Musicians are furious that new tech has gutted their income. Record labels are wary, yet eager to cut deals with ascendant platforms. Fans are delighted to access songs for a pittance, even as they're screwing over beloved artists. The fears about today's streaming economy echo the existential panic when Napster debuted in 1999. The peer-to-peer service — where fans swapped catalogs of MP3 .
When it launched on June 1, 1999, the peer-to-peer music sharing service responded to a real need. It also heralded a troubling new ethic in tech that still shapes our world today.
When it launched on June 1, 1999, the peer-to-peer music sharing service responded to a real need. It also heralded a troubling new ethic in tech that still shapes our world today.