URGE (digital music service)

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

Urge Music Store on WMP 11 for Windows Vista

The URGE digital music store is an online music distribution service run by Microsoft. URGE is integrated into Windows Media Player 11. It was opened as URGE on May 17, 2006. Downloaded files come with restrictions on their use, enforced by Windows Media DRM 11, Microsoft's digital rights management. URGE is sponsored by MTV, CMT, and VH1. These sponsors provide additional content for the music store. URGE currently charges 99¢ a track, or $9.99/month for a subscription. An optional $14.99/month subscription is available for those with PlaysForSure devices. As of March, 2007, URGE is not compatible with Microsoft's Zune or Apple's iPod.

1 Features
2 Response
3 External links

[edit] Features

[edit] Music Downloads

URGE currently has about two million songs available to download. You can download music for 99¢ a song. You can also download music with a subscription. All music downloads have Windows Media DRM 11.

[edit] Internet Radio

With a subscription to URGE, you gain access to URGE radio. URGE radio is a re-branded version of VH1 Radio. As of March 2007, there are 135 internet radio stations on URGE

[edit] URGE To Go

URGE To Go is similar to Napster To Go. It is URGE's premium subscription service. With it you can sync all music downloaded from URGE to any PlaysForSure compatible device. This is not compatible with Microsoft's Zune.

[edit] Response

The new music service has been reviewed in several places, despite its current beta status. A prominent CNET review gave the service an 8.0 on a ten point scale. However, URGE has been criticized because it installs new "features" without the user's consent.