In a year where industry leaders couldn’t help but buzz-drop “disruptive innovation” at every turn it may be helpful to take a look back at the music downloading service that demolished the music industry when it arrived in dorm rooms at the turn of the century. Slowed only by 56k dial-up internet connections millions across the world used the flimsy software to find, download and share music files without charge. Napster continues to be a divisive topic almost 15 years on. Did Napster establish a new model for music distribution and consumption? Did it devalue music for a whole generation who now refuse to pay for it? Here’s a look back at Napster via The New York Times:
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