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From Wondry, I'm David Brown and this is Business Wars.

Today we're wrapping up Napster vs. the Record Labels. You know, this saga wasn't exactly easy listening.

There were lawsuits, family feuds, failed business deals, missed opportunities, but it all brought us here to a place where any song you want to hear is just a few finger taps away.

Certainly changed the business of music, but it also changed music itself. Before we hit play a quick look at where we'll be taking you next week, Business Wars will be leaving the United States and traveling overseas to a few places.

Thailand, Hong Kong, Germany, Austria, and that's all in episode one. It's going to take a lot of energy. You might almost say we'll be needing some wings.

Red Bull vs. Monster, that's our next Business War. Energy drinks might be your go-to solution for boost now, but 20 years back they hadn't even entered the US market and believe it or not both companies didn't go down smoothly at first.

You might want to stop by the gas station for a pick me up before listening in because this series just might keep you up all night.

And if in those early morning hours you have a moment of inspiration and think of a Business War you want to hear, well let us know won't you? We're probably up to just go to the I Have An Idea page at Wondry.com.

But first we've got some business to attend to a special guest who's going to give us the full lowdown or you might say the full download on Napster vs. the record labels.

Michael Wood is the pop music critic at the Los Angeles Times. He joined the paper back in 2012, but before that he wrote about music as a contributor to publications like Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Spin, The Village Voice, and other alt-weeklies.

He's interviewed artists from Rod Stewart to Diplo and many in between.

But back when Napster was hanging on for dear life around the turn of the century he was finishing up undergrad at Northwestern in Illinois so he knows a bit about the digital music download boom first hand perhaps.

Well now we've got him on Skype to talk about how Napster's battle with the record labels set the stage for our music industry today while changing the way artists make music in the process.

Well done. You've sorted through the embarrassment of riches that is the modern podcast landscape and found me Rob Briden on my podcast.

In this series of Briden and I talk to among others Harry Hill, Ben Elton, Charlotte Church, Steve Cougan, and Dame Harriet Walter. And that's just a few.

We tend to chat for about 45 minutes to an hour never longer. It's terrific conversation, reminiscent where appropriate and exchange of anecdotes.

So do join me Rob Briden wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes of Briden and are available early and ad free on Amazon Music or by subscribing to Wondery Plus in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery app.

I love my kid but is a new comedy parenting podcast from Wondery that shares a refreshingly honest and insightful take on parenting.

Each week the host will share a parenting story that'll have you laughing and thinking yes I have absolutely been there.

Listen to I love my kid but on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.

Michael Wood welcome to business wars. Thanks great to be with you. So was I going out on a limb there by suggesting that perhaps while you were in college you were doing a little downloading yourself or no?

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