Internet music-sharing service Napster will start a new subscription service by June or July, a major entertainment executive said Monday.
At the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Thomas Middelhoff, chairman of Bertelsmann AG, said Napster will institute a second, subscription service in June or July. It would co-exist with the existing Napster service, Middelhoff said.
Bertelsmann AG owns BMG Music. The company, which had filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Napster, formed an agreement with the music service last October. Its goal is to keep Napster operating, but in a way that makes it more legitimate and acceptable to the music industry.
No further details were announced about the cost or content of the subscription plan.
Napster officials told the Associated Press no date has been set for the subscription service to begin.
