New Sonos Software Enables Music Lovers in US, Canada, Germany and UK to Enjoy Computer-Free Access to All of the Music They Want at Home
Napster, LLC (Nasdaq: NAPS), the industry’s leading music subscription service, and Sonos, Inc., the leading developer of wireless multi-room music systems for the digital home, today announced the release of new software which lets Sonos Digital Music System customers instantly access Napster’s music discovery tools and play its catalog of over 5 million tracks anywhere in the house without turning on a computer or installing an application.
The new Sonos software enables music lovers to quickly find and play all the songs they love from Napster’s catalog, and discover new music with Napster’s music discovery tools, including Billboard Charts, pre-programmed playlists, staff picks, new releases, music sorted by genre, and commercial-free radio stations. In addition, Napster’s innovative automix discovery feature automatically recommends hours of music based on the music you’re listening to with a single click and streams a custom playlist based on the Napster community music preferences. The computer-free, direct-to-service approach allows customers to instantly browse, search and play music from the palm of their hand via the wireless Sonos Controller. With the Sonos system, customers can play the same song in every room or different songs in different rooms. Napster is available to Sonos customers with a broadband connection in the US, Canada, Germany and UK.
“Our partnership with Sonos wirelessly extends the Napster listening experience to the living room, and essentially any room, and is an integral component of our strategy to have great music with you anytime, anywhere,” said Chris Gorog, Chairman and CEO, Napster. “Combining Sonos’ innovative wireless music system with Napster’s music discovery tools and massive catalog brings hours of unrivaled music discovery and enjoyment to Napster and Sonos customers.”
“At Sonos we are dedicated to bringing the joy of multi-room music to as many homes as possible,” said John MacFarlane, Chief Executive Officer, Sonos, Inc. “By working with key partners such as Napster to eliminate the time-consuming hurdles of downloading or ripping a personal music library, we can provide our customers with the ultimate jukebox for their home.”
As part of the out of the box experience, every existing or new Sonos customer in the US, Canada, Germany and UK will have access to a free 30-day trial of the Napster music service after they upgrade their hardware to Sonos Software 2.5. Following the 30-day free trial, Sonos customers can subscribe to Napster for $9.95 per month.
For a flash demonstration of PC-free, direct access to Napster on Sonos, please visit: http://www.sonos.com/demos/napster_demo/. To learn more about Napster on Sonos, please visit http://www.sonos.com/get_music/music_services/napster/.
Sonos 2.5 also includes direct support for the Best Buy Digital Music Store. Sonos customers with a Best Buy Digital Music Store subscription can seamlessly access all of the music they love on Sonos. Plus, Best Buy will be demonstrating the Sonos direct-to-service approach at locations throughout the country that feature a multi-zone Sonos display.
About Napster
Napster, the pioneer of digital music, offers the ultimate in interactive music experiences, creating better ways to discover, share, acquire and enjoy music — anytime, anywhere. The company’s offerings include “Napster” (www.napster.com) — the most popular on demand music subscription service in the world; “Freenapster” (www.napster.com) — a unique Web experience offering free on demand music legally; and “Napster Mobile” — one of the industry’s fastest growing mobile music platforms. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Napster’s services are available in markets across North America, Europe and Japan.
About Sonos, Inc.
Sonos is the leading developer of wireless multi-room music systems for the digital home. By partnering with audio services, Sonos gives music lovers instant plug-and-play access to millions of songs, unlimited radio and audiobooks that can be enjoyed all over the house. The award-winning Sonos Digital Music System is available at more than 2500 retailers in over 50 countries worldwide; or direct from Sonos at www.sonos.com. Sonos is a privately-held company, headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA with offices in Cambridge, MA, Hilversum, Netherlands and Penang, Malaysia.
