Music to Mobiles Causing Stir in Korea

With the imminent European release of Samsung's i450 music phone, the mobile music market is starting to get cutthroat, reports The Korea Times. But experts are warning that restrictive anti-piracy laws might hurt the emerging demand for mobile phones that double up as music players.

"... Nearly 80 percent of mobile phones sold in Korea have now integrated music players. Moreover, Korean mobile producers expect to announce the sale of over 10 million MP3-playing handsets in 2007, a total of five times more than the number of stand-alone music players' sales forecasted for the same period.

But the Korean mobile music industry goes way beyond just downloading songs. SK Telecom believes almost 45 percent of their subscribers have signed up to their "coloring'' service, which makes SK over 100 billion won a year.

SK also estimates wireless Internet and mobile data services make up around 40 percent of their total revenue.

The introduction of flat rate file music downloads is revolutionary, though, and it has proved to be an attractive one for customers. For only a relatively small fee, people are able to get as much music on their mobiles as they like. "

Your Mother's voice (ringtone)

From Jeremy Wagstaff for Loose Wire. Precious!

"There has to be a better way for ringtones to be less intrusive and yet audible enough to the user so they actually hear it. My solution is simple. I read somewhere that the US Air Force in the 1950s was experimenting with early versions of synethesized voices delivering cockpit warnings. What they found was that a pilot was much more likely to hear an important instruction if the voice used was the pilot’s mother .

So this is what I propose. When I buy my phone, I hand it over to my mother and have her call out my name at a reasonable volume. That recording becomes my ringtone. Trust me, I’m always going to recognise her voice, across the room, across town, across continents. Mothers’ voices have that kind of quality. "

Illustration left, the cover of My Mother's Voice by Joanne Ryder, Peter Catalanotto - Harpercollins.

AT&T Gives Away Free Christmas Ringtones

AT&T announced today that it is offering Free holiday ringtones to its subscribers along with free Answer Tones and a new mobile game. I4U reports.

"The free ringtones for the holiday season include Jingle Bells, The Dreidel Song, and Noche de Paz. Free answer tones include Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree by Cyndi Lauper, wizards in Winter by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano. The game is called Santa’s Tower Bloxx by Digital Chocolate."

Shazam Launches "Shazam iD"

Shazam, has announced the release of Shazam iD, a mobile application which it says takes its award-winning mobile music recognition service to a new level of interactivity. Mobile Mrketing Magazine reports.

Once downloaded, the application sits on the handset’s main menu and offers the user one-click initiation utilising GPRS connectivity. At the touch of a button, users can 'iD' the music they are hearing and go on to access related information, including artist biographies and recommendations, and ultimately purchase associated products from a range of integrated vendors.

Judge jails everybody in courtroom over ringing cell phone

A judge in America was removed from the bench on Tuesday for jailing 46 people after none of them would admit to having a cell phone that began ringing during his court session.

Everyone is going to jail," the judge said. "Every single person is gong to jail in this courtroom unless I get that instrument now. If anybody believes I'm kidding, ask some of the folks that have been here for a while. You are all going."

[Associated Press via Metro]

What Makes a Ringtone Popular?

Billboard Magazine has a list each week of hot ringtones. The songs range from hip hop to latin to rock.

Mancini's "Pink Panther" has been on the top 40 ringtone list for more than two years, for example. And artist Koji Kondo has been on the charts for 162 weeks with the Super Mario Brothers theme.

So what makes a ringtone popular? A song with a great hook or an instrumental?

Tim Page, the music critic for the Washington Post, talks about some of this week's Billboard picks with Robert Siegel and Melissa Block.

Listen in on npr

Outcry over ringing phone during exams

Pupils at Portstewart Primary School may sit their second 11-plus paper again, after an invigilator's mobile phone rang five times during the exam.

"Parents were sent letters offering the option to re-sit last Friday's hour-long transfer test if they felt their child was disadvantaged.

... The education and library board told the BBC's Talkback program that parents could sit a supplementary test or claim special circumstances in their school transfer application.

More than 15,750 children aged 10 and 11 sat the English, Maths and Science tests, which will determine the sort of secondary school they attend. "

Van Halen Release Ring Tones

On the heels of their heralded North American tour, Van Halen has announced the release of official ringtones and ringback tones for the first time. Metal Underground reports.

"Among the 15 official Van Halen ringers available are the Grammy-nominated, #1 smash hit, “Jump,” one of the most famous guitar solos of all time, “Eruption,” and the iconic rock classics “Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love."

Van Halen ringtones are available now by searching “Van Halen” on mobile phones from all major carriers or by sending the text message “VH” to 74466.

For the next four weeks, AT&T Mobility will be offering exclusive versions of several of the Van Halen ringtones and answer tones to their subscribers."

American-backed killer militias strut across Iraq

Carrying their weapons, the Knights of Ameriya, claiming to be part of the Baghdad Brigade Sunni militia funded by the American forces, went from one class to the next in an Ameriya school last week, looking for mobile phones with “unIslamic” ringtones. One child with a pop music ringtone was slapped and kicked in the legs as a warning to the others.

The Times Online reports.

"Members of the Baghdad Brigade receive $300 a man each month from the Americans, who also provide vehicles, uniforms and flak jackets. In return the brigade keeps out Al-Qaeda, dismantles roadside bombs and patrols the area, a task performed with considerable swagger by many of its 4,000 recruits.

... US-backed Sunni militias have spread eastwards from Anbar across Baghdad. They already number 77,000, known collectively as “concerned local citizens”. This is more than the Shi’ite Mahdi Army and nearly half the number in the Iraqi army.

Exotically named groups such as the Knights of Ameriya and the Guardians of Ghazaliya strut the streets in camouflage uniforms, brandishing new AK47s that the Americans say they have not supplied. "

Related: - In Iraq, having the wrong ringtone can get you killed

Ring-back tones to carry adverts

Wannabe telecommunications company Jajah is planning to replace the ringing tone with recording advertisements, when the user wants them, with the revenue split 50-50 between customer and operator. The Register reports.

"... According to Jajah co-founder Daniel Mattes the average time spent listening to a ringing tone is 12 seconds, time which could be spent listening to adverts provided by Jajah.

The company has signed a deal with advertising brokerage Oridian, and is already pitching the idea to companies that might be interested before launching the service on December 1."

Gobble gobble ringtone

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to, but well it's out there. Turkey Gobble sound tones can be downloaded from The popular NFU turkey website.

[via politics.co.uk]

Basshunter's track "Now Your'e Gone" sells one million ringtones so far

Basshunter's new video features a trio of young ladies dressing and undressing each other in preparation for a night of clubbing. The Sun reports.

"The track Now You’re Gone has already topped the chart all over Scandinavia and Europe and has shifted a staggering one million ringtones so far.

And in its native Sweden it has been the fastest-selling single since ABBA were around."

Biz potential of ringback tones still untapped

Next to SMS or text messaging, ring-back tones (RBT) has been touted as a lucrative revenue source for mobile operators. However, based on its uptake across the globe, it seems it has not lived up to its billing - yet.

In a report entitled "SUCCESS; Ringback Deployment and Adoption Best Practices", NMS Communications identified key barriers to subscriber uptake and the historical reasons for slow uptake of any content-based mobile service.

[via America's Network]

Portugal - Vodafone to offer 'Spice Girls' album

Vodafone is to offer the Spice Girls forthcoming album on the 'Vodafone live! portal before the official release date of 22nd November 2007. As well as the album itself, users can also download ringtones and Real Tones of the band's hits.

[Trading Markets]

Jamster Music now on Nokia

Mobile content provider Jamster has made its full-track music download service available on Nokia’s latest Xpress Music devices.

Jamster has wangled a deal with Nokia to include pre-installed access for users of some Nokia handsets, via their on-handset Download! content distribution service.

[via Pocket Picks]

Kylie Minogue's latest album to be released exclusively on Nokia's Music Store

Kylie Minogue will be releasing her new album, 'X' by Kylie, on Nokia's Music Store November 21st.

The release marks the first time ever a Kylie album will be available digitally prior to general release.

[via into mobile]

King's outburst generates $2m-worth of ringtones

When the Spanish king Juan Carlos turned to Hugo Chavez and said to him, a touch irritably, "Por qué no te callas!" /"Why don't you shut up?"), little did he know that his breach of diplomatic protocol would become a smash hit across the country, or that those five famous words would become a multi-million euro business, selling ringtones, mugs, T-shirts and websites. The Guardian reports.

According to David Bravo, a lawyer specialising in IT law and intellectual property, "the use of the sentence 'why don't you shut up?' in ringtones ... is a violation of his image rights".

An estimated 500,000 people have already downloaded the ringtone, generating around €1.5m (£1m or $2.2m), but many companies have circumvented any potential problems over rights by using an actor's voice instead of the king's.

Over 700 videos have appeared on YouTube, with parodies ranging from a Benny Hill sketch to a Nike advert featuring the Brazilian star Ronaldinho, which ends: "Juan do it. Just shut up."

Related:

-- King Juan Carlos losing his temper a big hit on YouTube

-- King Juan Carlos "Por qué no te callas!" ringtone

November 21 is No Music Day

Next Wednesday is No Music Day. Times Online reports.

"Two years ago the maverick pop musician Bill Drummond had a quirky idea. Irritated by the “nonstop soundtrack” of music that invades almost every aspect of our lives, from ringtones to bus shelters. So he decided to set up No Music Day – symbolically on November 21, so it would form a kind of Hallowe’en to November 22, feast-day of Cecilia, music’s patron saint.

The idea has caught on. Last year thousands attempted to avoid music on November 21. This year the whole of BBC Radio Scotland will be a music-free zone."

AT&T to supply David Matthews Band ringtones

AT&T said it has made an agreement with Dave Matthews Band that will give wireless customers first-ever access to selected ringtones.

"The company also said that this initial offer is to be followed by a broader range of the popular rock band's ringtones. According to AT&T, this is the first time Dave Matthews Band ringtones have been available through any wireless carrier."

[via Trading Markets]

King Juan Carlos "Por qué no te callas!" ringtone

Five words – “Why don’t you shut up!” - have catapulted King Juan Carlos, the Spanish monarch, to internet stardom, and driven Spain’s relations with Latin America to a new low, according to the FT.

... The unprecedented spectacle of King Juan Carlos losing his temper is a big hit on YouTube this week. “Por qué no te callas!” has also become a popular ring-tone for mobile phones in Spain as well as a rallying cry for Mr Chávez’s opponents in Venezuela."

Free Holiday Ringtones

You can get into the holiday spirit with a holiday ringtone fom UnWired Appeal. Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, The Nutcracker and many more.

Taking a Break. Back on Thursday November 15

Taking a break in New York this week. Next blog update Thursday November 15.

Presidential ringtones

Campaign financing site Your Billion Dollar President has created downloadable ringtones for Bill Richardson, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani, Dennis Kucinich, and yes, Ron Paul, whose ringtone takes a cue from "Rawhide."

The site also has a "how to" for creating and submitting your own ringtones, should you have the perfect tune for the handfull of Duncan Hunter supporters.

[via AppScout ]

Related:

-- Barak Obama's political soundtones

-- Other politic ringtone links

Yet Another Ringtone fatwa

A Saudi-based Muslim clerics' organization has banned the use of Koranic verses as rngtones after a six-day meeting in the holy city of Mecca, a statement said on Thursday, reports the AFP.

"It is forbidden to use verses of the Koran as mobile telephone ringtones because any such use would damage the Koran by their abrupt interruption of the psalm verses or by sounding in inappropriate places," said the fatwa, or religious edict, issued by the Islamic Jurisprudence Council."

Previously:

-- Religious leaders squabble over Koran ringtones

-- A Fatwa Against Ringtones

-- Muslim clerics in India: No Quran verses as cell phone ringtone

Verizon offers Bollywood ringtones and ringbacks

Verizon Wireless announced that its customers can now access the hottest Bollywood Ringtones and Ringback tones on their phones.

Bollywood's most anticipated theatrical release of the year, "Om Shanti Om," opens on Nov. 9, and Verizon Wireless customers can get Ringtones and Ringback tones from the film today."

[via Wireless Week[

Vodafone Backs Nokia's Music Store

According to the WSJ, Vodafone, the world's largest mobile operator by revenue, has agreed to work with the Finnish handset giant to integrate a number of Internet services, including Nokia's Music Store, on to devices that will begin selling early next year.

"Until now, some analysts believed Nokia faced a backlash from mobile phone operators, fearful that the world's largest mobile phone maker would cannibalize their revenue streams."

Sony Ericsson Plans Music Store

Mobile-phone maker Sony Ericsson yesterday hit back at rivals Apple Inc. and Nokia Corp., unveiling plans for its own Internet music portal and introducing three new handsets. The Wal Street Journal reports.

"Sony Ericsson, a joint venture between Sony Corp. and Telefon AB LM Ericsson, plans to release the upgraded PlayNow service next spring, adding millions of new music tracks from major record labels.

Until now, Sony Ericsson has only offered music downloads via its handsets from Sony BMG Music Entertainment, a joint venture of Sony and Bertelsmann AG."

«ringtone.info» for sale

The domain name «ringtone.info» is being auctioned off on Sedo.com, ending 9th November at 05.58pm Central European Time.

«Ringtones.net» achieved $175,000 this year in a separate sale sold by Moniker.

Religious leaders squabble over Koran ringtones

A heated debate has broken out within one of Islam's top religious bodies over the use of Koranic verses as mobile phone ringtones. ABCNews.au reports.

"Dignitaries and scholars from the Islamic Jurisprudence Council are reportedly divided on the issue at their meeting in Islam's holiest city, Mecca.

Some scholars have denounced Koranic ringtones as a frivolity that impinges on the sacred character of the Muslim holy book.

The newspaper Al-Hayat has described debate on the issue as turbulent."

Kylie Minogue launches networking site

To coincide with the new single, 2 Hearts, Kylie Minogue has launched her own social networking Web site www.KylieKonnect.com allowing fans to register on their mobile phones, blog, communicate with other users and upload images and video.

[via Reuters]