Napster is back — and its new AI app replaces playlists with AI artists

Napster — yes, that Napster — has launched a redesigned mobile app for iOS and Android, and it looks nothing like a traditional music streaming service.

Instead of offering licensed catalogs from record labels, the new Napster app is built entirely around AI-generated content. That includes music, podcasts, wellness audio and what the company calls “AI Companions” — conversational video agents designed to collaborate with users in real time.

The shift marks a sharp break from the streaming model most listeners are used to. There are no top 100 charts, no major-label releases and no passive listening queues. Napster says the goal is to turn listeners into creators, letting users co-create music and audio experiences directly inside the app rather than just press play.

At the center of the experience are interactive tools that let users shape sound, experiment with genres and engage with AI agents that respond, adapt and build alongside them. In Napster’s framing, the app isn’t meant to replace Spotify or Apple Music — it’s trying to redefine what a music app can be in the age of generative AI.

It’s a bold reinvention for a brand once synonymous with digital disruption. Two decades after helping upend the music industry, Napster is betting that AI-powered creation — not licensed streaming — is the next frontier.

What’s different about the new Napster app

At its core, the new Napster app is an AI creation platform rather than a streaming service. Users can interact with AI artists, experiment with original music generation and publish finished tracks without needing production software or technical expertise.

According to the company, features in the app include:

• AI-generated music across multiple genres and moods, composed dynamically rather than selected from a fixed catalog
• AI-hosted podcasts that adapt over time based on listener feedback
• Wellness experiences, including generative ambient music, sleep soundscapes and adaptive meditation audio
• AI artist collaboration tools that let users co-write, co-produce and perform music with AI personalities, generating mixed and mastered tracks that can be shared or published instantly

Rather than playlists or artist pages, the app presents a collection of interactive experiences that evolve as users engage with them.

All AI, all the time

One of the most notable aspects of Napster’s new approach is what’s missing: human artists. The app does not license music from record labels or host traditional artist catalogs. Every piece of content is generated through AI models and user prompts.

Napster CTO Edo Segal says this model allows content to adapt continuously to each listener. Instead of replaying the same track, each interaction is meant to produce a slightly different result.

The company positions this as a fundamental shift in how music and audio are created — one where listeners can step into the role of producer or performer without upfront costs or technical barriers.

AI Companions and a broader platform push

The mobile app also connects to Napster’s broader ecosystem of AI tools and hardware. Users can interact with AI video Companions designed to offer specialized collaboration or guidance, and the app supports web access and a macOS version.

Napster says the app integrates with its previously announced Napster View hardware and follows the launch of Napster Station, which debuted at CES in Las Vegas.

CEO John Acunto framed the app as part of a larger shift away from traditional media consumption, positioning AI as a creative partner rather than a recommendation engine.

The takeaway

For consumers, the new Napster app represents a different bet than Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Music. There are no familiar artists to search for and no static playlists to follow. Instead, the value proposition is experimentation — generating music on demand, shaping AI personas and collaborating with synthetic artists.

Whether that model appeals to mainstream listeners remains an open question. But it highlights a growing trend in consumer AI: platforms that prioritize creation and interaction over discovery and playback.

The new Napster app is available now worldwide on iOS and Android, with sign-ups also open via the web.

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

More from Tom's Guide

• The ‘glitch’ prompt instantly makes ChatGPT smarter — I use it every day
• I let ChatGPT plan what I watch every night — and it ended my streaming scroll
• I thought my ChatGPT chats were gone — here’s how I found them instantly