Ringtones Rake In

[GhostShip]

While I post article showing the Cartel attacking the p2p2 user, I like stories showing the rip-offs too.

http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/L5hP9Jucz7Uutc/RIAA-Taking-Artists-Gold-Platinum-With-Ring-Tones.xhtml

Just like vinyl, tapes and CDs, the sounds of ringing cell phones will now translate into awards for sales of 500,000, 1 million and beyond.

In all, 84 acts were cited as gold winners, 40 platinum and four as multiplatinum by the Recording Industry Association of America  (RIAA). The awards are given based on downloads of the ring tones.

"Just a few short years ago, it was unthinkable for sales on ring tones to go platinum," said RIAA Chairman Mitch Bainwol. "But here we are. We're transforming the way we hear our music."

According to industry experts, about 10 percent of music industry revenues worldwide now come from ring tones.

Lets see $2.99 per ringtone, and !Tlunes charge 99C for the whole song, I smell a rip off.

[KM]

RIAA? i smell fish... with a hint of rip off in the background, although the fish is rather effective at trying to hide the ripoff smell from most people

[SamSeeSam]

2.99 $ per ringtone? How long does it play? I don't know.... Here atleast, it is much much much cheaper.  mabye 20 cents per ringtone on an average, most about 1 min in length or so...

[GhostShip]

For popular ringtones in the UK many cost at least £1.50, the report above was a US one but you can see they are both running at an inflated price as the "local market" can stand that price.

Last time consumers asked about the price discrepency they where told all sorts of fairy stories about technical issues and infrastructure that was expensive to set up and maintain, amazing how you can rip the same song from a cd and use that on your PC to transfer over with zero cost.


Readers should take care, reports of copyright infringing flying pigs have been recently handed into us by the MPAA/RIAA and we trust them