MTV Networks and Microsoft URGE digital music fans

This year Viacom Inc.’s MTV Networks and Microsoft Corp. will launch URGE, a digital music service that will offer more than 2 million songs from the major labels and thousands of independents. MTV Networks will use the marketing machines of its well known MTV, VH1, CMT and other brands to promote and support the service, to be located at Urge.com.

In addition to online music provider MusicNet’s library of more than 2 million tracks, URGE will offer exclusive MTV Networks programming and original content, including music feature stories, exclusive interviews, music videos, and other multimedia content across all music genres and styles. The service also will feature 100 free and premium radio stations.

Microsoft has integrated URGE functionality into its newly released Microsoft Windows Media Player 11. The new software is intended to ease management of media through design improvements including visual navigation of entire media libraries and “wordwheel search,” which quickly narrows media searches with individual keystrokes.

MTV Networks is No. 143 in the Internet Retailer Top 400 Guide to Retail Web Sites.