I just came accross this news:
MTV announced it has partnered with Microsoft to develop an online music service to launch early next year.
Dubbed URGE, the service will be integrated into the next version of Windows Media Player and offer more than 2 million tracks for sale individually or as part of a subscription package, it will also offer online radio.
Microsoft will build URGE, which Viacom's MTV Networks will own and operate.
URGE will not be compatible with Apple computers or iPods, which represent around 75 percent of the digital player market, and iTunes Music Store accounts for around 80 percent of the music download market.
Why? MTV hasn't been playing music for like 20 years, and Microsoft always needs Apple to test the market before jumping in... (Window interface, Mice...)
Considering the number of cheaply priced mp3 players out there and that PC users account for the majority of the home computer market, it will be interesting to see how this affect the digital music market in 2006.