• RealNetworks, MTV and Verizon are teaming up for a mobile music service called Rhapsody America. MTV's URGE music service will join with RealNetworks' Rhapsody subscription service to create a music service that can be accessed via PC, mobile phone or (compatible) portable media device. Verizon's V CAST will be the service's mobile platform. (Press release)

• Wal-Mart has announced the launch of $0.94 MP3 downloads and $9.22 MP3 album downloads. The catalogs of EMI and Universal Music Group are available in the MP3 format at 256 kbps. The original, 128 kbps WMA tracks will also be available. The first things I noticed at the music download page were links to $3.88 MP3 albums (which are all EP's and singles), $5.88 MP3 albums (catalog titles like Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet) and $7.88 MP3 albums (Norah Jones' Come Away With Me, for example). Unfortunately, Wal-Mart's updated digital store does not support Firefox. (Press release)

• Solange Knowles, sister of Beyonce, has signed a worldwide co-publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing. Knowles is currently promoting Baby Jamz, a hip hop-oriented toy line created by Planet Toys and Music World Entertainment, her father's company. (Press release)

• Another Madonna-to-LiveNation? article, but this one has some numbers and word of a rival. "One source estimated the value of the Live Nation offer to be $180 million, with the touring giant potentially licensing the recording rights for roughly $30 million. ... It is doubtful that WMG, the only label Madonna has ever been signed to, would give up the Material Girl without a fight. Sources say that the company has made a counter-offer to Madonna that also includes a touring component that could be helmed by rival promoter AEG Live." (Billboard.biz)

• Said the CFO of Emmis Comminications about satellite radio, "The people that utilize satellite radio often toggle between AM and FM and satellite radio, and it really hasn’t caused a measurable effect in our business yet. ... Satellite radio is a niche business focused on people willing to spend 13 dollars per month for the radio. Which for long-haul truckers or people who are advocates of a music format which may not reach a mass market – if you’re a passionate Blue Grass listener in New York City – it probably makes sense for you. But I think they’re still challenged. It’s a challenging business model to launch a billion-dollar asset in space and try to build up a mass-market audience quickly. And with 15 million subs it’s tough, which is why they’re trying to get the merger done. In large measure they’re trying to work with the government to solve a business model problem." (Radio Ink)

• Verve Music Group has named Mitchell Cohen as its VP of A&R. Cohen was previously SVP or A&R at Columbia Records. (Billboard.biz)