Ringtones are music to the entertainment industry

Forbes has an overview story on the ringtones market, reports Moco News.

Some interesting figures:

-- In Japan and Europe ring tones are already a $5 billion business.

-- In the late-starting U.S., ring-tone sales are expected to be two times the dollar volume of CD singles by the end of this year, reaching above $50 million, says research firm IDC.

-- Some 10 million music lovers will download them.

-- Already reggae star Sean Paul's hit single "Get Busy" has sold more ring tones than CD singles, some $400,000 worth.

--Music publishers typically receive royalties of 10% from songs. If artists write their own tunes, they get a cut of up to 50%. BMI, which licenses performance rights to 4.5 million songs, expects to add $7 million to its $600 million in annual royalties from ring tones sold in the U.S.

This is music to the entertainment industry, as the market for solo songs on discs has collapsed from its peak of $272 million in 1997, victim of pirating services like Kazaa and Morpheus.

emily | 6:03 PM | Random Stats |
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