Las Vegas Sun

December 5, 2009

Currently: 37° | Complete forecast | Log in

Shakeup hits ‘Net music firm

Wednesday, May 15, 2002 | 9:55 a.m.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Napster Inc., the dorm-room experiment that revolutionized the music business, is in turmoil.

Chief Executive Konrad Hilbers and co-founder Shawn Fanning both stepped down Tuesday after the company's board rejected an agreement to be acquired by German media company Bertelsmann AG -- raising the possibility that the Internet pioneer might go under.

Fanning and Sean Parker created an Internet sensation three years ago when they founded the service, which allows users to swap music for free online. But the service angered the music industry, prompting a string of legal problems. Napster has been offline for nearly a year as it tries to meet guidelines handed down by a federal judge last year.

archive

  • Most Read
  • Discussed
  • Most E-mailed

Complete Listing

Calendar »

  • 5 Sat
  • 6 Sun
  • 7 Mon
  • 8 Tue
  • 9 Wed

All events on Saturday »