Rhapsody America: RealNetworks, MTV to together launch a digital media store

The domination of the Apple iTunes in the digital media retailing market is now leading to consolidation in their rival companies.

RealNetworks and MTV have announced that they are going to merge their services to sell digital media to online users.

The two companies are also going to work with Verizon Wireless to become their platform for its wireless music service.

Michael Bloom, the leader of MTV’s Urge music service is going to become the head of this new initiative.

MTV is scheduled to start the marketing of this new service at their upcoming MTV Music Awards show.

RealNetworks added that their Rhapsody subscription service will now replace MTV’s Urge brand. Verizon’s VCast music service would also become their exclusive partner for the mobile platform.

Kevin Nakao, vice president of marketing for Rhapsody America said in a statement: “One of the things we want to do is use this as an opportunity to show the marketplace the benefit of our unlimited [subscription] model … but how we also offer other options for people that want to purchase tracks and want to use Rhapsody to manage that. We’re a total music-service solution.”