Rockbites: Napster signs first deal with a record label

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June 2000 • Rockbites Alternative Daily

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Napster signs first deal with a record label
16 June 2000

Even as the Recording Industry Association of America tries to kill MP3 trading through the US legal system, New York city based hip-hop label 75 Ark Entertainment (Dan The Automator, Deltron 3030, the Anti Pop Consortium, Mista Sinista, The Nextmen) has signed on with Napster to become the first label to ally with the controversial file sharing company. While 75 Ark is small, the move comes with the blessing of its owners nicheMusic.com/World Entertainment Network.
75 Ark expects to promote its artists by way of exlusive downloads on Napster, seeing it as an efficient marketing tool. First out of the gate will be tracks by hip-hop band The Coup. Erik Gilbert, vice president and general manager for 75 Ark, said “This will not hurt product sales. It is an exciting and unprecedented time for the music industry, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with Napster in promoting and marketing our artists and label.”
Camps on either side of the Napster divide are making more concrete arguments these days, with major labels insisting that Napster dampens sales near US college campuses, while a slowly growing wave of artists signs on and embraces the technology as free publicity. The controversy is bound to get more interesting. | 75 Ark Entertainment | | Napster | | top of page |

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