Napster Sold for $207M in Bid to Reinvent Music Streaming

Napster, once infamous for pioneering music file-sharing in the early 2000s, has been acquired by tech firm Infinite Reality for a hefty $207 million. While the current iteration of Napster bears little resemblance to its piracy-driven origins, Infinite Reality aims to reimagine it as a more interactive music platform, allowing fans to immerse themselves in virtual concerts, chat with artists in digital spaces, and buy exclusive merch. This plan aligns with a growing industry push to monetize direct engagement between artists and their most loyal audiences.

Infinite Reality says Napster’s long track record—over $1 billion paid out in royalties—and established streaming customer base set it apart from many fledgling music ventures. Past owners of Napster, including companies focused on virtual reality and blockchain, struggled to transform the legendary brand into a cutting-edge platform. However, Infinite Reality’s expertise in extended reality (XR) and artificial intelligence suggests a new approach, potentially blending metaverse-like experiences with music streaming.

CEO Jon Vlassopulos, who will stay at Napster’s helm, previously spearheaded virtual artist concerts at Roblox. He believes the key to success lies in creating hyper-personalized, fan-centric experiences, such as virtual hangouts and AI-powered customer service. Although Napster has changed hands repeatedly, the new leadership insists this acquisition could reinvent music streaming once again—by reintroducing community and shared experiences at the platform’s core.