1. Napster (1999):
- Shawn Fanning, a 19-year-old student at Northeastern University, developed Napster in 1999.
- Napster was a peer-to-peer file-sharing application that allowed users to share music files directly between their computers.
- It quickly gained popularity, with millions of users exchanging music illegally.
2. MP3 format:
- The MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3) audio format, introduced in 1993, allowed for significant compression of music files without major loss in audio quality.
- The MP3 format played a crucial role in the feasibility of sharing and downloading music over the internet.
3. Gnutella (2000):
- The development of the Gnutella protocol in 2000 paved the way for decentralized peer-to-peer file sharing networks.
- Gnutella and similar protocols were not dependent on a central server, making it more difficult to shut down.
4. Kazaa (2001):
- Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, the founders of Skype, created Kazaa in 2001.
- Kazaa was one of the most popular peer-to-peer file-sharing software that utilized the Gnutella network.
5. iTunes Music Store (2003):
- Apple, led by Steve Jobs, launched the iTunes Music Store in 2003.
- The iTunes Music Store was the first major commercial online music store to offer downloads of individual songs in a DRM (Digital Rights Management) format.
6. Legalization of digital music downloads:
- The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) played a significant role in advocating for copyright protection and enforcing legal action against illegal file sharing.
- The emergence of legitimate digital music stores and subscription services, such as iTunes and Spotify, helped address copyright issues and promoted the acceptance of paid music downloads.
7. Spotify (2006):
- Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon launched Spotify in 2006 as a streaming service with a freemium model.
- Spotify offered on-demand music streaming with a monthly subscription, providing a convenient and legal alternative to downloading music files.
The proliferation of music downloads over the years has been the result of ongoing technological advancements, evolving file-sharing protocols, and the development of platforms like iTunes and Spotify. While certain individuals and companies have been instrumental in key developments, the invention of music downloads was a collaborative effort that involved numerous contributors.