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Urge (digital music service)

January 08, 2023

This article is about the online music service. For other uses, see Urge.

Urge was an discontinued online music distribution service run by MTV Networks (now Paramount Media). Urge was integrated into Windows Media Player 11.

Urge was first launched on May 17, 2006. Downloaded files came with restrictions on their use, enforced by Windows Media DRM, Microsoft's digital rights management. Urge featured the music programming of MTV, CMT (country), and VH1 and provided editorial content for the online music service. Urge charged 99¢ a track, or $9.95/month for a subscription. An optional $14.95/month to-go subscription was available for those with PlaysForSure devices. As of May 2008, Urge was not compatible with Microsoft's Zune or Apple's iPod, although the first-generation Zune Marketplace was based on Urge, and had many similarities.

In Spring 2007, MTV Networks launched the digital audio radio service Urge Radio, available through cable operators. Urge Radio offered cable systems digital audio channels with non-stop music, commercial-free, 24 hours a day. Similar to Music Choice, song and artist info is displayed on the TV screen.

In August 2007, MTV Networks announced plans to end its partnership with Microsoft and joined by RealNetworks on its Rhapsody digital music store.

In September 2010, Verizon and Frontier informed their customers that they would be removing Urge channels due to the provider's commitment to shut down the service.

Features

Music downloads

At close, Urge had about 2.4 million songs available for download. Fans could download music for 99¢ a song or via one of the two subscription tiers. Subscription downloads allowed playback on three computers (also two PlaysForSure devices with the premium Urge To Go subscription). Devices and computers could be de-authorized through the account settings in Windows Media Player, allowing subscribers to change devices or computers. Subscribers may only de-authorize one PC and one device every 30 days.

There were several differences between songs downloaded through the subscription program and songs purchased though Urge. Purchased songs could be played repeatedly, regardless of whether the purchaser was still an Urge subscriber. Subscription music, on the other hand, became unplayable if the subscription lapsed. Subscription music also could not be burned to a CD while purchased music could. Additionally, purchased music could be copied to any WMA-enabled portable media player, not just those that are compatible with subscription services.

Urge To Go

Urge To Go was Urge's premium subscription service, allowing customers to sync all music downloaded from Urge to two PlaysForSure compatible devices. This is not compatible with Microsoft's Zune.

Internet radio

There were 36 free radio stations that can be accessed by anyone with Urge configured in Windows Media Player 11. With a subscription to Urge, 102 additional radio stations were available, providing a total of 138 radio stations as of July 2007.

Music videos

Streaming music videos were provided for the Urge service by MTV, VH1 and CMT. Songs which have corresponding videos are indicated by an icon to the left of the song title in Urge.

Auto-Mix, playlists and blogs

Urge provided several features to assist in discovering new music. The My Auto-Mix feature dynamically creates a playlist based on music each listener plays or adds to their library. Alternatively, playlists could be created based on mood, style or artist. Users can fine tune the results using three sliders for "popularity", "freshness" and "familiarity".

There were also playlists based on music, genres, celebrities, TV shows on MTV, VH1 and CMT and popularity.

In addition, Urge had 20 Informer blogs, which highlighted music from the three major networks (MTV, VH1 and CMT) as well as music from diverse genres in between from Afrobeat to Zydeco.

Urge and Rhapsody merger

In August 2007, Urge informed its user base that the service would soon merge with the Rhapsody music service run by RealNetworks. On Friday October 26, 2007, the integration between Windows Media Player and Urge was removed. Current subscribers to the Urge subscription services (Urge All Access and Urge All Access To Go) were automatically transferred to Rhapsody, thus requiring the subscriber to download the Rhapsody software to access and use their account.

Any subscription tracks downloaded with the Urge music service in Windows Media Player (as with any subscription based track) require that the media usage rights be updated every month for the track to be operable. As a result, subscription tracks downloaded to Windows Media Player using Urge will expire and the media usage rights will no longer be updated. A subscription based user will have to install the Rhapsody software, re-download their tracks and maintain their usage rights in the Rhapsody software as well as use Rhapsody to search for new music. It is possible to change the preferences in Rhapsody to download tracks in .WMA format thus making those tracks playable in Windows Media Player.

Urge users that paid by the track own the media rights, but without any problems using Windows Media Player to play those songs.

MTV Networks, Rhapsody, and Verizon Wireless are partnering to integrate the VCAST Music service into Rhapsody as well, thus enabling users to take advantage of their Rhapsody account on their mobile device.[1]

Response

The music service was reviewed in several places. A CNET review gave the service a 7.0 on a 10-point scale. However, Urge has been criticized because it installs new "features" without the user's consent.

Urge and Rhapsody merger

In August 2007, Urge informed its user base that the service would soon merge with the Rhapsody music service run by RealNetworks. On Friday October 26, 2007, the integration between Windows Media Player and Urge was removed. Current subscribers to the Urge subscription services (Urge All Access and Urge All Access To Go) were automatically transferred to Rhapsody, thus requiring the subscriber to download the Rhapsody software to access and use their account.

Any subscription tracks downloaded with the Urge music service in Windows Media Player (as with any subscription based track) require that the media usage rights be updated every month for the track to be operable. As a result, subscription tracks downloaded to Windows Media Player using Urge will expire and the media usage rights will no longer be updated. A subscription based user will have to install the Rhapsody software, re-download their tracks and maintain their usage rights in the Rhapsody software as well as use Rhapsody to search for new music. It is possible to change the preferences in Rhapsody to download tracks in .WMA format thus making those tracks playable in Windows Media Player.

Urge users that paid by the track own the media rights, but without any problems using Windows Media Player to play those songs.

MTV Networks, Rhapsody, and Verizon Wireless are partnering to integrate the VCAST Music service into Rhapsody as well, thus enabling users to take advantage of their Rhapsody account on their mobile device.[1]

List of Urge channels

  • Acoustic Chill
  • Adult Rock
  • Alternative Rock
  • Arena Rock
  • Axis
  • Blast
  • Blue Room
  • Bluegrass Radio
  • Blues Part 2
  • Christian
  • CMT Radio
  • CMT Wide Open Country
  • Cinema
  • Classic Country
  • Classic R&B
  • Classic Rap (uncensored)
  • Classic Rock (uncensored)
  • Celebration
  • Comedy (uncensored)
  • Cover to Cover
  • Crescendo
  • Crunch
  • Dance Club
  • Discotech
  • Dope
  • Dream Sequence
  • Easy Listening
  • Electronica
  • Gospel
  • Grind (Rhythmic Top 40)
  • Hip-nod-ics
  • I Love the '70s
  • I Love the '80s
  • I Love the '90s
  • Jazzup Broadway
  • Jazz Standards
  • Jet Set
  • Lounge Beats
  • Latin Jazz
  • Latin Hip-Hop
  • Modern Pop
  • Modern Rap
  • Modern Soul
  • MTV2 (Rock)
  • MTV2 Headbangers Ball
  • MTV Tr3s
  • Manteca
  • Meditation
  • Neon
  • Nick Kids
  • Noggin
  • NuGroove
  • Oasis
  • Opera Babylon
  • Pegao
  • Plush
  • Pop Standards
  • Praise
  • R&B Hits
  • Radio Alterna
  • Ragga
  • Reggae
  • Reunion
  • Rock Legends
  • Rocks
  • Say it Loud
  • Showcase
  • Smoke
  • Smooth Jazz
  • Soft Pop
  • Solid Gold Oldies
  • Soul City
  • Swing
  • Today's Top 40
  • TRL
  • Tejano
  • Ultrasound
  • Unforgettable
  • VH1 Soul
  • Vinyl
  • Voice Box
  • Zen

References

  1. ^ a b Verizon Taps Rhapsody America to Take on iPhone/AT&T Deal

External links

  • Feeling the “URGE,” MTV Networks Announces a New Digital Music Service in Collaboration With Microsoft a press release from Microsoft (December 13, 2005)
  • MTV to Start Music Service with Microsoft, from the New York Times (December 13, 2005)
  • MTV Urge review by CNET (May 14, 2006)
  • I don’t want my MTV from Ed Bott's blog at ZDNet (May 16, 2006)
  • PC Magazine Review (November 15, 2006)
  • URGE to Merge with RealNetworks' Rhapsody (August 21, 2007)

January 08, 2023
urge, digital, music, service, this, article, about, online, music, service, other, uses, urge, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challeng. This article is about the online music service For other uses see Urge This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Urge digital music service news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Urge was an discontinued online music distribution service run by MTV Networks now Paramount Media Urge was integrated into Windows Media Player 11 Urge was first launched on May 17 2006 Downloaded files came with restrictions on their use enforced by Windows Media DRM Microsoft s digital rights management Urge featured the music programming of MTV CMT country and VH1 and provided editorial content for the online music service Urge charged 99 a track or 9 95 month for a subscription An optional 14 95 month to go subscription was available for those with PlaysForSure devices As of May 2008 Urge was not compatible with Microsoft s Zune or Apple s iPod although the first generation Zune Marketplace was based on Urge and had many similarities In Spring 2007 MTV Networks launched the digital audio radio service Urge Radio available through cable operators Urge Radio offered cable systems digital audio channels with non stop music commercial free 24 hours a day Similar to Music Choice song and artist info is displayed on the TV screen In August 2007 MTV Networks announced plans to end its partnership with Microsoft and joined by RealNetworks on its Rhapsody digital music store In September 2010 Verizon and Frontier informed their customers that they would be removing Urge channels due to the provider s commitment to shut down the service Contents 1 Features 1 1 Music downloads 1 2 Urge To Go 1 3 Internet radio 1 4 Music videos 1 5 Auto Mix playlists and blogs 1 6 Urge and Rhapsody merger 2 Response 2 1 Urge and Rhapsody merger 3 List of Urge channels 4 References 5 External linksFeatures EditMusic downloads Edit At close Urge had about 2 4 million songs available for download Fans could download music for 99 a song or via one of the two subscription tiers Subscription downloads allowed playback on three computers also two PlaysForSure devices with the premium Urge To Go subscription Devices and computers could be de authorized through the account settings in Windows Media Player allowing subscribers to change devices or computers Subscribers may only de authorize one PC and one device every 30 days There were several differences between songs downloaded through the subscription program and songs purchased though Urge Purchased songs could be played repeatedly regardless of whether the purchaser was still an Urge subscriber Subscription music on the other hand became unplayable if the subscription lapsed Subscription music also could not be burned to a CD while purchased music could Additionally purchased music could be copied to any WMA enabled portable media player not just those that are compatible with subscription services Urge To Go Edit Urge To Go was Urge s premium subscription service allowing customers to sync all music downloaded from Urge to two PlaysForSure compatible devices This is not compatible with Microsoft s Zune Internet radio Edit There were 36 free radio stations that can be accessed by anyone with Urge configured in Windows Media Player 11 With a subscription to Urge 102 additional radio stations were available providing a total of 138 radio stations as of July 2007 Music videos Edit Streaming music videos were provided for the Urge service by MTV VH1 and CMT Songs which have corresponding videos are indicated by an icon to the left of the song title in Urge Auto Mix playlists and blogs Edit Urge provided several features to assist in discovering new music The My Auto Mix feature dynamically creates a playlist based on music each listener plays or adds to their library Alternatively playlists could be created based on mood style or artist Users can fine tune the results using three sliders for popularity freshness and familiarity There were also playlists based on music genres celebrities TV shows on MTV VH1 and CMT and popularity In addition Urge had 20 Informer blogs which highlighted music from the three major networks MTV VH1 and CMT as well as music from diverse genres in between from Afrobeat to Zydeco Urge and Rhapsody merger Edit In August 2007 Urge informed its user base that the service would soon merge with the Rhapsody music service run by RealNetworks On Friday October 26 2007 the integration between Windows Media Player and Urge was removed Current subscribers to the Urge subscription services Urge All Access and Urge All Access To Go were automatically transferred to Rhapsody thus requiring the subscriber to download the Rhapsody software to access and use their account Any subscription tracks downloaded with the Urge music service in Windows Media Player as with any subscription based track require that the media usage rights be updated every month for the track to be operable As a result subscription tracks downloaded to Windows Media Player using Urge will expire and the media usage rights will no longer be updated A subscription based user will have to install the Rhapsody software re download their tracks and maintain their usage rights in the Rhapsody software as well as use Rhapsody to search for new music It is possible to change the preferences in Rhapsody to download tracks in WMA format thus making those tracks playable in Windows Media Player Urge users that paid by the track own the media rights but without any problems using Windows Media Player to play those songs MTV Networks Rhapsody and Verizon Wireless are partnering to integrate the VCAST Music service into Rhapsody as well thus enabling users to take advantage of their Rhapsody account on their mobile device 1 Response EditThe music service was reviewed in several places A CNET review gave the service a 7 0 on a 10 point scale However Urge has been criticized because it installs new features without the user s consent Urge and Rhapsody merger Edit In August 2007 Urge informed its user base that the service would soon merge with the Rhapsody music service run by RealNetworks On Friday October 26 2007 the integration between Windows Media Player and Urge was removed Current subscribers to the Urge subscription services Urge All Access and Urge All Access To Go were automatically transferred to Rhapsody thus requiring the subscriber to download the Rhapsody software to access and use their account Any subscription tracks downloaded with the Urge music service in Windows Media Player as with any subscription based track require that the media usage rights be updated every month for the track to be operable As a result subscription tracks downloaded to Windows Media Player using Urge will expire and the media usage rights will no longer be updated A subscription based user will have to install the Rhapsody software re download their tracks and maintain their usage rights in the Rhapsody software as well as use Rhapsody to search for new music It is possible to change the preferences in Rhapsody to download tracks in WMA format thus making those tracks playable in Windows Media Player Urge users that paid by the track own the media rights but without any problems using Windows Media Player to play those songs MTV Networks Rhapsody and Verizon Wireless are partnering to integrate the VCAST Music service into Rhapsody as well thus enabling users to take advantage of their Rhapsody account on their mobile device 1 List of Urge channels EditAcoustic Chill Adult Rock Alternative Rock Arena Rock Axis Blast Blue Room Bluegrass Radio Blues Part 2 Christian CMT Radio CMT Wide Open Country Cinema Classic Country Classic R amp B Classic Rap uncensored Classic Rock uncensored Celebration Comedy uncensored Cover to Cover Crescendo Crunch Dance Club Discotech Dope Dream Sequence Easy Listening Electronica Gospel Grind Rhythmic Top 40 Hip nod ics I Love the 70s I Love the 80s I Love the 90s Jazzup Broadway Jazz Standards Jet Set Lounge Beats Latin Jazz Latin Hip Hop Modern Pop Modern Rap Modern Soul MTV2 Rock MTV2 Headbangers Ball MTV Tr3s Manteca Meditation Neon Nick Kids Noggin NuGroove Oasis Opera Babylon Pegao Plush Pop Standards Praise R amp B Hits Radio Alterna Ragga Reggae Reunion Rock Legends Rocks Say it Loud Showcase Smoke Smooth Jazz Soft Pop Solid Gold Oldies Soul City Swing Today s Top 40 TRL Tejano Ultrasound Unforgettable VH1 Soul Vinyl Voice Box ZenReferences Edit a b Verizon Taps Rhapsody America to Take on iPhone AT amp T DealExternal links EditFeeling the URGE MTV Networks Announces a New Digital Music Service in Collaboration With Microsoft a press release from Microsoft December 13 2005 MTV to Start Music Service with Microsoft from the New York Times December 13 2005 MTV Urge review by CNET May 14 2006 I don t want my MTV from Ed Bott s blog at ZDNet May 16 2006 PC Magazine Review November 15 2006 URGE to Merge with RealNetworks Rhapsody August 21 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Urge digital music service amp oldid 1094854602, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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