Rhapsody has acquired Napster's European operation, marking the music streaming service's first move beyond the US market and kicking off a battle with Spotify.

The US service, which has only been available to American customers for the past 11 years, has reached a deal to acquire Napster International's subscription music business.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, will see Rhapsody launch in the UK and Germany under the Napster brand name and take the fight to the increasingly popular Spotify.