Who is Mobile Backstage?

Again, keeping up with new technology and new companies on going mobile with your music, here's a company that I think you should keep an eye out on and that's Mobile Backstage.

from http://www.redherring.com/Home/20956

Mobile Backstage thinks it has a new way to tap music fans using mobile phones. Customers download the company’s free Java-based application and buy credits that are then used to obtain downloadable ring tones, songs, and videos featuring their favorite artists. A key element of the service is the company’s My Own Backstage application, which lets users store multimedia they’ve created and share it with others.

Created by members of a Finnish record company with experience in fan marketing, Mobile Backstage hopes to partner with record companies, advertisers, and phone companies and service operators. The company is already working with musicians in Finland and hopes to expand its operation to international markets within three years. Mobile Backstage officials also believe the software has potential in other entertainment markets.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC

Check out my other sites and blogs:
myspace.com/hitsamillionllc
interviewed.blogspot.com
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com
musicpanels.blogspot.com
mobilemusicbusiness.blogspot.com
hitsamillion.ning.com

Mobile Phones and the Global Market

If your music is not being played on somebody's cell phone, then you as an artist, musician, songwriter, garage band, and rapper are missing out. Why? Check out this video to see where mobile phones are headed, how integral music is playing in the business, and how artists are making money just by random people hearing their music.

Will.i.am discusses shooting a video using his mobile phone

Black-Eyed-Peas front man will.i.am was one of the headline speakers at a brand new Mobile Entertainment Conference, Mobile Backstage at this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2008.

Jermaine Dupri Hooked Up with LG and Created A New Mobile Phone!

Although this is old news, it still shows that more and more artists, producers, and the like are going mobile with their marketing. Jermaine Dupri used this opportunity, however, to raise funds for his charity, the Jermaine Dupri Foundation. I think that's hot!!! Check out the video and then check out the article below from top40-charts.com all to get more information about how this deal came about with LG and Jermaine Dupri!





HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A.) - Last night, June 27th, LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) and Jermaine Dupri presented the FUSIC Launch Party. All of Hollywood's finest including Janet Jackson, Dem Franchize Boyz, DJ AM, Jamie Foxx, Missy Elliot, Shaquille O'Neal and many more were on hand for a night of celebration and glamour with a star-studded guest list at a Hollywood hot spot. The celebration continues today with the announcement that Jermaine Dupri and LG will pair up once again to auction off the Limited Edition So So Def FUSIC Phone by LG.

"As much fun as the LG & Jermaine Dupri FUSIC Party was last night, I am very pleased that LG has agreed to help me raise funds to support the Jermaine Dupri Foundation, an organization that I started as a way of giving back to the kids in local communities around the U.S. There is no better feeling to me than being able to raise money to support our future generations," said Jermaine Dupri. "The auction of the Limited Edition So So Def FUSIC Phone by LG allows fans to be able to get special content, including my favorite songs, while helping to raise money for a great cause."

The Limited Edition So So Def FUSIC Phone by LG comes with the same features as the traditional FUSIC including a FM transmitter, microSD memory port, ring tone composer, camera/camcorder, four interchangeable faceplates, and the ability to access your entire music collection on the handset - but this FUSIC has so much more! Jermaine Dupri added his personal flair to the phone by helping to create the Swarovski crystal design that blings out the front and back of this limited edition phone. The phone also includes So So Def content including videos, songs, and photos and personal content from JD and is appropriately packaged with your very own Afroman doll and blinged out portable speakers.

"We here at LG are excited to continue our relationship with Jermaine Dupri and are proud to match up to $5,000 in donations raised by the auction of the Limited Edition So So Def FUSIC Phone by LG," said senior director of marketing for LG MobileComm USA, Inc. Jon Maron. "We recognize the great work that Jermaine is doing through the Jermaine Dupri Foundation and look forward to helping out in any way we can for this auction and in the future."

To bid on the Limited Edition So So Def FUSIC phone by LG and to find out more information about FUSIC, the party, and the auction please visit http://www.LifewithLG.com. The phone with be auctioned off on eBay starting June 28, 2006 and all proceeds will go to the Jermaine Dupri Foundation.

ABOUT LG ELECTRONICS, INC.
LG Electronics, Inc., (KSE: 06657.KS) is the leader in consumer electronics and mobile communications. The company has more than 72,000 employees working in 77 subsidiaries and marketing units around the world. LG Electronics is the world's largest producer of CDMA handsets, optical storage devices, residential air conditioners and home theater system. With total revenue of more than USD 35 billion (consolidated USD 45 billion), LG Electronics is comprised of four business units: Mobile Communications, Digital Appliance, Digital Display and Digital Media.

ABOUT LG ELECTRONICS MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is the world's leading manufacturer of WCDMA (UMTS), CDMA. The company provides a total range of wireless solutions, and is rapidly establishing a global presence as it cultivates international market share in 3G handsets. For more information please visit http://www.lgusa.com.

Background on Jermaine Dupri Foundation
Jermaine "JD" Dupri, President of Urban Music for Virgin Records USA, CEO of So So Def Recordings, Inc., renowned artist and producer understands the need to impart his knowledge and acquired accomplishments back into the youth of America. JD is as committed to producing a hit record as he is in making his voice heard in the community. The many examples of the community service provided by the Jermaine Dupri Foundation include his assistance with victims of Hurricane Katrina from sponsoring two families who relocated to Atlanta, to performing at local charity concerts, providing autographed items for various Katrina-related auctions as well as undisclosed monetary donations and being a part of the BET Telethon. In addition to his work with the Hip Hop Action Network, JD is also a board member of Hip Hop 4 Humanity. Whether through the Jermaine Dupri Foundation or from his personal wallet, JD is very committed to anything that he can do to help underprivileged children. Along with good friend Nelly, JD hosted Atlanta's Biggest Christmas Party in 2004 where they distributed toys to more than 3,000 children from shelters in the Atlanta-metro area. In 2005, JD created limited edition Cartier eyewear with 20% of the proceeds benefited various charities related to Hurricane Katrina.
From sponsoring an Atlanta-based Little League Baseball team to purchasing Christmas gifts, Jermaine "JD" Dupri proves over and over again that he has a heart for the community and is committed to do whatever he can to make a difference in their lives.
The Jermaine Dupri Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and has been established to provide funding to children's organizations that help improve children's quality of life.

Madonna Goes Mobile with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake Part 2

In my previous post, I informed you that Madonna has also gone music mobile! Now I wanted to highlight some of the key marketing ideas from that article. Check out all the marketing tools that Timbaland and Verizon Wireless have come up with:

1. Do a "underground" remix: Madonna, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake did a mobile underground remix of Madonna's highly- anticipated debut single "4 Minutes" from her upcoming album "HARD CANDY."

2. Be exclusive: The Madonna, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake remix is available exclusively in the U.S. to Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music customers and internationally to Vodafone customers. By being exclusive, Verizon Wireless hopes to attract new customers.

3. Promote your album: This remix was done to promote Madonna's 11th studio album which is scheduled for both international and U.S. release in April 2008.

4. Make the remix available in different formats: Verizon Wireless knows that not everbody likes ringtones, so they have offered the song in different versions: as a full-song download, ringtone and ringback tone.

5. Make the remix available internationally: Verizon Wireless also hooked up with Vodafone to provide Vodafone customers in several different countries the opportunity to download this new remix.

6. Mobility means anytime anywhere: Because Timbaland's mobile recording studio is just that, mobile, the remix was created on the Verizon Wireless mobile recording studio bus in New York City last month, after Madonna's induction ceremony into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

7. Offer fans concert tickets through the fans' mobile phones: Verizon Wirelss then took its marketing campaign a step farther and now fans who download the full-song, ringtone or ringback tone of Timbaland's exclusive mobile underground remix of "4 Minutes" through Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music service will also have a chance to win a barcoded ticket to the exclusive Madonna performance on April 30 at New York's famed Roseland Ballroom. Lucky winners will receive tickets on their mobile phones, which will admit them and one friend to this exclusive show.


8. Promote an upcoming concert or performance: As previously mentioned, Madonna will perform on April 30 at New York's famed Roseland Ballroom. Now customers who bought the ringtone who won the contest will receive tickets on their mobile phones, which will admit them and one friend to the exclusive performance.

9. An album promotes other producers: Interestingly, every time an album is released, not only is the name of the producer of the first single mentioned but all of the heavy hitting producers that are involved in the album are mentioned. So not only is Timbaland's production being recognized but so is Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, and Nate "Danja" Hills. So if you get hot producers, drop names of other producers since those other producers have fans too.

10. From studio to fans: Timbaland mentioned that with Verizon Wireless, he was able to create and distribute music straight from the studio directly to fans as well as give them access into his creative process behind-the-scenes. Notice that he credited Verizon Wireless and not a music label.

11. Mobile reaches millions in minutes: this whole venture with Verizon Wireless, Timbaland, and now Vodafone will set a new precedence for the global release of a song, with a combined reach of hundreds of millions of fans across the globe via their cellphones.

11. Promote the video of the recording session: Exclusive video footage of Madonna, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake's "mobile remix" recording session is now available on Verizon Wireless' V CAST Video service.

12. Encourage fans to send text messages: Fans wanting to download Timbaland's mobile underground remix of "4 Minutes," were encouraged to text MADONNA to 8933.



13. Get fans involved: Verizon encouraged its customers to also come into the store, call, or visit the website to get more information on V CAST Music from Verizon Wireless and the company's mobile producer in residence program.



14. Get your own website: You can't do this type of marketing and promotion on MySpace without MySpace getting a cut. Get your own website! Link your site to the site of the company you are working with. Verizon Wireless was able to tell fans of Timbaland, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, the producer in residence program, and their music program to visit their website. I say get your own website!




Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
myspace.com/hitsamillionllc
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
hitsamillion.ning.com

Madonna Goes Mobile With Timbaland, Justin Timberlake and Verizon Wireless!

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and NEWBURY, United Kingdom, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless today announced it has teamed up with Madonna, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake to deliver the mobile underground remix of Madonna's highly- anticipated debut single "4 Minutes" from her upcoming album "HARD CANDY." Available exclusively in the U.S. to Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music customers and internationally to Vodafone customers, "4 Minutes" is the first single from Madonna's 11th studio album for Warner Bros. Records. "HARD CANDY" is scheduled for international release on April 28, 2008, with the U.S. release the following day.

Starting today, the underground version of the song is available to Verizon Wireless customers through V CAST Music as a full-song download, ringtone and ringback tone. This exclusive Madonna track produced by Timbaland, Verizon Wireless' mobile producer in residence, and featuring Justin Timberlake is available for download to Vodafone customers in Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, and the UK. This extraordinary remix was created on the Verizon Wireless mobile recording studio bus in New York City last month, following Madonna's induction ceremony into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Fans who download the full-song, ringtone or ringback tone of Timbaland's exclusive mobile underground remix of "4 Minutes" through Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music service will also have a chance to win a barcoded ticket to the exclusive Madonna performance on April 30 at New York's famed Roseland Ballroom. Lucky winners will receive tickets on their mobile phones, which will admit them and one friend to this exclusive show.

"HARD CANDY" is the follow up to Madonna's "CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE FLOOR" which debuted at number one in 30 countries and has sold more than 8 million copies to date. "HARD CANDY" has been described as a brilliant up-tempo collection of 12 songs in which Madonna remains ensconced in club mode, but this time adds an urban hip-hop beat in collaboration with musical partners Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, and Nate "Danja" Hills.

"Working with Madonna and Justin on this underground mobile remix has been a lot of fun," said Timbaland. "With Verizon Wireless, we are able to create and distribute music straight from the studio directly to fans as well as give them access into our creative process behind-the-scenes."

"As Madonna is one of the most iconic artists of our time and Timbaland is one of the most influential producers of today, we are undeniably excited to team up with them, as well as Justin, to deliver this exclusive remix to our customers," said Ed Ruth, director of digital music for Verizon. "Together with Vodafone, we will set a new precedence for the global release of a song, with a combined reach of hundreds of millions of fans across the globe via their cellphones."

Madonna, a multi GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, cultural icon, world-renowned stage performer, video visionary, children's book author, director, and documentary filmmaker, has sold 200 million albums in the course of her unprecedented two decade-plus career and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2008.

In addition to Madonna's original "4 Minutes" track, co-produced by Timbaland and Justin Timberlake and Nate "Danja" Hills, and the underground mobile remix available on Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music and Vodafone, exclusive video footage of Madonna, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake's "mobile remix" recording session is now available on Verizon Wireless' V CAST Video service.

For more information on how to download Timbaland's mobile underground remix of "4 Minutes," fans can text MADONNA to 8933. For more information on V CAST Music from Verizon Wireless and the company's mobile producer in residence program, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com/music.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ - News) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD - News News). For more information, go to: www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast- quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Vodafone

Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group with over 252 million proportionate customers as at 31st December 2007. Vodafone currently has equity interests in 25 countries across five continents and a further 40 partner networks worldwide. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
myspace.com/hitsamillionllc
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
hitsamillion.ning.com

Keri Hilson & Timbaland's first mobile album ringtone!

As I've been discussing in my previous posts, Timbaland will be recording a new track and song with a guest artist in Timbaland's Verizon Wireless Mobile Recording Studio Bus. Keri Hilson is his first guest artist. To see the video of the mobile recording studio, click here.

If you are unfamiliar with Keri Hilson, Keri Hilson is a member of The Clutch and a successful songwriter on her own who has written over 200 songs and wrote hits for many, many artists. (Read Keri Hilson's biography and discography here). She is working on her solo album entitled In a Perfect World.


Now, for this joint venture with Timbaland and Verizon Wireless, Keri Hilson recorded a new single entitled Get it Girl. If you'd like to buy the new ringtone that was produced by Timbaland and recorded by Keri Hilson, click here. I've heard Get it Girl and it's hot!!!!!! If you wanna hear the song too, check it out:



This song will be featured on Timbaland's mobile album but not on Keri Hilson's solo album, In a Perfect World.


Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
myspace.com/hitsamillionllc
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
hitsamillion.ning.com

Timbaland's Mobile Album Part 2

Did you see Timbaland's Verizon Wireless Mobile Recording Studio I posted in my previous post? I personally think that that studio is hot!

In my last post, I was able to find some general information about Timbaland's mobile recording studio and his mobile album that he's creating in the mobile studio. But that post brought up a lot of questions for me. Questions like: what is a mobile album? Does Timbaland's deal with Verizon Wireless mean he's no longer working with Interscope Records? Will Timbaland get a "mobile album deal?" What kind of music will Timbaland produce and create for this mobile album? Which guest artist will Timbaland work with? Well, I found the answers to those questions from this article provided by billboard.com:

Timbaland says the deal will let him reach more fans because "every place don't get a CD [but] everybody has a mobile phone." Plus, there's history to be made. "Just producing a mobile album has never been done. I'm the first to ever do it," he tells Billboard.



And while major artists have of late left major labels in bids to reach fans in new ways, Timbaland isn't leaving Interscope, which put out "Shock Value" and distributes his Mosley Music imprint. (However, he says he is out of contract with the label to put out his solo albums.) Interscope is involved in the Verizon deal from the standpoint that Timbaland plans to work with the label's artists for the mobile-only tracks. Whether a mobile album deal could replace a major-label deal in the future, "that's something we'll have to see," Timbaland says.Each mobile Timbaland track will be released days after it is produced. Songs will be released as a full-length download, ringtone and ringback, and will be available only through V Cast and Verizon. At the end of the year, some sort of compilation "album" will be released exclusively through Verizon, according to Ruth. Whether the music is worked to radio during the exclusive period or made available via broader distribution afterward is up to Interscope.




For his part, Timbaland says he isn't focusing on a particular genre for the project. "I'm just going to have fun with it," he says. "I'll just do what comes in mind."The partnership kicks off today with a pre-Grammy party co-hosted by Verizon and People magazine. During the event, Timbaland will debut the first Verizon song, which features Mosley Music artist Keri Hilson. Timbaland and Hilson recorded two tracks during a three-week period last month, one of which will be introduced at the party and go mobile within a few days.Timbaland hasn't yet revealed what other artists he will be working with for the project, but Ruth says some of those on the party's guest list will be involved. That roster includes fellow Mosley Music act OneRepublic, Paramore, Flo Rida, Natasha Bedingfield, Taylor Swift and Chris Cornell, who will perform.

What a lineup! What a great opportunity! What a great concept! I'm not a Verizon Wireless customer but I'd be interested in hearing the mobile album. Hopefully, Verizon Wireless will make this album available to non-Verizon Wireless customers and hopefully, it will also work in conjunction with independent producers and artists and give them the same opportunity.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
myspace.com/hitsamillionllc
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
hitsamillion.ning.com

Timbaland's making a mobile album!

In my previous post, I posted the video of Timbaland in his new Verizon Wireless Mobile Recording Studio Bus. Here's some more details about Timbaland's deal with Verizon Wireless:


In March, well-known rapper Timbaland started to record a mobile album by literally creating tracks while on the go. This is part of a new program organized by Verizon Wireless that it calls Mobile Producer in Residence. For a year, Timbaland will record an entire album—what is being called the first mobile album—on the Verizon Mobile Recording Studio Bus. Only Verizon Wireless customers will be offered the ability to view the results through V CAST Music.

Every month, Timbaland will record a new track along with a guest artist. While he tours through various cities, Verizon said fans will get to see recording sessions either in person or from their mobile phones.

I personally think this is a hot mobile marketing campaign both for Timbaland and Verizon. It is also cutting edge and just highlights the future of the music business and where the music business is headed. Companies and artists will be continue to working together to take advantage of both advertising dollars and music industry dollars. I look forward to seeing how it works out. If it is successful, and I think it will be a big success for both Timbaland and Verizon, perhaps more businesses, especially more mobile companies, will invent even more ways to go music mobile!

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
myspace.com/hitsamillionllc
hitsamillion.blogspot.com
hitsamillion.ning.com

Timbaland Goes Mobile!

Verizon Wireless and Timbaland have teamed up! Check out the video below of him and Keri Hilson in his Verizon Wireless Mobile studio! In this mobile studio, Timbaland shows you all the equipment he uses to make his music. From this studio, Timbaland released his first 'Verizon Producer In Residence' exclusive ringtone! Keri Hilson - "Get It Girl"
To get the ringtone click http://products.vzw.com/dl.aspx?type=...

The Danish allow customer's unlimited access to music downloads on their mobile phones

Check out this article that was published last week: it discusses how the Danish is now allowing customers unlimited access to music downloads from local and international acts. The customer can play the songs until he or she terminates their mobile phone service. I really don't know how that's going to work since most phones allow you to transfer your files from your phone to your computer. . . . As a songwriter, I'm very concerned about this but as you'll see the major record labels are for it. The labels would be for it since they are eagerly trying to reduce the royalty rates. How can a company pay all those artists from just a low subscription fee? I think they should instead do like TV and Internet satellite radio shows: a TV satellite customer has access to the songs and can listen to them but not download them. We'll see how this develops. . . .

"Revolutionary" new music service from TDC…
POSTED: Wednesday, April 02, 2008
FROM BLOG: IntoMobile - The latest mobile technology news and reviews.

TDC is offering a new, ground-breaking music service that offers their Danish mobile and broadband customers unlimited access to music downloads from renowned local and international acts, without additional charge.


Three of the world's major music companies and a large number of Danish music companies are part of TDC's new music service called PLAY, which launched at midnight on April 1, 2008.
TDC's and YouSee's broadband and mobile customers - with the exception of a few subscriptions types - will be able to download more than one million tracks from artists such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM, Ida Corr, James Blunt, Anne Linnet, Bruce Springsteen, Outlandish, L.O.C, Robbie Williams,TV2, Szhirley and many, many more.


At present, TDC has entered into agreements with three of the four largest international music companies, EMI, SONY BMG and Warner Music Denmark as well as many Danish independent labels including the MBO group, DIGIDI, Artpeople, Clockwize, House of Scandinavia. The agreements cover both new and catalogue releases.


Under the terms of the deals, the ability to play the downloaded tracks will expire automatically if the customer terminates their subscription. TDC will also offer music fans the opportunity to purchase their favourite tracks for 8dkk (approx. €1) per download.


Jens Alder explains the rationale for the launch of PLAY with the fact that both the mobile and broadband market are more or less saturated, and that there is a need for new thinking for telcos to attract more customers.

Radio capabilities on cell phone helps cell phone providers, radio stations and music rights owners

The article below demonstrates the percentages of consumers and their ages who download music to their cell phone. This article also discusses the fact that radio capabilities on cell phones helps cell phone providers, radio stations, the music industry, and music rights owners (even though limited for the latter two). Enjoy!


This article was provided by: tnsglobal.com

MOBILE PHONES ARE MUSIC TO THE EARS FOR RADIO SAY TNS
26.02.2008 Global
Music via mobile is leading the way to a wave of new customers for mobile operators
MOBILE PHONES ARE MUSIC TO THE EARS FOR RADIO SAY TNS PDF (0.07 mb)

Music applications are the fastest growing services on mobiles today, a report from TNS Global Technology has found. The TNS Global Telecoms Insight study, which interviewed 16,000 respondents across 29 countries, found in the last year that the use of MP3 players on mobile phones has risen by 78% and the use of radio via mobile by a massive 140%.

Growth has occurred in every region with particularly rapid adoption seen in Latin America and in emerging Asia, where 45% of users list FM/AM radio as one of their top-3 choices for purchasing a mobile phone – making it a more popular application than SMS (texting), internet access or even a camera.

Matthew Froggatt, Managing Director of TNS’s Global Technology sector says, “Radio-enabled mobiles take away the need to have a separate music device like an MP3 player and should lead phone manufacturers to win the battle for control of the earphones.

The increased use of radio in the Asian markets is also extremely important. It is driving a whole new wave of customers to service providers and has massive implications for spreading media communications out to a wider audience more quickly. The radio is a hugely underrated media tool which has suffered at the hands of TV music channels and the internet – this new outlet through mobile phones may help to sustain its life well into this millennium. In some markets, like India, launching a mobile phone without radio-listening capabilities is a major barrier to winning consumer sales.”

Two thirds of young people aged 16 - 21 now listen to some form of mobile music on the go, but it is also surprisingly popular with more senior generations: The study shows that 20% of people aged 51 - 60 tune in to music on their handsets. Globally, 43% of all mobile users and 73% of Smartphone users now listen to some form of mobile music.

However, the music industry needs to be cautious of seeing this as a money-spinner: 22% of global users now sideload music (transfer from PC or laptop) compared to just 16% who download directly. Many consumers already have their music libraries in a digital format and are often put off downloading directly to their mobile because of high price perceptions. Using the phone as a music player gives device manufacturers an opportunity to increase consumer involvement with their products, but for network operators and music rights owners, incremental revenue growth through downloading may be limited.

Froggatt concludes, “For the networks, enhanced real-time data services, like mobile internet or location-specific information may be a better bet to increase consumer spend.”

Music Phones Surpass 1/2 Billion Units Shipped in 2007!!!!

Read the article below and you'll see that if you are not selling ringtones and downloads of your music, you are losing money!!!!!!!! You'll also see again that even cell phone companies have changed their design just to enable consumers to listen to their music. So if you are a recording artist, record label, producer, garage band, songwriter, music executive, etc. why worry about record sales? There's obviously a demand for music or else these companies would not change their design just to accommodate their cell phone users! Read the article below to see what I mean:



This article was provided by: http://www.phonecontent.com/

Music Phones Surpass ½ Billion Units in Shipped in 2007, Making It
the Dominant Portable Music Device, According to MultiMedia
Intelligence
Posted Monday, March 24, 2008

MultiMedia Intelligence reports the worldwide unit shipments of music phones exceeded ½ billion units in 2007, outnumbering shipments of personal media players like the iPod by almost 300 million units. In 2011, over half of all mobile phones can be considered music phones with 941 million units shipped. MultiMedia Intelligence
defines a music phone as a phone with two features: (1) Music codec
functionality: MP3, AAC, etc. and (2) memory slot which allows for a full
featured music experience by allowing the user to carry a personal music
library. This is really only possible with expandable memory.

"Voice commoditization and falling voice ARPU are driving a shift in
wireless operators to focus on data revenue models and services," according to
Frank Dickson, Chief Research Officer for MultiMedia Intelligence. "Music has
been the first 'killer app' for the operators to drive the consumption of
premium content on the handset. As polyphonic ringtones gave way to realtones,
operators found consumers desire to personalize their handsets as a way to
enhance ARPUs. Music companies discovered a way to sell a form of music which
was less susceptible to piracy and provides incremental revenue."

However, realtones are but one form of cellular music enjoyed. As the
ringback tones, full track downloads and streaming music markets join the
ringtone market, the mobile music market promises to hit over US$6 billion in
2008. With such significant revenue and customerdemand at stake, the operators
and handset providers concerted efforts to use music as a central part of their
handset strategies.

The recently launched Verizon Wireless Juke, manufactured by Samsung,
has a swivel design which enables it to open 180 degrees to reveal the keypad.
It features 2 GB of internal storage that complements the phone's music player,
which supports .mp3, .wma and unprotected .aac files. Other features include VGA
camera with Nightshot, Bluetooth stereo support for listening to music and the
ability to access Verizon Wireless' popular services such as VZ NavigatorSM and
ChaperoneSM.

Another recent handset introduction, the Sony Ericsson W910i Walkman
phone capitalizes on the Walkman brand and is targeted as a "portable music
device." The SensMe feature picks songs or creates a playlist by mood. To
randomly select a song, the user only needs to flick of the wrist and use "Shake
control." The device features a 262, 44 color TFT, 240x320 pixel display and
Memory Stick Micro support (up to 4 GB) with 35 MB of internal memory."

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC
myspace.com/hitsamillionllc
globalmusicbusiness.blogspot.com
hitsamillion.ning.com

Mobile Phones will get Ad-Supported MTV music videos

The article below demonstrates that: 1) artists with MTV videos can now enable fans to watch their videos on their cell phones, 2) these artists with MTV videos can now potentially gain new fans who don't normally watch as music videos on TV by enabling those people to watch the videos on their cell phone; and 3) that advertisers want in on the money being generated both by music and video. So you as an artist should not be as worried about losing money from the sale of your music or that music companies are consolidating. Instead, after reading this article, be comforted in knowing that there are more players being added to the music industry, such as regular companies and advertisers! I hope you enjoy this article!

Mobile phones to get ad-supported MTV music videos
By Michael Hatamoto, BetaNews
March 31, 2008, 4:59 PM
Although MTV already has an on-demand a la carte video service from US mobile providers, but this marks the first time Viacom has allowed MTV content to be shared for free.
MTV Networks has partnered with Mywaves to offer free, ad-supported music videos and other MTV clips that can be viewed using mobile phones, targeted for the 18-34 year old age range.
Users will also have access to video clips from Spike, VH1, GameTrailers and other MTV bands channels. Starting today, users are able to watch VH1's On This Day in Music video clips, and will soon be able to watch Spike TV's 30 Seconds of a Hot Chick and various clips and game trailers from GameTrailers. More content from MTVN will be added throughout 2008.
MTV and Mywaves will share revenue generated by advertising through the new service, with one company receiving a bigger portion depending on who makes the final sale. Advertisers may be more likely to support programs like Mywaves since the video quality and professionalism is much higher than most user-generated content on YouTube and other similar sites.

Mywaves is working with Microsoft and Toyota to launch ads through the Mywaves service, with Mywaves helping edit and shorten the 30-second commercial clips shown on TV. Toyota earlier in the month launched two new ads through Mywaves: one featuring WAP banners, the other showing 15-second commercial clips. Most video ads used through the service will likely be shorter in duration, as in-house testing revealed users were less likely to finish watching a 30-second advertisement. All ads shown with MTV content will also be 15-seconds or less, to ensure a higher level of viewer interest.

Since the turn of the century, MTV has been transitioning from a music channel that shows music videos more into a reality television channel, though the channel still dominates the young adult demographic. This stranglehold on young viewers has made it easy for MTV to reach distribution agreements with mobile phone providers.

Mywaves reportedly has 5 million unique visitors per month who can watch content from more than 400,000 channels and spend an average of 24 minutes viewing content per visit. The company has previously worked with Fox and CBS, with more partnerships expected in the future.

Thedy B, Attorney/Songwriter
Hits A Million, LLC

JaWar speaks on music mobile networking

JaWar, an author and motivational speaker, is one of the pioneers in the music industry who has relentlessly encouraged and taught recordding artists to stay ahead of the game. In a recent blog he did on music mobile marketing, JaWar discussed several ways in which artists can market their music using their mobile phones. As noted by JaWar, artists have been limiting themselves to only making money with their music by selling ringtones. However, JaWar notes many other ways that artists can make money with their music through their cell phone and I agree with him. In that blog, he also talks about the importance of making sure your legal documents include all these different ways. Check out JaWar's blog.