Napster now featuring Penn State bands

University Park, Pa. -- Penn State's local music scene is taking to the global stage on Napster, where the sounds of local bands can be downloaded alongside the likes of Gwen Stefani, 50 Cent and Green Day. A new facet of the Penn State-Napster agreement has invited local bands to add their music to the million downloads now available. So far, three Penn State bands have contributed tracks to Napster, but the University anticipates that close to 20 local bands will have joined the online digital library by the end of the spring semester.

Among the downloads available to registered Napster users are live and studio tracks from local bands Dr. Naqleus, Attracted To Miss and Johnny Action Figure. Four more bands -- Jason O, Exit 131, Stip and Guido, and No Points Scored -- are in the process of being added. In addition, groups competing at Movin' On 2005's Battle of the Bands will round out the Penn State offerings on Napster before the start of the event on April 2.

"This is an unprecedented opportunity for student musicians to expose millions of listeners -- including record executives -- to their music," said Sam Haldeman, who is the project's coordinator. "This initiative may very well mark a Penn State band's 'big break.'"

Registered users can download their favorite local band's tracks by typing the group's name into the search function on the Napster site. As with all Napster tracks, local bands' music is offered as unlimited streaming and tethered downloads, or listeners can purchase permanent downloads for 99 cents each. These features -- along with access to a digital library of one million songs, 40 radio stations, access to six decades of Billboard chart data, an online magazine and community features -- are part of Napster's premium service, which is offered to the general public for $9.95 per month but is free to Penn State students.

Students interested in finding out how to add their music to Napster can get more information by visiting http://napster.psu.edu/bands.html

Penn State first launched the Napster service as a pilot program among students residing in on-campus residence halls in January 2004, and became a model for several dozen similar programs at colleges and universities around the country in the following months. The program was launched as a legal alternative to the growing problem of illegal online music piracy, and has been lauded by congressmen, music industry executives, college administrators and students alike. The Napster service at Penn State was opened to all students in August 2004. As of March 2005, more than 26,000 Penn State students are registered and access more than 200,000 streams of downloads per day.

For more information or to register for the service, visit http://napster.psu.edu/