More Artists Steer Clear of iTunes

iTunes has been the runaway hit of the music business, selling more than five billion song downloads since it started five years ago. But a growing number of record companies are trying to steer clear of Apple Inc.'s behemoth music store, because they say selling single songs on iTunes in some cases is crimping overall music sales.

... There is growing discomfort with the dominant role iTunes already plays: The store sells 90% or more of digital downloads in the U.S., according to people in the music industry. At the start of this year, iTunes become the largest retailer of music in the U.S., surpassing Wal-Mart Stores Inc., according to research firm NPD Group Inc.

Label executives, managers and artists chafe against the iTunes policy that prevents them from selling an album only. ITunes, with few exceptions, requires that songs be made available separately. Consumers strongly prefer that, though Apple also typically offers a special price for buyers who purchase all the songs on an album."

[via The Wall Street Journal]

Max Richter releases an album of ringtones

This week Max Richter, the Edinburgh-based composer and pianist, got one up on the pop stars who have sold their hits as ringtones by releasing an album of original music created especially for mobile phones. The Times Online reports.

“Who says ringtones have to be so bad?” asks the musician. “It’s like saying LPs or CDs are bad – it’s just a medium.”

Playing the piano himself and securing the services of several cellists, violinists and a guitarist, Richter has recorded 24 vignettes, the longest clocking in at three minutes, but most lasting 60 seconds."

Listen to Max Richter's ringtones

Lost Trailers Found Via Text

The uses of the cell phone continue to grow, and few bands are as ingenious with their mobile devices as The Lost Trailers, who’ve incorporated the cell into their stage show. Literally. Great American Country reports.

"They’ve dubbed it the Trailer Phone, and the whole point is to make it easy for their community of fans to stay in touch.

"It’s a mutual relationship," lead singer Ryder Lee says. "They’re there for us, and we’re there for them, and our set list is a reflection of that. So if a fan wants to hear something during a show, they can just send us a text at 615-708-9463, and we will add that song to the set list right then because we have the phone on stage."

Nokia Music Almighty (monsters)

As part of the Nokia Music Almighty campaign, visitors can pick their favourite music genre and then transform themselves in one of 5 weird characters. Adverblog reports welcome to optimism.

"You can upload your own photo, play with the control levers and... become someone (or something weird).

Once you've created your avatar you can also rap a song and upload it as well, to finish the creation of your virtual singing Frankenstein. "

Dalai Lama muso didn't mean to hit iTunes

The man behind the controversial pro-Dalai Lama music download which is being linked to the apparent blocking of Apple's online iTunes Store in China says it was never his intention to provoke such a response. The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"The album, Songs for Tibet, was offered as a free download to athletes attending the Olympic Games. They were encouraged to listen to the songs on their iPods whilst in Beijing as a act of solidarity with Tibetan people and the non-violent philosophies of their exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Up to 40 athletes are thought to have taken up the offer and Mike Wohl , the executive director of The Art of Peace Foundation which produced the album, says that it is understood that some of the downloads were made while the athletes were in Beijing.

But he insisted that the campaign to recruit Olympians was not intended to make a big political statement. "We were trying to do the subtlest of subtle things," he said in a telephone interview. "I didn't want to get anyone in trouble."

Stephen Colbert shows off Sex and the City ringtone.

Stephen Colbert shows off his Sex and the City ringtone on Colbert Nation.

[Switched via Geeksugar]

Internet users fear iTunes blocked in China

The downloading of music for iPod players has hit a mysterious glitch in China, stumping scores of users and raising fears the government has blocked Apple's iTunes site over pro-Tibet lyrics, analysts said on Thursday.

[via Reuters]

Condom a cappella ringtone promotes safe sex

A ringtone that chants "condom, condom!" has been launched in India to promote safe sex and tackle the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic, writes Breitbart.

"The "condom a cappella" has been designed to break down Indians' reluctance to discuss condom use and to make wearing a condom more acceptable.

Organisers of the campaign, funded by the foundation set up by Microsoft mogul Bill Gates and his wife Melinda, hope the ringtone will become a craze among young Indians. "

[via Gizmodo]

Video Ringtone Channels for Presidential Election

Vringo today announced Vringo Channels, a video ringtone channel service.

The first Vringo Channels launching this month, including those for Obama and McCain, will give fans of each candidate the ultimate badge of support: access to a daily updated roster of free video ringtones pulled from the latest news, commercials, events, speeches and choice campaign moments.

Press release

Ringback Tones Worth $4.7 Billion in 2012

Ringback tones are on track to become the most attractive mobile content category by 2012, according to new market research from MultiMedia Intelligence.

With worldwide revenue nearly tripling to $4.7 billion, ringback tones will fall just short of mobile gaming revenue in capturing the largest share of the mobile premium content market (not including mobile video and mobile TV).

Ringback tones are quickly becoming the 'Golden Child' of the mobile music market, due to a winning combination of consumer popularity, and minimal impact from DRM or piracy," according to Frank Dickson, Chief Research Officer with MultiMedia Intelligence. "The current leading mobile premium content category of realtones is already facing challenges. Consumers increasingly are able to create their own ringtones. The price disparity compared to a full track download is also a growing factor."

[via Cellular News]

au Design Project x Yamaha merges music with mobile in new ways

The au Design Project x Yamaha from KDDI show a series of phones that double as musical instruments. Designed by a foreign and Japanese team of young innovators, these handsets are original, creative, and (the best part) actually able to make music, writes Trends in Japan.

In My Pocket, below, is unique in that it comes with multiple accessories to create different instruments from the harmonica to the trumpet. Sounds are “hummed” into the handset (much like with Yamaha’s EZ TP Trumpet) with the rest controlled by the fingers.

Bono's boob: secret songs taped for you too

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, four songs from U2's upcoming album were leaked on to the internet after frontman Bono played them too loudly on his stereo at his villa in the south of France.

"A U2 fanatic from the Netherlands who was holidaying in the village of Eze, on the French Riviera, heard the new tracks being blared from Bono's window and decided to record them using his mobile phone.

The fan boasted about his find on the forum of U2 fan site Interference.com, and members there advised him to publish the clips on YouTube.

The songs have since been removed from YouTube due to "copyright violations", most likely after a complaint from U2's long-time manager Paul McGuinness."

Marks & Spencer under fire for school blazer that hides iPod

According to an article in Saturday's UK Telegraph, Marks & Spencer has been criticised by Britain's biggest teaching union for launching a school blazer which will help pupils secretly listen to their iPods.

"The "Blazer for iPod", which is part of the shop's 2008 Back to School collection, has been branded irresponsible by the NASUWT.

The organization is concerned the new jacket will encourage youngsters to flout school rules by listening to music in class. "This is unnecessary and an error of judgement," General Secretary Ms Chris Keates said.

The blazer, available in boys and girls styles, features an inside pocket and five function keypad controller built into the lapel area of the lining. M&S claim the eco-friendly blazer, which is made from fabric produced by recycling plastic bottles, is perfect "for music on the move".

On vacation until August 19

Off to Indonesia. Back August 19.