Local musicians eye cards as new way to sell tunes- July 14, 2008 A new card-driven download system is what Soundtrax backers hope becomes as ubiquitous as CDs for sale at concerts and coffeehouses across the country. Deluth News Tribune reports. "The idea is to create something tangible musicians can sell after performances, as increasingly music becomes bought and sold as MP3 downloads. ... An artist can pay $500 for 1,000 cards, and space on Soundtrax servers for their songs. ... This method provides a cheaper alternative for selling songs, Volna said..http://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2008/07/020750.htm Ringtone websites hidden charges exploiting children- July 13, 2008 More than 90% of websites selling ringtones for mobile phones to children and teenagers are misleading them with unclear charges and confusing information, an investigation by the European commission has found. The Sunday Times Online reports. "The tactics include signing up users to subscriptions when they believe they are downloading one-off tunes and using free offers to lure them into long-term paid contracts. Brussels is to announce this week that it will launch inquiries into dozens of.http://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2008/07/020733.htm Airport scans for illegal downloads on iPods, mobile phones and laptops- July 11, 2008 iPods, mobile phones and laptops could be examined by airport customs officials for illegal downloads under strict new counterfeiting measures being considered by G8 governments this week, it is claimed. The Telegraph reports. "The measures form part of an international agreement aimed at stamping out piracy, but there are fears that individuals who have illegally downloaded songs or video clips on to MP3 players and phones for personal use could also be caught out. They coincide with plans..http://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2008/07/020706.htm Growth remains slow for mobile music services- July 9, 2008 According to Forrester Research, U.S. music fans purchased $1.7 billion worth of music downloads in 2007 (singles and albums combined) but spent only $249 million on subscription services. While the firm projects download revenue to surge 65 percent this year to $2.8 billion, it expects subscription revenue to climb a far more modest 15 percent to $287 million. via Reutershttp://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2008/07/020691.htm Olympic Team USA Soundtrack from AT&T- July 8, 2008 To inspire and support the U.S. Olympic Team at this years summer games AT&T will record a soundtrack with some of todays top talent. Team USA Soundtrack will include music from 3 Doors Down, Army of Me, Colbie Caillat, Clique Girlz, Sheryl Crow, Flipsyde, Lady Antebellum, Mere, Nelly and Kate Voegele. Music can also be accessed at att.net and through NBCOlympics.com. Proceeds from the tracks will benefit Team USA. via Mobile Crunchhttp://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2008/07/020676.htm MEPs back contested telecoms plan- July 8, 2008 European politicians have voted in favour of amendments to telecoms law which campaigners say could be used to curb privacy online and file-sharing.The BBC reports. "Digital rights groups in Europe have formed a loose coalition to highlight their opposition to the amendments. But MEPs have denied that the amendments are aimed at throwing file-sharers off the net. MEP Malcolm Harbour, who helped oversee the so-called Telecoms Package, said it was "about improving users' rights". ... But..http://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2008/07/020673.htm EMI and Infospace Reach Settlement on Ringtone Royalties Lawsuit- July 5, 2008 EMI has settled its ringtone royalties lawsuit with Infospace reports MocoNews, though the terms were not disclosed. "It did disclose the settlement in an SEC filing late yesterday. Infospace was sued by the music label in early 2007, to the tune of $100 million for underpaying royalties on using its music for ringtones. ... EMIs publishing also alleged InfoSpace was selling expressly restricted songs, such as John Lennons Imagine, and selling ringtones in worldwide markets where it had...http://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2008/07/020657.htm Letters go to music file-sharers- July 3, 2008 Virgin Media has sent about 800 letters to customers warning them that they should not be downloading illegal music files via file-sharing sites. The BBC reports. "It is part of a 10-week campaign it is running in conjunction with the BPI to "educate" users about downloads. The BPI, the body which represents the UK record industry, told the BBC that "thousands more letters" would be sent. Its stricter stance on illegal downloaders might result in some ISPs being taken to court, it told BBC..http://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2008/07/020646.htm Atrinsic Acquires Ringtone.com- July 2, 2008 Atrinsic, a premier Internet media and mobile entertainment company, today announced that it has acquired the assets of Ringtone.com, a popular mobile entertainment destination for downloadable mobile content and a highly valuable Internet domain which receives more than 1,000 signups per day. via Centre Daily Timeshttp://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2008/07/020636.htm Mobile Phones Change Birds' Tune- July 1, 2008 Many wild birds are able to imitate the simple ringtones of mobile telephones, German ornithologists report, underscoring the influence of humans on the evolution of birds. InfosShop News reports. "These birds can "sing up to 78 different phrases, and many of the simplest telephone ringtones coincide with them," ornithologist Matthias Werner, of the government's bird protection agency, told Tierramrica. The common titbird (Parus major) can sing 32 different songs," he said. ... "It's in the.http://www.textually.org/ringtonia/archives/2008/07/020622.htm |