TeenBuzz ringtone available to iPhone users

The popular ultrasonic technology offered by TeenBuzz.org - that only teenagers can hear - has recently been reformatted to include added support for iPhone users.

[via WebWire]

Warner Music Pushes ISP Tax For Music Downloads

Warner Music Group is reportedly considering a plan to have Internet service providers add $5 a month to subscribers' bills for unlimited access to music on the Web, reports Information Week.

The plan would provide a way for Warner and other record labels to get some compensation for all the music downloaded illegally, mostly through peer-to-peer networks.

... Fees collected from ISPs could generate $20 billion annually. The money would be divided among artists and copyright holders. As a possible option, people who didn't want to pay the fee could agree to receive advertising."

Mobile music is shooting up the charts

The mobile phone industry is finding new revenue by offering streaming radio and music downloads to consumers who want to consolidate their digital devices. BizJournal reports.

"Mobile phones across the globe are getting high-tech upgrades that allow them to be used as debit cards and as portable Internet devices, but music applications are among the fastest growing services for mobile phones, according to a study released in February by market researcher TNS Global Technology.

In 2007, the number of mobile phone users who listened to the radio via their phones grew 140 percent over the previous year, while 78 percent more used their phones as mp3 players, according to TNS data.

About 43 percent of mobile users across the globe access music with their phones, the report shows."

BMI says ringtone sales are falling

Broadcast Music Inc. is projecting U.S. sales of mobile phone ringtones will fall in 2008 compared to last year. The Associated Press reports.

"It expects ringtone sales will total about $510 million this year, down 7 percent from 2007.

It says demand has waned for the audio clips used to customize cell phone rings in part because new handsets that play music let customers use audio from their own collections instead.

The company expects U.S. sales of another type of mobile music product — ringback tones — to grow 50 percent this year to more than $210 million."

Callers hear ringback tones while calling

Two New AT&T Music services

AT&T today announced two new music services for its consumers to directly access their library of music directly through their phones. BetaNews reports.

"The Make-UR-Tones service is designed to allow users to create and customize any ringtone, while Remix lets users access music from their home PC through a mobile phone. Napster Mobile will be available on more AT&T phones starting this summer, the company said."

AT&T press release

Nokia confident of reaching music deals

According to the FT, Nokia is increasingly confident of securing deals with the world’s leading record companies ahead of launching its flagship music service for mobile phones later this year.

"In December, Nokia announced plans for its Comes with Music service, under which people will be able to buy mobiles giving them access to Universal Music’s entire back catalogue for up to one year.

Nokia is in talks with the other three leading record companies – Sony BMG, EMI and Warner Music – plus about 10 independent music labels about giving people access to their catalogues.

... Comes with Music, which is expected to launch in the second half of this year, is intended to be one of the cornerstones of Nokia’s expansion into internet services."

Music phones pass half a billion

According to research company MultiMedia Intelligence, a half a billion music phones were sold in 2007. Mobile Entertainment reports.

"The research company says the figure beats the iPod and other personal media players by 300 million units, making phone the most popular portable music device.

MultiMedia Intelligence says it expects music phone shipments to reach 941 million units in 2011 - accounting for half of all handsets sold.

The reports also states that the global mobile music content market ringtones, ringback tones, streaming audio and full-track downloads) will hit $6 billion this year."

Sony BMG developing online music service

The CEO of Sony BMG Music Entertainment says that the company is developing an online music subscription service that would give users unlimited access to its music and be compatible with a host of digital music players.

[via the Associated Press]

iPhoneRingPack.com

iPhoneRingPack.com claims to offer the first iPhone ring tones that are build specifically for the iPhone.

[via iPhoneWorld]

Text "Hoops" for mobile March Madness

With all eyes on the college basketball tournament, college sports fans have something else to cheer about. A new College Pix & Tones mobile site allows college basketball fans to download their favorite ringtones and wallpapers.

Fans can text the keyword "Hoops" to 32852 to access a wide array of college content downloads, or visit www.collegepixandtones.com.

[via Press release]

EMI aims to join Nokia's Music Offering

EMI said on Wednesday it was in talks with mobile handset maker Nokia to offer its songs as part of Nokia's new "Comes with Music" offering.

" Nokia is set to start selling phones under its "Comes With Music" brand in the second half of 2008, offering unlimited access to millions of songs.

The world's largest music label, Universal, signed up for the program last December."

[via Reuters]

AT&T's MEdia Mall 2.0

AT&T has unveiled plans for a redesigned MEdia Mall, the company's one-stop shopping destination for mobile content.

Like its predecessor, MEdia Mall 2.0 will feature more than 90,000 choices (games, ringtones, real tones) from more than 115 different content providers.

Apple floats idea of subscription iTunes service

Apple is talking to music companies about giving customers free access to its entire iTunes music library in exchange for paying a premium for its iPod and iPhone devices, it has been reported.

The new business model could provide the struggling recorded music industry with a much-needed boost and push demand for a new generation of Apple hardware, the Financial Times reports.

Apple would not comment on the plan, but executives say talks hinge on a dispute over the price the computer maker would be willing to pay for access to music labels' libraries.

The model would be a replica of Nokia's "comes with music" deal with Universal Music."

[via The Sydney Morning Herald]

Disabled Staff Recruited to Sell Ringtones

A new company being set up in Thailand to sell ringtones is to be primarily staffed by seriously disabled employees. [via Cellular News]

"PWD Outsource, a company aimed at employing disabled people has set up the venture which will employ 50 call centre staff to sell ringtones to customers of the Hutchison CAT mobile network by telephone and internet.

The venture will last until the end of June and has been launched as part of a 5th anniversary campaign by the phone company. If the project is a success, there is potential to keep the 50 staff working for the company."

Vodafone customers get Madonna's album a week early

Vodafone customers are to be granted early access to Madonnas new album. "Hard Candy", due to launch globally on April 28th. Pocket-Lint reports.

"Starting on April 21st seven tracks from "Hard Candy" will be released at a rate of one a day counting down the week before the album is available.

Each track will remain live for 24 hours for download before being replaced by the next one.

Vodafone customers will also have access to Madonna's mini site on Vodafone live! which will include one week of exclusive, associated mobile content, including ringtones, ringback tones and SMS tones. "

One Llama launches iPhone music search engine

One Llama has launched a version of its music search site for iPhone. It basically lets you tap in a band and/or song name, and be taken straight to the relevant YouTube video, as well as find similar clips.

“We have mapped our music database of over 1.4 million tracks to online music videos. Now users can not only discover new music, but also where available watch the full length video,” says One Llama’s director of product development Amit Sudharshan.

[via Pocket Picks]

Thumbplay raises $18 million for wireless entertainment

Thumbplay sells ringtones, videos, games and graphic for your cellular phone and claims to have over 43,000 downloadable items. The Inudstry Standard reports.

"Using a credit-based system, Thumbplay keeps transactions simple. For example, all ringtones are simply one credit. The company also offers the option of monthly memberships that allocate credits to users every month and offer special deals."

Famous Horse Racing commentaries as voicetones

Weatherbys has brought out new Horse & Hound ringtones, featuring commentaries of the nation's favourite races.

Sir Peter O'Sullevan, 90, has recorded the commentaries of household names — such as Red Rum, Shergar and Best Mate — and the proceeds will go to charity.

"When I hung up my microphone over 10 years ago, the thought of my commentaries being heard over a mobile phone would have been extraordinary," said Sir Peter.

"The ringtones give a chance to a new generation of racing enthusiasts as well as lifelong fans to hear some of our sport's most glorious moments every time their phone rings — with charity benefiting at the same time."

RingTone Nation CD

Lloyd Page has just released a new CD of ringtones titled "Ringtone Nation". It has 98 ringtones spanning a variety of styles and sounds.

It is currently available only through CD Baby or direct from SummerRain & DragonSong Music but will soon be found at iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, eMusic, etc.

"RingToneNation is 98 distinctive ringtones. Ranging from chimes, bells, and musical interludes to jangly, raucous, spatial, froggy, and just a bit "out there".

The CD includes PC compatible mp3 extras and videos."

[via Press release]

Apple sued over iTunes technology

Apple Inc. was sued Wednesday over allegations its iTunes online music store and iPod music players are illegally using a patented method for distributing digital media over the Internet.

"ZapMedia Services Inc. sued Apple in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, accusing the Cupertino-based company of violating two ZapMedia patents.

The patents in question cover a way of sending music and other digital content from servers to multiple media players, a broad description that could also apply to a wide swath of other companies selling digital media and the devices to play it.

ZapMedia applied for the patents in 1999. One was granted in March 2006, the other on Tuesday.

ZapMedia said it met with Apple to discuss licensing, but Apple rebuffed the offer."

[via the Associated Press]

SongNumbers Mobile Music Service

A new mobile music service launched today called Song Numbers that promises to empower artists and record labels with what it calls a critical mass media utility.

The service allows music fans to listen to, share and purchase music from their cell phones. I4U reports.

"The technology behind SongNumbers is patent pending and allows artists to assign a phone number from the SongNumbers.com website to their music and anyone with a cell phone can call the number, preview the track and buy it with the press of a number.

The service requires no software, no players and no DRM. The two carriers offering the service at this time are AT&T and Alltel. "

Nokia launches music TV show

Nokia will air a music TV show with exclusive tracks and out-takes available on Nokia phones and Nokia Music Store. Mobile Entertainment reports.

The Nokia Green Room will run for 15 weeks on Channel 4 from April. It will combine live music performances with reality- style observational TV in a specially created backstage area with hidden mics and remote cameras filming the interaction between acts as they wait to perform live on stage.

... The production company will produce additional interviews, performances and teasers for download exclusively to Nokia mobile devices and for the Nokia Music Store.

Paul McCartney Signs $400 Million iTunes Deal For The Beatles Catalog

Paul McCartney has signed a $400 million deal, which will see the Beatles catalog make its way to iTunes, at long last.

[via Gizmodo]

1.1 billion mobile music phones to be sold in 2010

About 1.1 billion mobile phones with music players will be sold worldwide in 2010, almost double the 614 million sold last year, said Tina Teng, an analyst at researcher iSuppli Corp.

[via The Los Angeles Times]

Analysts see 'ringback tones' part of a $40 billion industry

"Ringback tones" are about to turn into the single largest mobile entertainment revenue source, overtaking mobile ringtones by 2010, according to a new study by analyst group IDC.

"Ringback tones will overtake ringtones in 2010 and become the single largest revenue source for mobile entertainment due to a variety of inherent advantages.

The IDC study, «Worldwide Mobile Entertainment 2007-20011 Forecast», analyzes the opportunity for mobile entertainment services, applications, and content types on a global basis.

[via Beta News]

Nokia opens online music store in Germany

Nokia opened on Monday its online music store in Germany, the second such store for the world's largest cellphone maker, which plans to open the stores in nine more countries by mid-2008.

Nokia's German music store will charge 1 euro ($1.52) per track, compared with the largest online music retailer Apple's (AAPL.O) iTunes' 0.99 euros charge.

[via Reuters]

Warner signs 7digital MP3 deal in Europe

Warner Music has signed a deal with digital media site 7digital.com to provide its catalogue in the MP3 format, which can be played on nearly all music devices.

... The site is the first major European download store to offer Warner's tracks in the DRM-free MP3 format -- 7digital offers EMI's catalogue in the MP3 format and aims to sign more labels soon.

[via Reuters]

3 iPhones and music program equals one iBand

Three art students from Austria have hacked into their iPhones - a big no-no, from Apple's perspective - and loading them with music-playing software, which they have used to record songs. The videos they put on YouTube last month of what they call the first iBand have been drawing heavy traffic from technophiles and curiosity-seekers. IHT reports.

"Their debut video, posted Feb. 17 and briefly the top-featured video on the site, is fairly rudimentary, from a musical perspective at least: In what the band describes as a "jam session," one iPhone plays keyboard software, another plays a virtual guitar program and a Nintendo DS video game player plays percussion. The result is more songlike noise than melody.

But the fascination was instant: The three were immediately deluged with requests for interviews, for copies of the song and for information about the software and equipment they had used.

The original video had been viewed more than two million times by Sunday, and more than 13,000 viewers had left comments."

India: Downloading ringtones, playing music in public might be illegal

According to The Economic Times, if you are downloading a Bollywood ring tone on your mobile phone, you might be violating the copyright act; and the Indian Music Industry plans to take action on it.

"Over 13,000 cases of intellectual property right violation, mostly physical music piracy, were registered in the country in the past seven years and more than 200 cases of mobile chip piracy detected in the last two years, says IMI President V J Lazarus.

While mobile phone chips have joined the ranks as an instrument for physical form of piracy, public performance of the music and songs, which generally go unnoticed, also comes under the ambit of the law."

After AT&T, other US operators under ringtone scheme investigation

In four short years, the ringtone industry has emerged from nowhere and has become a billion-dollar market. And just as fast, scam artists found a way to tap into the line. That's what's behind a major settlement of a fraud investigation announced yesterday by Florida attorney general Bill McCollum, and it will impact cell phone customers nationwide. CBS News reports.

"... AT&T isn't the only company that's gotten in trouble. According to investigators, the other major cell phone companies, ringtone providers and their advertisers use strikingly similar tactics.

As one observer put it: it's as if they've all gotten together at a ringtone convention to share the tactics of the scheme. That's why the Florida Attorney General also announced today that investigations are beginning into Verizon, Sprint/Nextel, Alltell and T-Mobile.

Look for those companies to quickly try to get the monkey off their back by making quick settlements and agreeing to follow AT&T's lead in changing their ways.

For customers: it's all good. As far as restitution if you live outside of Florida or are using a company other than AT&T: try filing a complaint with not only your phone company but also the FCC online at fcc.gov. "