Fast: inform me how previous you might be by telling me which app you used to obtain free music. Was it Napster? Kazaa? Usenet? Gnutella? WinMX? Morpheus? The Pirate Bay? Have been you, I don’t know, sending your folks songs on AIM or BBM? The chances are limitless. For a decade or so, when you had been on-line, you had been most likely stealing music.
For this episode of Model Historical past, we’re telling the story of one of many final massive names in file sharing: LimeWire. If the period of mainstream entry to free music (totally on faculty campuses and different quick networks) begins with Napster, it nearly definitely ends with LimeWire.
LimeWire was, in some ways, designed particularly not to be Napster, with designs on one thing rather more reputable and business-focused. The corporate tried again and again to determine generate profits, and to create one thing that really sounds lots like music streaming, however it grew to become embroiled in the identical combat that had been raging for a decade. As soon as Grokster went down, LimeWire by no means actually had an opportunity. And moreover, a wholly new approach of listening to music was proper across the nook.
That is the sixth episode of Model Historical past. (We’re greater than midway via season one!) If you wish to discover the present, there are three good locations to go:
Due to everybody who has already watched or listened to the present, and has despatched suggestions! We’re simply about to begin manufacturing on the following bunch of episodes, and wish to hear every part you assume we ought to be doing or not doing or doing in a different way. And we wish to hear from you about every part we’re planning to cowl! Within the meantime, if you wish to know extra about all issues LimeWire, listed below are some hyperlinks to get you began: