Napster asks fans to purchase CDs
The beleaguered music-swapping firm is asking its fans to participate in a two-day "buy-cott" this weekend, a plan aimed at winning grassroots support.
In a new posting on its Web site, Napster said: "Show the artists your power. Support the artists who support Napster by going out and buying their CDs. Be sure to let the record store know you came from Napster."
The posting included a list of 22 artists who "support Napster,"
including Chuck D, The Coup and the Grateful Dead.
In addition, Napster urged people to "write the heads of the major record companies and tell them you are their best customers--loyal and active music fans--and that you don't want to kill Napster."
The site included a link to record label executives' email addresses.
The "buy-cott" and email campaign aimed at record companies comes after U.S. District Judge Marilyn Patel issued an order Wednesday that "may keep you from using Napster to share music files as of Friday at midnight Pacific time," as the Web site put it. It added: "Please keep using Napster between now and then. We'll know about the potential shutdown shortly."
In a message on the site, Napster chief executive Hank Barry concluded: "We will fight this ruling in a number of ways to keep the Napster community growing and strong."