Napster is approaching its death throes. The file sharing company has one shot left: Bertelsmann, the record label that’s confident it has come up with a foolproof plan to profit from its former foe. But Bertelsmann forgot about one thing. It needs the buy-in of other labels to make its rescue plan work. And the other music bosses are still livid that Bertel ... Show More
Aug 2019
Business Battles | Monster vs Beats by Dre | 1
<p>With all the hype around portable and smart speakers, it’s easy to forget that they didn’t always exist. In fact, it took one fateful meeting with Monster Cables and Interscope Records to really kick the industry off. In this one-episode Business Battle, we explore the time wh ... Show More
26m 16s
Aug 2020
Napster fought the law and the law won
The recording industry, Metallica, and ultimately federal court put the brakes on Napster’s music file sharing. But before exiting the stage, Napster changed the way we listen to music—and how much we’re willing to pay for it.[Editor’s note - Sept. 1, 2020: This episode has been ... Show More
38m 25s
Apr 2024
Rapid Response: How Star Trek prospers against Netflix and Disney+, w/Executive Producer Alex Kurtzman
<p>The streaming wars have reached a new inflection, as Netflix and Disney+ jostle for position, and in the process disrupt post-strike Hollywood. Paramount+ invested heavily in blockbuster veteran Alex Kurtzman to turn Star Trek into a distinguishing franchise. Now Kurtzman talk ... Show More
28m 19s
Jun 2019
Condottieri: War for Profit in Renaissance Italy
<p>In Renaissance Italy, war was simultaneously art, science, and big business, waged for profit and glory by hired contractors known as <em>condottieri</em>. Today, we follow one <em>condottiere</em> as he makes his way through the dangerous world of mercenary warfare in the fif ... Show More
51m 37s