“MTV Networks is expected to launch an online music service powered by MusicNet later this year, making it the latest big brand to enter an increasingly crowded market for online music, according to people familiar with the plan,” Reuters reports. “Both MTV, a unit of Viacom, and MusicNet, a joint venture of RealNetworks and three labels, Bertelsmann’s BMG, EMI Group and Warner Music, declined to comment.”
“MTV has indicated before that it wants to enter the digital-music arena, a market that is gaining momentum with the advent of popular services like Apple Computer’s popular iTunes service,” Reuters reports. MusicNet is a business-to-business company that charges its clients fees for offering them the technology, the infrastructure and its catalog of licensed music to develop digital music services.”
Some of MusicNet’s customers use Microsoft’s Windows Media Audio (WMA) proprietary format to compress the music. Other MusicNet customers use RealNetworks’ proprietary audio format. Apple Computer’s iTunes Music Store dominates the current legit online music landscape with over 70% market share. If MTV chooses to use WMA or Real formats, songs purchase form MTV’s store would not play on Apple’s other market-leading phenomenons, the iPod and iPod mini, as they are now configured.
“It was unclear which format the MTV deal would involve, the people familiar with the discussions said. It was also unclear what the MTV service will cost, although similar services now charge about $1 a song or about $10 a month for unlimited use of streamed music,” Reuters reports. “MTV hopes to use its brand awareness and clout with young music fans in a strategy similar to that of electronics giant Sony, which this week announced a new online music service called Sony Connect, which is compatible with its MiniDisc Walkman devices.”
Full article here.
With the proliferation of iPods throughout MTV’s dominant Hip-Hop culture, their adoption of anything other than iTunes is just stupid. And to put out songs that don’t work on iPods at all would be idiotic at best. Oh well, it’s MTV!
Can we say NAPSTER. wow and that worked out sooo well for them, lol
Its not about the brand “its about the music, stupid” (SJ)
Look like every one has to follow apple. Shame tha apple is steal the best lol and no one will come even close to it.
It sounds like a conflict of interest – MTV pushing the same drivel they focus on their station. iTunes gives me the 20,000 foot perspective as I look down at the various genres.
Next time I turn 11, I’ll check out the MTV store. Until then, whatever.
Good one Spike!
The plural of phenomenon is phenomena not phenomenons – all over the English-speaking world.
Old Pedant – I hope you aren’t a teacher.
From The American Heritage Dictionary:
phe�nom�e�non ( P ) Pronunciation Key (f-nm-nn, -nn)
n. pl. phe�nom�e�na (-n)
1. An occurrence, circumstance, or fact that is perceptible by the senses.
2. pl. phe�nom�e�nons
1. An unusual, significant, or unaccountable fact or occurrence; a marvel.
2. A remarkable or outstanding person; a paragon. See Synonyms at wonder.
3. Philosophy. In the philosophy of Kant, an object as it is perceived by the senses, as opposed to a noumenon.
4. Physics. An observable event.
Old Pedant – My point is that in this case, referring to a the iPod or iPod mini (objects), the correct plural is “phenomenons.” If the article were referenceing events or the like, then the “phenomena” would be correct.
My grandma called to say SHE is interested in starting a digital music download service too.
LOL!
i think these me-too services are finding.. (DUH).. that wow.. user experience actually counts for sth..
scot blum has ripped ppl off.. (all 30 of his customers).. and the new sony service pales in comparaison to apple (can’t even adjust column widths?? lol)
i just have a feeling that no one is talking about an itunes killer until they see that it REALLY REALLY has a sweet interface.. until then.. get in line for your spanking administered by, well, Jobs and Co.
I was just woundering is mtv only going to let you download 15 sec. clips, like on mtv?
MTV sucks so much these days. I cant stand so much of their programming. They play music like they enjoy beating dead horses and good luck getting them to play older videos. VH1 is more enjoyable, it deals with current and past music much better playing to my interests as a product of the late 80s and 90s
So, does that mean that we’ll soon see Beavis & Butthead’s track on iTunes?
I need TP for my bunghole.
Do you know the definition of loser?
I can look it up for you if you need me to, Old Pedant. You seem to not have access to a dictionary – despite your penchant for (mis)correcting others.
It’s an investment-driven bubble, as long as these companies can find suckers to sink money into the space, expect a proliferation of entrants. Each new entrant impacts on the survivability of none-iTMS businesses — they can’t compete on the iTMS-iPod space! They can’t succeed because of overcrowding. Out of that mess should emerge a good No.2 — iTMS could remain a solid No.1 during the shakeout. As far as I’m concerned, the more, the merrier. Welcome MTV.
MTV’s move is out of fear that Apple will dominate the next generation and take over as the Axe in the Music business. It’s too late for MTV, iTunes and iPod has got tremendous momentum and Apple is making a land grab, they’re not slowing down. By the time MTV’s service starts, Apple will have crossed the crucial 5 Million iPod mark. By the time MTV figures out how crummy MusicNet is, Apple wil have launched tow more generations of iPod and two more versions of iTunes.
Bye Bye MTV and your non-Music TV. Jokers.
Look, I don’t mean to be an a$$-hole but is it me or does it really suck to have to register at MacNN just to post a comment? I guess its just me.
Hey they destroyed music as we know it, now there’s a 50 cent and Britney spears only music store! yay!
shut up… 50 cent exploits real human tendencies just like britney spears..
it’s not mtv’s fault you dope
What does MTV have to do with music?
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