Bitten By Napster

[NadaHappyCamper]

Moderators; Not sure if this is the proper place, or perhaps IMHO. Please move if need be.
I was wondering how many other members got bitten on the “tuchas” by Napster on 09/01/2010, and what if anything can be done? I must have missed the e-mail from Napster telling us, it’s customers’ that they would no longer support WMA files, as of that date. I have a large ,I think, collection of songs that I purchased, that I no longer am able to play because they are WMA files.
Maybe I am missing something , let me ask, were WMA files purchased or were they just downloads? I can’t remember, maybe I am “spitting in the wind.”
If there is someone who can clear this up for me it would be greatly appreciated. By the way I did call Napster support.

                                          Thank You

[NineToTheSky]

Disclaimer:
I am from the UK, so it may be different here.

As far as I am aware, all Napster tracks are wma. There is a solution, but I am unsure as to the legality of it; it involves stripping out the DRM, and converting to mp3. If you’re interested, please pm me. If you are on Napster To Go, they could be either downloaded or purchased; if not, then they would be purchased.

What did support say?

[BigT]

What are they using instead? Isn’t Napster a subscription service, where the music stops working if you stop paying?

[SeaDragonTattoo]

Here’s the email I received on August 19th:

We’re writing you with an important message about any music downloads you purchased from Napster prior to May 2008. Due to evolving digital music technology and related rights, Napster will no longer be able to provide support for these downloads as of Sept. 1, 2010.

What’s Going On
Starting in May 2008, Napster began offering track and album purchases of permanent downloads in the MP3 file format. Compared to the Windows Media Audio (WMA) format we previously used, MP3s are more widely adopted, versatile and free of the copy protection technology generally known as Digital Rights Management (“DRM”).

To help our customers manage this transition, for more than two years since we moved to MP3, we have continued to provide support for DRM-related issues with your previously purchased tracks and albums that were downloaded in the WMA format. However, in order to better focus on the changing needs of customers like you, beginning Sept. 1, we will no longer be able to provide backup copies or any other DRM-related assistance for those purchases.

What You Should Do
Identify your Napster WMA download files. You can do this easily by opening your music folder and sorting by file type. Please remember that Napster downloads will only be in the WMA file format if you purchased them prior to May 2008.

Be aware of reasons your DRM-encoded WMA downloads may stop playing:

* Changing or reinstalling your operating system
* Purchasing a new PC
* System crash or failure
* DRM corruption

Back up your WMA files. If you haven’t already, we strongly recommend that you back up all of your DRM-encoded WMA files by burning them to audio CDs. Doing this will allow you access to your music on any CD player and generally have a maintenance free permanent copy.

Please note that if you don’t back up your files, you risk permanently losing access to your purchased music.

Thank you for your understanding as we make this transition and strive to bring you the best subscription services and download store possible. And as always, thanks for listening.

• Your friends at Napster

I can still download the temporary tracks that need the 30-day DRM renewal, I’m pretty sure this applies only to the permanent, purchased tracks. I haven’t purchased much music since I joined Napster. I just do the temporary downloads that renew every month.

[SeaDragonTattoo]

@BigT

What are they using instead? Isn’t Napster a subscription service, where the music stops working if you stop paying?

Yes, it’s still that, but WMA’s were always available for permanent purchase, and MP3’s have been available for permanent purchase for a couple of years now, too. They revamped their membership levels a couple years ago, too, and I don’t think the one I’m on is available to new customers. I’m betting they’re eventually going to be all MP3’s and the temporary downloads will go away. I will probably end my subscription when that happens.

[BigT]

I agree, you should probably convert them all to MP3, just in case. As for the legality, well, they’re already recommending that you burn them to CD, which you then could convert to MP3, so I don’t really see the problem. Have 9sky help you.

[astro]

I’m having trouble seeing the issue or how they are “biting” anyone. They are moving away from a PITA file format to one that has less DRM issues, and they have been doing this for the past 2 years. Save your WMA files to disk. Any music player on the market will play them. What’s the problem here?

[Mahaloth]

Wait.

Napster still exists?

Wow.

[Amblydoper]

@Mahaloth

Wait.

Napster still exists?

Wow.

In name only. There is no other connection between the Napster of the Past and the Napster of today.

[BigT]

@astro

I’m having trouble seeing the issue or how they are “biting” anyone. They are moving away from a PITA file format to one that has less DRM issues, and they have been doing this for the past 2 years. Save your WMA files to disk. Any music player on the market will play them. What’s the problem here?

The way their WMAs work, at least according to what I read, you have to update the DRM every 30 days, or they will stop working. And instead of just removing the DRM, or setting the certificate to never expire, Napster is just full scale switching over.

If I had to guess, it’s a licensing thing. They can’t fix the files themselves. That’s why we’re telling you to convert them.

[dhkendall]

@NadaHappyCamper

WMA files

Weapons of Mass Annoyance?