I’m an URGE subscriber, so I didn’t bother to activate a Zune music subscription when I first got the device. URGE is pulling out of the Windows Media Player, apparently – and we have to contend with RealPainfulExperienceNetworks again…

This is AdamR from the chat room. After watching your video about music subscription services, I was wondering what you thought of MTV bailing on URGE and Microsoft and switching to Rhapsody / RealNetworks. Also, how will this effect URGE inside of Windows Media Player 11 and how will it affect your subscription since you said you couldn’t live without music subscription, and weren’t really pleased or comfortable with Rhapsody or Real.

The reason I ask is because I live inside of Windows Media Player for my music and have been considering an URGE subscription. However, I don’t want to lock into something if I’m not going to be forced to use Rhapsody / Real (which I absolutely refuse to taint my computer with) sometime down the road.

I personally see this as a huge opportunity for Microsoft if they would just play their cards right. They need to ditch the Zune software, put PlayForSure support into the Zune, and integrate what used to be URGE into their collection of Live services and push that forward.

I don’t like the Real / Rhapsody Player on Windows – but I’m thrilled to report, however, that a Rhapsody / Real music subscription works just fine in Firefox on OS X (a few browser UI quirks, but the music is playing fine). To me, that’s all that matters – being able to pay a single fee every month to access all my favorite classic and new artists… screw this ala carte shit.

And DRM? Par for the course, unfortunately…