Napster

New services like Nokia's Comes With Music, which was announced today, are pushing (or is it pulling?) music labels to experiment with new business models they've been hesitant to embrace for years.

How did the BestBuy-Napster (NSDQ: NAPS) deal come about? Well, after UBS contacted about 80 players over the years (it became a running joke about who was looking at Napster any given week) and had given up, talks started with Best Buy early this year, according to a detailed SEC filing from Napster late on Friday.

Napster (NSDQ: NAPS) has fallen into the arms of an unlikely buyer: Best Buy. The big-box electronics giant will pay $121 million or $2.65 per share. Shares of Napster closed at $1.36 on Friday, so this is nearly a double for those die-hards that have held on for the long ride down.

Troubled online music retailer Napster (NSDQ: NAPS) has hired UBS (again) to explore strategic alternatives, including a possible sale. The news was made in a letter to shareholders, urging them not to vote for three outside activists, looking to get representation on the board.