MTV and RealNetworks unite to fight Apple's iTunes

[pioneer]

MTV Networks and RealNetworks Inc. will merge their online digital music stores in the latest attempt to reduce Apple Inc.'s hold on the music download market, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday morning.

MTV has scheduled a news conference concerning online music for 11:00 AM ET Tuesday, but company representatives declined to comment on the Journal's report, which cited unnamed sources.

Verizon Wireless Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC will distribute the new alliance's content for mobile devices, the paper reported.

MTV Networks, owned by Viacom Inc., already runs Urge, its own music download service. MTV partnered with Microsoft Corp. on Urge, which launched in May 2006. RealNetworks runs Rhapsody, a subscription service which offers access to its entire catalog for a monthly fee and also sells individual songs.

source: pcworld.com