Cingular to help MySpace bands create, sell ringtones
All those MySpace groups who don't end
up winning Verizon's "Calling All
Bands" contest will still have a wireless carrier-sponsored shot at stardom thanks to a new service called
Cingular Mobile Music Studio that will turn their songs into ringtones available for purchase from the band's MySpace
page. Any MySpace-accredited artist or band whose songs consist of original material may submit one track to project
manager InfoSpace for consideration, and if deemed appropriate, it will be transformed into a 30-second downloadable
ringtone. Artists will get 25% of the $2.50 that each 'tone will cost, and receive their cut as a check in the mail
every quarter as long as revenues for that period exceed $100. This is the second major partnership between Cingular
and MySpace, with the carrier's subscribers already able to receive text alerts when someone leaves a comment on their
page, and one of several pushes the social networking site has made into the mobile space.[Via Seattle Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rudy P @ Apr 8th 2006 1:21AM
What a freakin' rip-off! It's not bad enough that RIAA is ripping off musicians, now the cell phone companies are doing their best to do so! 25% !? Can you believe this crap? I mean, it's as if the artists put a quarter of the effort into CREATING the music, and Cingular puts 75% into MAKING A FREAKIN RINGTONE OUT OF IT!
This is the worst possible form of exploitation I've seen in a while. If I was a band on MySpace, I'd GLADLY turn down such "Generocity" from Cingular... Don't even get me started on the PRICE for a ringtone - a FULL Song can be had for a US Dollar on iTunes, and most new phones have mp3 playback capability (and at least enough storage memory for 1 song), so how on this world do the cell phone company get off wanting to charge $2.50 FOR A RINGTONE?!
Blair @ Apr 8th 2006 1:44AM
I agree, it is a freakin rip off, but on the other hand, it is nice to see Cingular "helping" no-name bands get a presence...
Dan Fishkin @ Apr 9th 2006 2:02AM
eh, beats verizons 4 dollar ones. definatly still a ripoff but it will gradually get better year after year as cell phones are more capable of home-made ringtones. i just use my treo and a ringtone program that does mp3s that i purchase, and chop them down. so easy
William Volk @ Apr 9th 2006 5:01PM
www.mynumo.com does this for Cingular and T-Mobile with Sprint coming soon.
Not just for ringtones, but for wallpapers and videos too.
Check it out.
William Volk @ Apr 9th 2006 5:04PM
www.mynumo.com is already doing this on Cingular, T-Mobile, and (soon) Sprint ... not just for Ringtones ... but for wallpapers and videos too. Cool tools too.
Running NOW, check it out.
Ron Wilson @ Apr 10th 2006 9:28AM
Good idea Cingular....
Cell Phone Batteries @ Apr 10th 2006 9:31AM
Keep up the good work Cingular, we always need people like you around.
Cell Phone Batteries @ Apr 10th 2006 9:42AM
Keep up the good work Cingular, we always need people like you around.Great stuff