MTV And RealNetworks To Launch 'Rhapsody America'

Merged Service

REALNETWORKS, MTV NETWORKS, VERIZON WIRELESS and VODAFONE are teaming to create a single, integrated digital music experience that consumers can access via their PC, portable music device or mobile phone. RHAPSODY will unite REALNETWORKS' service and MTV NETWORKS' URGE music service. VERIZON WIRELESS' V CAST MUSIC will become the mobile platform for the integrated RHAPSODY service.

As part of this alliance, MTV NETWORKS and REAL are forming a new company, RHAPSODY AMERICA, whose offering will be the exclusive digital music service for REAL and for MTV NETWORKS' brands in the U.S. MICHAEL BLOOM, previously GM of MTV NETWORK's URGE, will lead RHAPSODY AMERICA, which will have offices in NEW YORK, SEATTLE and SAN FRANCISCO. 

Today's announcements represent a sea-change in the digital music market.

Service Also Targeted To Mobile Phones

REAL and MTV NETWORKS, through their RHAPSODY AMERICA venture, have formed a long-term relationship with VERIZON WIRELESS, in which the companies will be partners in bringing consumers digital music to their PCs and over the air to their mobile phones. Through the relationship with VERIZON WIRELESS, RHAPSODY will be fully integrated with VCAST Music, delivering a superior music service across multiple consumer devices.

"With REALNETWORKS and VERIZON WIRELESS, we're creating a unique and engaging experience that also reflects our own strategy of allowing fans to go narrow and deep into the musical genres they love," said MTV NETWORKS Chairman/CEO JUDY MCGRATH. "Any time we can partner with industry leaders like this to create a new music proposition, everyone wins, especially the audience."

"Today's announcements represent a sea-change in the digital music market," said REALNETWORKS Chairman/CEO ROB GLASER. "By partnering with MTV NETWORKS, home of the most storied brands in music history, and the market's leading wireless company, VERIZON WIRELESS, we'll make RHAPSODY the premier digital music service that delivers great music to millions of consumers whenever and wherever they want."

« see more Net News