Rhapsody Surpasses 2 Million Paying Subscribers Amid European Expansion
Rhapsody, the parent company of Napster, has officially crossed the 2 million paying subscriber milestone across its platforms, including its flagship app, Napster, and the newly launched unRadio service. The company is now leveraging its 2012 acquisition of Napster’s European assets to expand unRadio beyond U.S. borders for the first time.
Strategic Growth in a Competitive Market
- Global Footprint: Rhapsody and Napster now operate in 32 countries, a significant leap since hitting 1 million subscribers in 2011.
- Competitive Landscape: The company faces stiff competition from giants like Spotify, which boasts 10 million paying users (40 million total) as of May 2014.
- Catalog Strength: Rhapsody’s library includes 32 million tracks, with 80% of listening occurring on mobile devices.
unRadio Goes Global: Europe and Latin America
European Launch with SFR
Rhapsody’s unRadio—a Pandora-style curated service designed to attract casual listeners—debuted in Europe through a partnership with SFR, France’s second-largest mobile operator. Key features include:
- Ad-free listening for €3.95/month.
- Unlimited skips and offline playback for favorited tracks.
- Branded as Napster Découverte (Napster Discovery) in France.
Thorsten Schliesche, Napster’s SVP for Europe, highlighted the success: “France’s rapid growth and demand for bundled on-demand services validate our strategy.”
Latin American Expansion
Rhapsody is also deepening its presence in Latin America via a partnership with Telefónica Movistar, which will promote Napster Premier in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.
Challenges Ahead: Can Napster Compete?
Despite its iconic brand, Rhapsody/Napster must navigate a market dominated by larger players. Key questions remain:
- Can it attract new users while maintaining profitability?
- Will its catalog and partnerships provide enough leverage against rivals like Spotify and Deezer?
The expansion of unRadio and strategic carrier deals signal Rhapsody’s commitment to growth—but in a race for scale, execution will be critical.
Image Credit: Flickr
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