While Apple Computer, Microsoft and others target a potentially vast market for paid music downloads, Viacom’s MTV unit is setting its sights closer to home. In his first remarks on MTV’s planned music download service, an MTV executive in charge of online properties described more limited ambitions than the company’s chief executive officer did when …

Viacom, whose Internet music efforts have hit a few sour notes along the way, said it was hatching a plan to go after Apple Computer’s successful iTunes service with its MTV brand. The media conglomerate confirmed that it was looking into launching a music download service in the first half of next year. MTV Chief Executive Tom Freston described those …

The day after a report suggested the compact disc is heading the way of the 8-track tape, the world’s largest music label conglomerate promised a steep cut in music CD pricing. Universal Music Group on Wednesday said it will slash its wholesale prices and reduce its suggested retail pricing for music CDs to $13, from between $17 and $19. The …