Downloaded

In the age of iTunes and Spotify, the heated controversy over Napster seems like ancient history. These days the internet is where many people discover and buy music. But, before Sean Parker and Shawn Fanning developed the program in 1999, that concept was unimaginable. Their peer-to-peer file sharing service allowed fans to share their music with the world, giving listeners access to an enormous library of songs with just a few clicks. However, there was one major problem: the service was free, therefore violating copyright laws and drawing ire from record labels and artists (Metallica and Dr. Dre famously opposed it, both filing lawsuits against the company). In 2000, Napster was sued by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which led to a complete shutdown. Director Alex Winter provides a fascinatingly intimate look at Napster from the inside, capturing Parker and Fanning as they bloomed from nerdy college students to technological revolutionaries. DOWNLOADED skillfully communicates the undeniable impact that Napster had on the music industry. – E.F.