“When Microsoft and MTV show up at a party — as a couple — attention must be paid,” David Colker reports for The LA Times. “The two powerhouses joined forces to create a music subscription and download service called Urge, which debuted Wednesday.”
“The subscriptions, which cost about $10 a month, allow unlimited streaming of songs from Urge’s catalog of nearly 2 million selections. If you want to buy the songs, it’s 99 cents per download,” Colker reports. “But the subscription model has yet to catch on in a big way. Most people prefer to download songs, and downloading is overwhelmingly dominated by Apple Computer Inc.’s iTunes.”
“So, can Urge be the salvation for the subscription model? Can it be the breakthrough service that finally takes a bite out of Apple? Based on an early look, probably not,” Colker reports. “Apart from the widespread apathy to subscription music, Urge faces another disadvantage: portability. Although subscription selections can be played on some portable music players for an extra $5 a month, they won’t play on Apple’s ubiquitous iPod. In addition, music downloads purchased on Urge — as well as Napster, Rhapsody and Yahoo — can’t be played on the iPod unless the songs are first burned to CD.”
“Time will tell whether Urge’s version of subscription and paid downloading will attract the masses. If Microsoft and MTV can’t pull it off, it’s hard to imagine anyone making a go of it. Unless, of course, someone gets to bring Apple along as a date,” Colker writes. “Then again, Apple could choose to throw its own subscription party. Stay tuned.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: One has to wonder if it also phones home about everything that’s in your ‘Music” folder.
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