After seeing (or should I say, sitting through) Napster’s Super Bowl spot, I predicted the company will be all-but-dead by Super Bowl XL. Then I read this quote/death knell from their CEO, Chris Gorog:
We’re going to be communicating to people that it’s stupid to buy an iPod.
Of course, as it stands, the adoption of digital music has been driven largely by iPod users. So in Napster’s mind, the best way to make a play in the digital music marketplace is to say that most of the current consumers are "stupid". You know, the patented "you’re ugly and stupid, now buy my product" approach.
At this point, I am considering revising my estimate–Napster may not even make it to the NBA Finals in June, much less the next Super Bowl.
Napster To Go campaign will challenge Apple iTunes’ lead {Forbes}