Sean Parker Does Spotify

"WE'VE GOT YOU BY THE BALLS": Sean Parker, the Napster and Facebook principal famously played by Justin Timberlake in The Social Network, has invested nearly $15 million for a 5% stake in Euro music sub service Spotify. "The ultimate answer is you have to accept that the war on piracy is a failure," he said, in explaining the appeal of the so-far advertiser-supported free service which has yet to launch in the U.S. in a chat to a tech audience in New Orleans. Spotify’s plan is to provide an unlimited platform for streaming on the desktop that cannot be moved to your iPod or iPhone without a paid subscription. “You have no choice,” says Parker. “We’ve got you by the balls.” He expects an “end of year” stateside debut for the service. (10/22p)