Rhapsody International announced that it has named Bill Patrizio as President and CEO OF their Napster streaming service. Patrizio had been appointed as the interim CEO of the company in May 2017, following the departure of Mike Davis from the position amid a restructuring.
In addition, Patrizio maintained his position at RealNetworks as president of consumer media. At RealNetworks, he was responsible for strategy and management of the company’s media services and IP licensing business, new product development, growth, and profitability.
“We’re delighted to make Bill Napster’s permanent CEO,” said Rob Glaser and Jason Epstein, co-chairmen of Rhapsody International. “Last spring, Bill did a great job stepping in to lead Napster at a pivotal period. He has led a resurgence of the company in its new partner-oriented focus. Bill has a track record of resilience and operational success and a passion for the industry that will lead Napster forward into its next phase of innovation and growth.”
In his sort of new role, Patrizio will continue to support “Napster’s progress in embracing innovation, and delivering compelling products and services for consumers, its partners, and the wider music industry,” the company said in a press release.
“Rhapsody and Napster are the vanguards and pioneers responsible for today’s phenomenon that is the music streaming industry. It is a privilege to lead this company and define a path forward that allows us to continue to participate in the growth of music streaming and subscription services worldwide,” Patrizio said.