Prince’s music set to hit streaming service like Spotify starting Sunday

Richard E. Aaron/Redferns

It has been rumoured that Prince’s music will be making its way back to major music streaming services soon. And it looks like it will be happening this weekend. Representatives from the likes of Spotify, Napster, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio have confirmed that the albums Prince released during his time with Warner Bros., including Purple Rain, The Times, and 1999, will be coming to their services.

When he was alive, Prince has been aggressive about keeping his IP heavily protected. He even pulled out his music from all online streaming services (except for Tidal back in 2015). But now that his estate owes up to US$100 million, there is a need to monetize. So, if you’ve been clamoring to listen to some of Prince’s greatest hits, your time has almost come.

Source: Ars Technica

Napster makes a comeback

Some of you will remember Napster. It was the home for your music piracy needs back in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. That brand is making a comeback as music streaming service Rhapsody is rebranding and bringing the cool cat with headphones his name back. Rhapsody bought the service back in 2011 and it looks like they think that name has better pull than Rhapsody, who has also been in the music streaming business for quite a while. But with big names in the industry, they’ll need all the leverage they can get.

Rhapsody (or should we say Napster?) says in a blog post: “No changes to your playlists, favorites, albums, and artists. Same music. Same service. Same price. 100% the music you love.” And yes, we get the Game of Thrones reference, guys.

Source: The Verge