MTV & Microsoft's Urge digital music service launches, Fluxblog & others blogging

"...The two powerhouses (Microsoft & MTV) 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............One link from the Urge opening page sent me to a list of blogs commissioned from writers and experts in a variety of genres. Some are quite good. I'm not much of a jazz fan, but blogger Jim Macnie's short appreciation of pianist John Hicks, who died May 10, was not only informative but also heartfelt....." [LA TIMES]

"In the few minutes Coolfer spent with URGE this morning -- after a buggy installation of WMP 11 -- the service looked like a honest to goodness revolution. Particularly striking were the incorporation and visual presentation of blogs and playlists...." [Coolfer]

"Urge users can elect to receive Informer music blogs, written by experts in different genres. Each blog will come with a playlist so readers can simultaneously listen to or download the music they're reading about, MTV said in a statement." [CNET]

" I've been writing the Pop Informer blog for them, but unfortunately, I don't know how to link directly to it, so you'll have to go through the Urge interface to read the column." [Fluxblog who has new Nouvelle Vague & Walkmen MP3s]

NOTE: All the files on Urge are Windows Media (WMA, not MP3)

Previously
Napster.com "Free" -- Can It Now Compete With iTunes