Spanish operator launches artist-specific sites

FierceMobile Content reports that "Telefonica Moviles Espana, Spain's leading wireless carrier, has introduced an artist-specific full-song mobile download service called Todo X Artista. Powered by Openwave's Musiwave division, the service allows users one-click access to all the content available from a given artist.

Once a customer buys a Madonna track, for instance, the service then offers a range of other Madonna content such as ringtones, ringback tones, videos and wallpapers on an instantly created dedicated artist site."

Verizon debuts John Legend album

Verizon Wireless is making several full-songs and music videos from the new John Legend album "Once Again" available exclusively on the VCast Music service, almost two months before the album's Oct. 24 street date, reports FierceMobile Content.

More in Full press release.

Verizon Wireless V CAST Musicwill feature several of John Legend's new songs as exclusive offers for customers to download as full length songs, ring tones and Ringback Tones for the next two months. John Legend's new album, "Once Again," will not hit stores or Web music retailers until October 24, so the only place to hear or view John Legend's new music is through Verizon Wireless.

Sony Ericsson wants to develop music service further

Sony Ericsson plans further to develop its PlayNow service, currently used for downloading ring tones and games, a spokesman for the Japanese-Swedish group said on Wednesday. Reuters reports.

PlayNow is a popular over-the-air download service available directly from the phone menu on most Sony Ericsson phones, with pre-defined download lists easily accessible.

"Many phone makers have invested in online music downloading services, and handset makers see digital music as one of the key drivers for selling more expensive new phones".

Flash Mob Cell Phone Symphony - in a Bookstore

Sixty cell phone ringtones, going off simultaneously in a bookstore bag check. New York February 2006. View video here

"News traveled to employees in other parts of the store. At one point an announcement was made over the loudspeaker, "Attention Strand customers: your phones are going off at the bag check."

The working theory after the first two rings was that one phone was going off first and then triggering the other phones. I think some thought that the "triggering" phone was defective and the whole thing was a coincidence, and others thought that the guilty phone was specifically modified to make others ring. Either way, it was agreed that if they could find the phone that rang first and shut it off, the rest would stop as well.

[Improv Everywhere via digg]

RealNetworks Launches Streaming Music On Sprint Phones

Real Networks on Monday said it was expanding its music subscription service by offering streaming tunes to Sprint phones. Information Week reports.

"RealNetworks is offering Rhapsody Radio as an option on seven advanced cellular phones offered by Sprint.

The service offers a wide variety of streaming music stations that cover genres ranging from alternative rock and country to pop and rap. "

Related: - RealNetworks, Sprint Will Offer Radio via Phones

LG's handset with a cappela sound effects

LG Electronics unveiled a mobile handset featuring a cappella sounds for bells and other sound effects yesterday. The model has adopted music sources sung by Sweden's Real Group - a professional a cappella group from Sweden, consisting of five members: soprano Margareta Jalkéus, alto Katarina Henryson, tenor Anders Edenroth, baritone Peder Karlsson, and bass Anders Jalkéus.

[via Inside JoongAng Daily].

Motorola Makes Music with Asia's Leading Pop Icon Jay Chou

Motorola has announced that Jay Chou, one of Asia's leading music artists - and " the most famous actor in Taiwan", according to Wikipedia - , has been appointed as a Motorola brand ambassador for Greater China. [ Press release]

Jay will star in Motorola commercials and advertisements and champion the dynamic music experience delivered by Motorola's industry leading music-enabled and music-optimized mobile devices.

Motorola also established a dedicated Jay Chou space on MOTOMUSIC(1) featuring his ring tones and full tracks, along with music videos, exclusive footage and interviews.

... In addition to being a brand ambassador for Motorola, Jay's partnership will include making available his complete music portfolio to all Motorola mobile users now on MOTOMUSIC, the first and largest legal music download site in Mainland China."

The Continued Rise Of Mobile Music

MocoNews has picked up some great quotes from music industry leaders about their interest in mobile phones.

From a media release on The New Zealand Mobile Music Awards happening September 12th:

“These awards signify the effect that mobile music is having on the industry – it is transforming the way we listen to music, offering people music in any form they want, when they want.”— Chris Caddick, Managing Director, EMI/Virgin.

“We saw a need for Mobile Music Awards because mobile Ringtones and Caller Tunes are now just as valid a measure of an artist’s popularity as record sales.” — Telecom’s General Manager Consumer Marketing, Kevin Bowler.

Nokia cell phone trivia

Twelve interesting facts about Nokia you may not know, published in TechScraper, two of which are related to ringtones: [via digg]

-- The “Special” tone available to users of Nokia phones when receiving SMS (text messages) is actually Morse code for “SMS”. Similarly, the “Ascending” SMS tone is Morse code for “Connecting People,” Nokia’s slogan. The “Standard” SMS tone is Morse code for “M” (Message).

-- The ringtone “Nokia tune” is actually based on a 19th century guitar work named “Gran Vals” by Spanish musician Francisco Tárrega - something we already knew, but "Grande Valse" was changed to “Nokia Tune” around 1998 when it became so well known that people referred to it as the “Nokia Tune.”

Time may be up for that phoney music

The moment of truth may be looming for the infernal ring tone, reports The Age. A guerilla group calling itself the The Ringtone Society - a project dedicated to free polyphonic ringtones composed by international musicians - is ready to strike.

"With the help of the coming Melbourne International Arts Festival, the Dutch online collective plans to rid the world of uninspiring ringtones.

Comparing itself to tackling the graffiti culture by transforming public spaces and making public transport fun again, its mission statement is to "free the world of digitally dull, aurally repetitive, copy-cat mobile phone ringtones and reclaim the space for innovative global art and sound"

It will launch its attack in October at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, and invites festival-goers to attend a series of ringtone concerts.

... The ringtone market is expected to blossom further as consumers download entire songs on their phones through 3G technology, and customised ringback tones enable callers to hear songs instead of conventional network ringing tones. The phenomenon is also opening up new distribution avenues for songwriters.

For this latest initiative, Australian composers and musicians are asked to come up with original ringtones, be it jazz, heavy metal, country or classical, to add to a global online library.

Composers are asked to email ringtones as MP3 (polyphonic) files up to 30 seconds long to Lauren, at the Melbourne International Arts Festival: l.snelling@melbournefestival.com.au by 5pm on Monday September 11.

Compositions must be original and created specifically for the festival.

The compositions will be transformed into ringtones by the Ringtone Society, then made downloadable.

Composers will receive royalties through the Australasian Performing Right Association.

Identify the Key Forces that will Shape the New Ringtone Industry

Research and Marketshas announced the addition of Ringtones: Past, Present and Future Volume 2 to their offering. [via Business Wire]

It is a time change for the ringtone industry. The replacement of polyphonic ringtones with real music ringtones amounts to far more than a format replacement cycle: because record labels have now arrived in the market, the very structure and operation of the ringtone industry is seeing dramatic chang.

Presented in two separate volumes, this report is focused on identifying and analysing the key forces that will shape the new ringtone industry and define the winners and losers.

Summary

Chaku-uta Full: Europe and the U.S. have missed the boat

The phenomenal success of full-length song downloads to mobile in Japan is unlikely to be repeated in Europe and the U.S. mainly because of the different development trajectories that have been taken by the Internet which in Japan is mainly accessed using mobile phones while in the U.S. and Europe, consumers understand that the Internet is accessed using PCs.

While European and U.S. markets will find success in adding music player features to mobile phones these will be used mainly to transfer songs from the PC to the device, rather than to buy music from an operator-branded mobile or online music store.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c41204

Musician's Companion

Musicians! Now you can have an all-in-one musician's tool on your phone, wherever you go. The Yamaha guitar companion includes a chord reference, metronome, and pitch pipe, all in one convenient application. [via Moco News]

Did you know that your cell phone is more powerful than a PC was twenty years ago? It has more processing power, better audio and graphics, more memory, and better network bandwidth. Yet, this powerful little computer is used mostly to make phone calls or play games. Now Yamaha is taking advantage of this computer in your pocket to introduce a new line of applications for musicians.

The Musician's Companion is available for a one-time $9.99 purchase. There are no monthly recurring charges.

Enter your phone number to purchase from your phone, in international format.

Learn more | Play demo

44% of music phones owners have never transferred music files to their phone

44% of consumers that own mobile phones capable of playing music have never transferred music files to their phone, according to research from US firm IIn-Stat, reports NMA.

"The survey of 1,000 US mobile users found 14.2% of users to be early adopters of mobile video. However the research house found that although, based on three years of mobile media surveys, video use was increasing, it was not rising as quickly as interest in mobile music.

"Streaming music, which could be marketed like satellite radio, holds the most interest of all mobile multimedia for consumers, and may be easier to deliver than video," said In-Stat analyst David Chamberlain."

Ringtone licensing debate handed off

The RIAA's request to develop a compulsory licensing model for ringtones has been placed in the lap of the U.S. Copyright Office, according to FierceMobile Content.

"A compulsory licensing scheme would simplify things dramatically, eliminating the need to negotiate a license for each ringtone desired."

Related Links:

-- Sony's rev share lawsuit includes ringtones now (FierceMobile Content)

-- Royalty Board to Defer to Copyright Office on Ringtone Licenses (Hollywood Reporter)

-- Ringtones Copyright Issues (Ringtonia)

Samsung launches "super music" phone

Samsung Electronics has launched what it dubs a “Super Music Phone” equipped with an 8-GB hard disc drive to store more than 1,500 MP 3 music files. Digital Chosunilbo reports.

"It also comes with a “golf manager” function that allows users to search information on golf courses nationwide and how to play to score winning shots on a particular course. A built-in GPS feature allows users to calculate distance to the green and tee shot distance, though for a fee.

The phone has a range of other features including mobile TV, psychological tests and motion recognition games. "

PLAY.Orchestra

If you go down to the South Bank in London this summer, outside the Royal Festival Hall is a wonderful installation titled PLAY.Orchestra. 56 plastic cubes and 3 Hotspots are laid out on a full size orchestra stage, each cube containing a light and speaker. Sit down on the cube or stand in the hotspot to turn on that instrument and bring 58 friends to hear the full piece.

People with Bluetooth phones will be able to receive a ringtone of the piece created, as well as upload their own sound samples in September.

Each Saturday from 19 August to 30 September between 11am and 1pm we'll be running live events in the PLAY.orchestra, with live Philharmonia musicians, sound recording equipment and people on hand to help you find Bluetooth on your phone.

Record a sound using your phone and send it back to us via Bluetooth - these sounds will enter the sample library and become part of the music in the PLAY.orchestra from 23 September

[via networked performance]

Johnny Hallyday's new single premiers on Orange

The latest single from French living legend rocker Johnny Hallyday has been released exclusively on Orange mobile phones, reports the AFP.

"The single, called "La Loi du Silence" (The law of silence) is taken from Hallyday's forthcoming live album called "Flash Back", a selection of recordings from his recent tour.

It was released to users of Orange mobiles phones on Monday but will be available for download over the Internet or from other mobile phone companies only next week on August 28."

Almost a year ago to the day, Johnny Hallyday launched a mobile version of a new single called "Ma religion dans son regard" - before the official launch of the single itself and before any radio releases. The song was first title of his new album Ma vérité», which launched several months later, hitting in stores on October 31st 2005.

cellphone ring tones all the rage among young Iraqis

In a city bereft of entertainment, text messaging and swapping ringtones are all the rage for young Iraqis trying to lighten their lives and political ringtones are popular. USA Today reports.

"Cellphone shops, the only crowded stores these days, sell special CDs with ringtones at about $2 apiece. Collections of short jokes especially written for texters are best-sellers. "It's not like there's much to do around here," Abdul Kareem said. "It's perhaps the only venue to express ourselves."

A popular ringtone features the music from Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise. But the local version includes a voice similar to Saddam's rapping in English: "I'm Saddam, I don't have a bomb/Bush wants to kick me/I don't know why/smoking weed and getting high/I know the devil's by my side."

The song concludes with: "My days are over and I'm gonna die/all I need is chili fries" as a crowd yells "Goodbye forever, may God curse you."

Competing with Saddam for the most popular song in Iraq today is Iraqi pop star Hossam al-Rassam — "Ma, I've been stung by a scorpion." Its sensual lyrics challenge widespread conservatism in Iraq by talking about a girl's lips and perfume "that make you live longer."

Mobile Phone Performances

"Mobile phones give public space another dimension by adding a layer of communication and sound which innovative artists are turning into performance art", writes CScout looking back one mobile performances, such as Dialtones, a concert performed in 2001 entirely through the ringing of the audience's mobile phones at the Ars Electronica Festival and this year's updated version of AGORA, a 2005 performance in Williamsburg where the choreographer featured 60 dancers, plus participating audience

For this year's AGORA II people are invited "to not only bring their bodies to the performance, but also their cell phones", "to create a grand tableau - a city slice - a social experiment...

Other Mobile performances

Jamster readies full-song mobile service

According to FierceMobile Content, ringtone provider Jamba has unveiled a public beta version of a full-song mobile music download service in Germany.

"Called Jamba Music, the service will offer 500,000 tracks once it emerges from the beta trial. The company has licensing deals with the German divisions of Universal Music Group, SonyBMG, and several independent labels. "

Snakes On A Cell Phone mixxer

Mobile music site mixxer is unveiling an exclusive "Snakes On A Plane " mini-site featuring ringtones, video clips, screensavers and user-generated content inspired by the movie. Mobile content can be downloaded for free and shared among users. Justin Oberman for mopocket reports.

"The Mixxer site currently supports 19 wireless carriers in the United States.

The "Snakes On A Plane" film, starring Samuel L. Jackson, hits theaters on Aug. 18."

Related: Customized voice message from Samuel L. Jackson - "Snakes on a Plane"

Nokia could speed up Apple's entry into cellphone business

Nokia's arrival in the music downloading business (purchase of Loudeye) is bad news for Apple Computer, which may force the iPod maker to engineer a new "iPhone" to fend off the threat, experts believe, reports the AFP.

"... Analysts say that Apple may now be forced to offer iTunes to other companies under license, although initial attempts by its boss Steve Jobs to work with mobile phone manufacturer Motorola were inconclusive.

... Wall Street has speculated for months about the possible marriage of the iPod with a cellphone. "Of all of Apple's new product opportunities, we are particularly excited about cellphones -- an 800-million-unit-plus market per year," UBS Bank said.

Bell Canada Rings in Video

Bell Canada is now offering video ringtones to its customers, the first of this kind of service to be available in Canada, reports Hereshow.ca

"For $4 each, customers can download a video ringtone at www.bell.ca/ringtones, then program their compatible cell phone to play a music video when a call comes in, rather than just a simple audio ringtone. "

Sales Of Music-Enabled Phones Double

According to TechWeb, "sales of music-enabled phones rose to 10 percent of all shipments in the second quarter, compared with five percent during the same period a year ago, Market Research Firm NPD Group said.

The percentage of phones with Bluetooth capability also increased significantly, rising to 22 percent in the second quarter from nine percent a year ago."

Lloyd Webber songs set for download

Andrew Lloyd Webber, the most popular theatre composer of the late 20th century, (Evita, Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Bombay Dreams...) will be selling his songs as ringtones and downloads for the first time following a £10m deal between the composer's Really Useful Group and Universal Music.

"The digital release programme will feature hits from Lloyd Webber's entire catalogue, including Cats, Starlight Express and Phantom of the Opera.

Lucian Grange, Universal's group chairman, said, "This deal brings the biggest and best-loved musicals of all time into a digital age."

Orange Offers 'Screaming' Phones

The BBC reported earlier that the five UK networks agreed to block a mobile phone, within 48 hours of being reported stolen.

And now, according to Gizmodo UK and Larry Seltzer's Security Blog, wireless operator Orange is suggesting another option: a screaming phone. Using software from Synchronica, when stolen it emits a loud wail not unlike a person screaming.

If you lose your phone, you call the help desk, they issue the remote wipe-and-lock, and the cell phone emits a loud, annoying sound.

And if that doesn't work, it also includes a "remote wipe-and-lock feature", to delete potentially sensitive data over the air.

Visual Radio Finally Launches with O2 and Virgin Radio

Two radio stations in the UK, Virgin Radio in London, and GWR FM in Bristol will be launching support for Visual Radio, reports Digital-Lifestyles.info.

James Parton, Head of Music, TV and Radio products at O2 comments, "The in-built radios in many of our handsets have always been popular with people who are always on the move, but now visual radio lets you really interact whether that is with the actual DJ themselves or downloading ringtones of your favourite songs over the O2 network."

Visual Radio (VR) is a traditional radio broadcast, backed up and accompanied with information, photographs and graphics displayed on a compatible mobile phone. Handset owners can see immediately what track their favourite radio station is playing and explore more information about the artists, or see what's coming up next. You can all see the potential for album promotions, competitions and quizzes – and advertising. The service can also be used to sell ringtones and logos – other micropayment-sized virtual goods popular with network operators.

ETRI develops MP3 interoperability technology

MP3 files purchased on online music sites will become available to be used over mobile phones in next year.

SK Telecom said Thursday that it had developed an interoperability technology that works between its digital right management and others’ by using EXIM technology developed by the Electronics and Telecommunication Research Institute.

[via Mobile Korea]

Warner Music inks licensing deal with Russian wireless carrier

Warner Music International has licensed songs from its catalog of music by Madonna, Green Day and other artists to Moscow-based mobile carrier VimpelCom Group, informs The Mercury News.

The deal appears to be the first of its kind to involve a major Western record label and a Russian mobile operator. VimpelCom boasts more than 50 million subscribers. It provides mobile service in Russia as well as Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Georgia.

As part of the deal, VimpelCom will have a five-month exclusive to sell ringtones, video clips, full-track downloads and other content from Madonna.

The Russian mobile music market represents a safer bet for record companies, who have seen sales sapped by digital piracy on online file-sharing networks or Web sites that make songs available for free or well below cost, but without permission.

The nature of mobile networks makes them far harder to hack than Internet-based networks.

Bands Can Make Indie Ringtones

Independent bands can make their own ringtones that will actually be easy to access. Through MixerTags, bands can sell (or give for free) their own ringtones directly through their blog, website or MySpace profile, informs New Music First.

Pick the music file , add some basic information to identify it, such as artist, title, and genre, and in return musicains get a MyxerTag™ - a simple HTML snippet - to put in the website, MySpace profile, or blog. After that, website visitors can click the MyxerTag™ and enter their phone number to get the ringtone.

Related:

-- Cingular, MySpace, InfoSpace join as ringtone providers.