MTV, Microsoft teaming up to offer music online in '06

LOS ANGELES -- MTV Networks Inc. has partnered with Microsoft Corp. to develop an online music service to be launched early next year. Dubbed URGE, it will be integrated into the next version of the software maker's Windows Media Player and offer more than 2 million tracks for sale individually or as part of a subscription package, MTV said yesterday. It will also offer music over online radio.

Microsoft will build the technology behind URGE, which Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks will own and operate.

MTV Networks declined to give details on pricing, but users can expect to pay on different tiers for a la carte downloads, subscriptions, and for moving rented tracks to a portable music player, the company said.

The current version of Microsoft's Media Player has built-in links to several music services, including MusicNow and Napster. A few months ago, Microsoft broke off talks with the record labels to license music for a new online subscription service of its own.

Microsoft already sells song downloads on its MSN Music Internet site.

URGE will not be compatible with Macintosh computers or iPods.