Stephen Witt - How Music Got Free : The End of an Industry, the Turn of the Century, and the Patient Zero of Piracy read online MOBI, FB2, PDF
9780525426615 English 0525426612 "An enthralling account of how technology has turned the music business upside down . . . This is a terrific, timely, informative book." --Nick Hornby, The Sunday Times (UK) What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? How Music Got Free is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It's about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online -- when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt's deeply-reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters--inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers--who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, How Music Got Free isn't just a story of the music industry--it's a must-read history of the Internet itself., "How Music Got Free"] has the clear writing and brisk reportorial acumen of a Michael Lewis book. Dwight Garner, "The New York Times" What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? "How Music Got Free" is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It s about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt s deeply-reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, "How Music Got Free" isn t just a story of the music industry it s a must-read history of the Internet itself.", "What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime?" How Music Got Free is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It's about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online -- when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt's deeply-reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters--inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers--who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, How Music Got Free isn't just a story of the music industry--it's a must-read history of the Internet itself., "[ How Music Got Free ] has the clear writing and brisk reportorial acumen of a Michael Lewis book."--Dwight Garner, The New York Times What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? How Music Got Free is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It's about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online -- when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt's deeply-reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters--inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers--who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, How Music Got Free isn't just a story of the music industry--it's a must-read history of the Internet itself., * Named one of Time magazine's Best Books of 2015 So Far * "[ How Music Got Free ] has the clear writing and brisk reportorial acumen of a Michael Lewis book."--Dwight Garner, The New York Times What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? How Music Got Free is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It's about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online -- when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt's deeply-reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters--inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers--who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, How Music Got Free isn't just a story of the music industry--it's a must-read history of the Internet itself., Finalist for the 2015 "Financial Times" and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Named one of"Time"magazine s Best Books of 2015 So Far A"New York Times"Editors Choice A "Washington Post" Notable Book of 2015 "How Music Got Free"] has the clear writing and brisk reportorial acumen of a Michael Lewis book. Dwight Garner, "The New York Times" What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? "How Music Got Free" is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It s about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt s deeply reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, "How Music Got Free" isn t just a story of the music industry it s a must-read history of the Internet itself.", Finalist for the 2016 "Los Angeles Times" Book Prize, the 2016 J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize, and the 2015"Financial Times"and McKinsey Business Book of the Year A"New York Times"Editors Choice ONE OF THE YEAR'S BEST BOOKS: "TheWashington Post TheFinancial Times Slate The Atlantic Time Forbes" "How Music Got Free"] has the clear writing and brisk reportorial acumen of a Michael Lewis book. Dwight Garner, "The New York Times" What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? "How Music Got Free" is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It s about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt s deeply reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, "How Music Got Free" isn t just a story of the music industry it s a must-read history of the Internet itself.", Named one of "Time" magazine s Best Books of 2015 So Far Long-listed for the 2015 Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year A"New York Times"Editors Choice "How Music Got Free"] has the clear writing and brisk reportorial acumen of a Michael Lewis book. Dwight Garner, "The New York Times" What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? "How Music Got Free" is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It s about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt s deeply-reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, "How Music Got Free" isn t just a story of the music industry it s a must-read history of the Internet itself.", The gripping untold story of the music piracy revolution and the inventors, executives, factory workers and tech pirates that changed the world How Music Got Free is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime and money featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-gifted teenagers. It's about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website six times the size of iTunes. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the rise of digital music from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the secret recesses of the online world. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available on the web, for free. Neither music nor the world has been the same since. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, How Music Got Free isn't just a story of the music industryit's a must-read history of the Internet itself., The gripping untold story of the music piracy revolution and the man who almost singlehandedly brought down the industry How Music Got Free is the incredible true story of Dell Glover, a factory worker at a compact-disc manufacturing plant who brought the music industry to its knees. Working from a small town in North Carolina, Glover was the Patient Zero of music piracy, leaking thousands of albums from the plant over nearly a decade. If you've ever pirated music--or even borrowed it--Glover's handiwork is on your hard drive. But Glover couldn't do it alone. He needed the help of his smuggling confederates, who conducted a years-long campaign of infiltration into the music industry's global supply chain. He needed the help of the men who invented the mp3, a group of academics working in a forgotten audio laboratory in Germany. He needed the help of the torrenters, who, from dormitories and bedrooms across the planet, built distribution networks for his leaks. Most of all, he needed the unwitting assistance of the music industry itself, and the powerful music executive whose strategy of consolidation brought the biggest musical acts of the decade into Glover's reach. An irresistible story of greed, cunning, brilliance, and deceit, How Music Got Free isn't just a story of the music industry--it's a must-read history of the Internet itself.
9780525426615 English 0525426612 "An enthralling account of how technology has turned the music business upside down . . . This is a terrific, timely, informative book." --Nick Hornby, The Sunday Times (UK) What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? How Music Got Free is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It's about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online -- when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt's deeply-reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters--inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers--who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, How Music Got Free isn't just a story of the music industry--it's a must-read history of the Internet itself., "How Music Got Free"] has the clear writing and brisk reportorial acumen of a Michael Lewis book. Dwight Garner, "The New York Times" What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? "How Music Got Free" is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It s about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt s deeply-reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, "How Music Got Free" isn t just a story of the music industry it s a must-read history of the Internet itself.", "What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime?" How Music Got Free is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It's about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online -- when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt's deeply-reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters--inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers--who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, How Music Got Free isn't just a story of the music industry--it's a must-read history of the Internet itself., "[ How Music Got Free ] has the clear writing and brisk reportorial acumen of a Michael Lewis book."--Dwight Garner, The New York Times What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? How Music Got Free is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It's about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online -- when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt's deeply-reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters--inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers--who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, How Music Got Free isn't just a story of the music industry--it's a must-read history of the Internet itself., * Named one of Time magazine's Best Books of 2015 So Far * "[ How Music Got Free ] has the clear writing and brisk reportorial acumen of a Michael Lewis book."--Dwight Garner, The New York Times What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? How Music Got Free is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It's about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online -- when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt's deeply-reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters--inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers--who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, How Music Got Free isn't just a story of the music industry--it's a must-read history of the Internet itself., Finalist for the 2015 "Financial Times" and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Named one of"Time"magazine s Best Books of 2015 So Far A"New York Times"Editors Choice A "Washington Post" Notable Book of 2015 "How Music Got Free"] has the clear writing and brisk reportorial acumen of a Michael Lewis book. Dwight Garner, "The New York Times" What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? "How Music Got Free" is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It s about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt s deeply reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, "How Music Got Free" isn t just a story of the music industry it s a must-read history of the Internet itself.", Finalist for the 2016 "Los Angeles Times" Book Prize, the 2016 J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize, and the 2015"Financial Times"and McKinsey Business Book of the Year A"New York Times"Editors Choice ONE OF THE YEAR'S BEST BOOKS: "TheWashington Post TheFinancial Times Slate The Atlantic Time Forbes" "How Music Got Free"] has the clear writing and brisk reportorial acumen of a Michael Lewis book. Dwight Garner, "The New York Times" What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? "How Music Got Free" is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It s about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt s deeply reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, "How Music Got Free" isn t just a story of the music industry it s a must-read history of the Internet itself.", Named one of "Time" magazine s Best Books of 2015 So Far Long-listed for the 2015 Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year A"New York Times"Editors Choice "How Music Got Free"] has the clear writing and brisk reportorial acumen of a Michael Lewis book. Dwight Garner, "The New York Times" What happens when an entire generation commits the same crime? "How Music Got Free" is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime, and money, featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-savvy teenagers. It s about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website four times the size of the iTunes Music Store. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the secret history of digital music piracy, from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the darkest recesses of the Internet. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available for free. In the page-turning tradition of writers like Michael Lewis and Lawrence Wright, Witt s deeply-reported first book introduces the unforgettable characters inventors, executives, factory workers, and smugglers who revolutionized an entire artform, and reveals for the first time the secret underworld of media pirates that transformed our digital lives. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, "How Music Got Free" isn t just a story of the music industry it s a must-read history of the Internet itself.", The gripping untold story of the music piracy revolution and the inventors, executives, factory workers and tech pirates that changed the world How Music Got Free is a riveting story of obsession, music, crime and money featuring visionaries and criminals, moguls and tech-gifted teenagers. It's about the greatest pirate in history, the most powerful executive in the music business, a revolutionary invention and an illegal website six times the size of iTunes. Journalist Stephen Witt traces the rise of digital music from the German audio engineers who invented the mp3, to a North Carolina compact-disc manufacturing plant where factory worker Dell Glover leaked nearly two thousand albums over the course of a decade, to the high-rises of midtown Manhattan where music executive Doug Morris cornered the global market on rap, and, finally, into the secret recesses of the online world. Through these interwoven narratives, Witt has written a thrilling book that depicts the moment in history when ordinary life became forever entwined with the world online when, suddenly, all the music ever recorded was available on the web, for free. Neither music nor the world has been the same since. An irresistible never-before-told story of greed, cunning, genius, and deceit, How Music Got Free isn't just a story of the music industryit's a must-read history of the Internet itself., The gripping untold story of the music piracy revolution and the man who almost singlehandedly brought down the industry How Music Got Free is the incredible true story of Dell Glover, a factory worker at a compact-disc manufacturing plant who brought the music industry to its knees. Working from a small town in North Carolina, Glover was the Patient Zero of music piracy, leaking thousands of albums from the plant over nearly a decade. If you've ever pirated music--or even borrowed it--Glover's handiwork is on your hard drive. But Glover couldn't do it alone. He needed the help of his smuggling confederates, who conducted a years-long campaign of infiltration into the music industry's global supply chain. He needed the help of the men who invented the mp3, a group of academics working in a forgotten audio laboratory in Germany. He needed the help of the torrenters, who, from dormitories and bedrooms across the planet, built distribution networks for his leaks. Most of all, he needed the unwitting assistance of the music industry itself, and the powerful music executive whose strategy of consolidation brought the biggest musical acts of the decade into Glover's reach. An irresistible story of greed, cunning, brilliance, and deceit, How Music Got Free isn't just a story of the music industry--it's a must-read history of the Internet itself.