customized radio service, and was also used in their "celestial jukebox" prototype, called Aladdin.In April 2001, TuneTo.com was acquired by Listen.com, a startup founded in San Francisco that had built a large online music directory. Aladdin was transformed into the Rhapsody music service during the summer and fall of 2001 and was launched on December 3, 2001.
Rhapsody was the first streaming on-demand music subscription service to offer unlimited access to a large library of digital music for a flat monthly fee, a concept advocated by business theories such as the Open Music Model
Open Music Model
The Open Music Model is an economic and technological framework for the recording industry based on research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology...
. At launch, Rhapsody's library was formed of content mostly from Naxos Records
Naxos Records
Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
and several independent labels. Over the next several months of 2002, they were able to secure licenses from EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, BMG
BMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
, Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, and Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
to add their music to the service. In July 2002, Rhapsody managed to add Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
to their catalog, thus getting the last of the five major record labels of the time.
RealNetworks announced plans to acquire Listen.com on April 21, 2003, one week before the launch of the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003. The transaction closed on August 3, 2003. The Rhapsody service was briefly known as RealRhapsody shortly after the acquisition, but has since shortened back to "Rhapsody".
In February 2010, Rhapsody's owners announced their intention to restructure the company into a fully independent corporation. Recent problems with the online music subscription service prompted the CEO to make "crucial decisions and think some things through". During this period, dropping the subscription service was considered, but he felt it wasn't the right decision at the time. Instead, the whole Rhapsody team thought of ways to revamp the struggling company and in turn dropped RealNetworks as parent of the company. This was a very risky decision, as the company needed the support, but gained the support of MTV Network's and Viacom, and other independent companies. Since independence, Rhapsody has started the revamping process with a new logo and subscription price changes.
As of January 2011, Rhapsody president Jon Irwin told Reuters the on-demand subscription music service had more than 750,000 subscribers, having added more than 100,000 since becoming an independent company. At that date Rhapsody had a catalog of 11,000,000 songs.
In September 2011, Rhapsody announced that from October 2011 they would no longer re-license DRMed music bought before July 2008.
On October 3, 2011, Rhapsody announced plans to acquire Napster with the deal to be completed by November
Rhapsody MP3
In addition to its subscription service, Rhapsody sells 256 kbit/s constant bit rate MP3s individually.Rhapsody software
The Rhapsody Music Software, which is free from Rhapsody, helps organize music collections, and synchronizeFile synchronization
File synchronization in computing is the process of ensuring that computer files in two or more locations are updated via certain rules....
them in MP3 portable media player
Portable media player
A portable media player or digital audio player, is a consumer electronics device that is capable of storing and playing digital media such as audio, images, video, documents, etc. the data is typically stored on a hard drive, microdrive, or flash memory. In contrast, analog portable audio...
s (PMP) with the Rhapsody subscription service. It thus competes with Apple Inc.'s iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
software. , the latest version of the software is Rhapsody 4. Rhapsody 5 was delayed because the Rhapsody product team felt the company's future success would be in mobile apps and started working on apps for iOS (iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
), Android, BlackBerry OS
BlackBerry OS
BlackBerry OS is a proprietary mobile operating system, developed by Research In Motion for its BlackBerry line of smartphone handheld devices...
, and Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless
Cellco Partnership, doing business as Verizon Wireless, is one of the largest mobile network operators in the United States. The network has 107.7 million subscribers as of 2011, making it the largest wireless service provider in America....
's app store, all of which are deployed as of 2011.
External links
- Digital Audio Player compatibility list for the Rhapsody To Go service
- Rhapsody for Mac