MTV, Real and Verizon Wireless join hands for new music service

According to the Wall Street Journal, Wal-mart's welcome entry into DRM-free MP3 sales isn't the only thing going on in the online music space this morning. Apparently MTV and Real have decided to team up against Apple's juggernaut, and will be announcing a merged online store at 11AM ET today. They've even got Verizon and Vodafone signed up for mobile distribution, says the Journal. At this point it's still unclear how this will impact MTV's Urge partnership with Microsoft, and Real's Rhapsody service, but we just hope they're aware of the fact that things are basically looking DRM-free or bust at the moment, 'cause the market really doesn't need too many more also-rans.

Update: We're tuning into the press conference call as we speak, so standby for updates.

• MTV, Real and Verizon are launching a new integrated music service.
• MTV and Real are spinning off a new company called Rhapsody America, partnering with Verizon Wireless. V CAST as mobile platform.
• Rhapsody America will by run by Urge's Michael Bloom. Kicking off marketing at MTV Video Music awards September 9th.
• Verizon promises 8GB of phone music storage this year, and 16GB in 2008. Most likely refers to removable storage via (micro)SDHC, since they mentioned a current 4GB cap, and don't offer any 4GB phones.
  
• Not just songs, the service will also include ringtones, album covers, ringback tones and music videos.
• Urge is sticking around on Windows Media Player 11 until further notice, they're currently in talks with Microsoft.
• Over-the-air downloads likely to be "important part of the service going forward." Emphasis is on being able to access your music collection wherever.
• All of Real's DRM-free efforts (including the Universal DRM-free trial launch today) will be included in Rhapsody America. They think 2008 is when DRM-free will start to go mainstream.
• Will most likely support subscription and purchase models.
• No word on price or when the service is going to be available.

[Mack Swift @ Aug 21st 2007 11:01AM]

The Rhapsody service itself was great until version 4.0; then it sucked. I ran into problems with the flash interface, licensing issues with the old 3.x DRM-WMA files and the new DRM-RAX files, and just general crashes and lockups. They recently raised the price for everyone to $34.00 a quarter; up from $25.00. Also, tech and sales support on the phone was abysmal. They're also forcing all users of 3.x to update to 4.x.

I recently canceled the service and am sorry to do so. It was a great stable service in it's 3.x iteration. Now it's just overpriced, DRM infected garbage.

[Erwos @ Aug 21st 2007 11:05AM]

Pretty impressive combination, IMHO. I might consider going with a subscription, although $15 a month for the all-you-can-eat plan feels a bit steep.

[Bob C. @ Aug 21st 2007 11:09AM]

Well, I see nothing changed at all on either site. Maybe the WSG got some bogus info?

[Chuckles McGee @ Aug 21st 2007 11:11AM]

Exciting. Let's see how this new Urapsody turns out.

[Bob C. @ Aug 21st 2007 11:13AM]

Ooops. nevermind.

[Nicholas M. @ Aug 21st 2007 11:20AM]

Huh. I saw a printout of the homepage for this site, in the gutter near a related ad agency. Across from the Taco Truck. Oops. It's typical stuff from a mobile company, and therefore doomed.

[Donald @ Aug 21st 2007 11:31AM]

You lost me at DRM.

[Adam Huzzey @ Aug 21st 2007 11:45AM]

I dont really know what this means for Rhapsody, I have used Rhapsody for the last 2 years and loved it. If they all do merge together I hope Real holds strong to its users and does not sell out to a WMP interface, that would just make me vomit.

[Mark S. @ Aug 21st 2007 11:40AM]

Crap, I actually liked this service as a subscriber.

[Sean O @ Aug 21st 2007 11:41AM]

I wish people would shut up with the DRM complaining.

Yes, if you BUY a song, it shouldn't have DRM restrictions on it. No kidding. But people don't sign up for Rhasody or Urge so they can BUY songs (at least I hope they don't).

These two services are all about the subscription model. What about the celestial jukebox. Any song in the world available to you at all times. You think something like that can exist without DRM? Are you high?

[Marian @ Aug 21st 2007 2:52PM]

"But people don't sign up for Rhasody or Urge so they can BUY songs (at least I hope they don't)."

People don't sign up for Rhasody or Urge. Period. ;-)

[oxjox @ Aug 21st 2007 11:59AM]

Am I really the only one who thinks this is a waste of time for these three huge companies? DRM, Subscriptions, Over the air downloads, Music videos(!?!) and surely a horrible experience on your little KRZR / VZW GUI? Oh wait, I get to listen to music on my cell phone! Well that's just RAD! How about if I want to listen to that $3.99 song in my car, on my computer, on my iPod / Zune or on my home stereo system? Oooh, I can't wait to watch that new P Diddy video on my cell phone cause I have tons of time on my hour long commute to work in rush hour traffic to sit there and watch music videos.

Any person ACCEPTING this sort of offering from a team of industry veterans like this is simply a detriment to the art of human interface development and society as a whole moving forward. Not to mention the fact that you're a tool.

[Seth @ Aug 21st 2007 12:41PM]

Should read "MTV, Real and Verizon Wireless join hands to become the Axis of Evil"

[Sam @ Aug 21st 2007 12:54PM]

Dear wireless companies,
I'm not buying/subscribing to music over the phone. Seriously, just stop it. You are making yourselves look ridiculous. You know what would be nice? Fewer dropped calls and better voice quality. Why don't you fellas go work on that instead?

[Adam Huzzey @ Aug 21st 2007 1:07PM]

These are good points, I would much rather have a cell phone that held a longer charge, cost less, and actually worked then the chance to download another "slit my wrists" emo song.

[BrettB @ Aug 21st 2007 1:06PM]

"They think 2008 is when DRM-free will start to go mainstream."
Umm, DRM-free has been mainstream since the birth of the mp3 (and much earlier if you count vinyl, tape, CD, etc). Let's face it, all these online music stores are and always have been in the minority when it comes to selling music. This is one more minor blip on the radar, sure to disappear like so many other blips before it.

[Magallanes @ Aug 21st 2007 1:53PM]

MTV selling music? O_O *shocking*

Years ago, MTV was good, they did show music videos, but today it's just a bunch of poorly acted "reality" show.

[craig @ Aug 21st 2007 2:01PM]

I've been a subscriber for a few years now. The web interface works well if you just want to stream. If you have a phone that supports Windows DRM, like my Treo, you can download to it for no extra cost using the Win32 player app. And look for deals - I happened to call on a day when they were running a $7.99/mo promotion. For everything - unlimited streaming and downloading DRM protected files to your device.

[JS @ Aug 21st 2007 2:23PM]

Axis of evil is right...I can't imagine what made verizon think they could just start selling songs, honestly how often should I have to pay for a song. In a perfect world my cell phone...would be...thats right just an awesome fucking cell phone:

-It would make calls and take calls without dropping them
-Be at least somewhat waterproof, so the accidental pocketful of snow won't somehow turn the little piece of paper on the battery red.
-Have decent battery life
-And maybe if they're feeling ambitious a little led flashlight (my old nokia 3200 had this, and it was awesome I used it every day)
-I could also do without all the shitty vcast and verizon adverts all over my phone (but this is wishful thinking)

[Oscar @ Aug 21st 2007 3:39PM]

I think the 'MTV' branding is a negative thing. Who even associates them with music anymore? And if they do, it is usually awful pop garbage .

Fuck MTV

[Scooter @ Aug 21st 2007 5:34PM]

corporate gobheads going nowhere. Oh, but wait, maybe this will be the new channel for KFC and Pepsi marketing gurus. Throw in a winsome unknown singer with cross-ethnic appeal, some sports goods company and a brand new 'initiative' and you'll have ...Madison avenue up its own cracker barrel (again).

[Kripticall @ Aug 21st 2007 6:55PM]

/sigh...wtb x64 support from Someone =p Holy second class citizen ...
-subscription is actually kinda cool, I was really against it but after trying it I have to say its worth it. As for the verizon aspect..sure its nice having it play music...but really what I want the phone to do is talk to the car and 'sync' or stream to it. IE my life is work, car or home. Rarely would value be found in the phone if it were an "ipod" Sure thats a useful tool and it would be cool but get together with the car//car radio people and make it easy enough for my wife to use if you want me to run out and buy a new phone...your not going to catch the ipod//iphone by chasing behind it.

[mck @ Aug 21st 2007 10:22PM]

(sorry, just need to get my password remembered.)

[John2 @ Aug 22nd 2007 12:55AM]

mtv... ew

[Zen @ Aug 22nd 2007 10:31AM]

Verizon joining up with this team furthers the combination of MP3 player with the cell phone. Verizon will have on demand music in many portable devices at a FRACTION of the iPhone size and a fraction of the cost.

Verizon's current Music ID free service is really cool.

While I dislike the MTV branding (I agree, they suck), maybe it'll put some more $$$ and expectations into the Rhapsody software, which has had usability and QA problems in recent months.

[Morgan @ Aug 24th 2007 9:38AM]

Well im an URGE subscriber and have been since it's BETA. Its a great service and it makes me sick to think that I'm gonn abe forced to install REAL's nasty software which I've avoided for well over 10 years now. URGE with WMP11 is great and I wish they had just made the service more visible instead of caving in to REAL of all companies.

I sent an email to REAL on Tuesday inquireing about what might happen to my current tracks if I convert and if I'd have to still use Real Player to play my files if I ever cancle and just as I suspected they just referredme to some danky ass FAQ page that answered none of my questions. I don't intend to let me PC be infected with Real software so I'll be canceling my URGE account before this migration takes affect.

[Dave60625 @ Aug 25th 2007 5:33PM]

I'm a long-time Rhapsody subscriber who is having serious issues with the service. Last night I tried to download an album and the service has been frozen since. I've tried rebooting/reinstalling/using an earlier version, you name it, i've done it but the service still doesn't work. I also had a *fun* time trying to install the latest/GREATEST version of Windows DRM and I think I might have cleared that considerable hurdle but still no dice.

I'm just fucking fed up with this shit.