I have fond memories of hanging out at my childhood friend\u2019s house and watching as she downloaded thousands of pirated songs (and viruses) onto her family\u2019s computer using LimeWire. It was a simpler time \u2014 we didn\u2019t have to worry about jobs because we were 12 years old. Soulja Boy\u2019s \u201cCrank That\u201d had infiltrated our Midwestern school dances and we reveled in learning the choreography. And this cool service let you listen to whatever music you wanted for free. I love the internet, I thought to myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As an adult in 2022, reading \u201c[insert bygone brand name] is back!\u201d is a dangerous game. These days, announcements frequently include a string of phrases nonsensical to the average person, as brands like RadioShack<\/a>, Blockbuster<\/a>, and other entities attempt comebacks by riding the tidal wave of crypto and NFT hype. And today, it\u2019s my solemn duty to tell you that LimeWire is back as a place for celebrities and musicians to sell their NFTs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Web3 LimeWire isn\u2019t affiliated with the original LimeWire. The new company\u2019s founders purchased the website domain from a former employee, and Mark Gorton, the CEO of the file-sharing version of LimeWire, told\u00a0Torrent Freak\u00a0<\/em>in March<\/a>\u00a0that he wasn\u2019t even aware of the new plans for the name and that he was \u201cnot thrilled.\u201d LimeWire\u2019s move isn\u2019t even unique: other music services,\u00a0like Napster<\/a>, have also pivoted to Web3 in an attempt to reinvent their brands from oblivion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the nuance in whether LimeWire is actually \u201cback,\u201d the new company hasn\u2019t wasted any time tapping into the name recognition and nostalgia of its former iteration. The new company\u2019s social media channels have been hyping the \u201crelaunch,\u201d<\/a> and today, the company announced celebrities including Travis Barker, Brandy, and Dillon Francis will release NFT collections through LimeWire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n