Publications
Publications
- May 2004 (Revised March 2005)
- HBS Case Collection
Music Downloads
By: David B. Yoffie and Deborah Freier
Abstract
Examines the competition between competing music formats. In the '90s, the MP3 format challenged the traditional means of music distribution by allowing for storage of near CD-quality recordings at 1/10th of their previous size. The threat to traditional distribution was credible due to the proliferation of complementary technologies, such as online digital music players (e.g., Real Networks' RealPlayer, Microsoft's Windows Media Player, and Apple's iTunes) and MP3 players and other portable digital music players. File-sharing web sites like Napster made MP3 files available for free downloading, enraging the recording industry, which took legal action. Although Napster was driven out of business, piracy continued to threaten the industry as users continued to download more than a billion songs a week from similar file-sharing programs. Legal music download stores, which paid between $.65 and $.79 per song to music companies and sold music files in encrypted formats to prevent file swapping, were developed. Slowing the adoption of these services were competing digital music audio formats from Apple, Microsoft, and Real Networks.
Keywords
Disruption; Music Entertainment; Legal Liability; Distribution; Competition; Internet and the Web; Technology Adoption; Information Infrastructure; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; Music Industry
Citation
Yoffie, David B., and Deborah Freier. "Music Downloads." Harvard Business School Case 704-503, May 2004. (Revised March 2005.)