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October 09, 2008

Fortune: 'The rise and further fall of RealNetworks'

Fortune | Read Full Story >

RealNetworks needs more than a symbolic victory, though. Five years ago the company’s RealPlayer was the second-largest streaming media player, behind Microsoft’s Window Media Player.

RealNetworks used its position to get into the digital music business. In 2003, it acquired Listen.com, owner of Rhapsody, a music subscription service considered pioneering at the time because it was the first to license music from all the major labels.

But as soon as Apple launched the iTunes Music Store the same year, it relegated Rhapsody to niche status.


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