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TheFeature :: mobile is the new media

TheFeature :: It's All About The Mobile Internet has a Weekly Wrap: The Heat Wave Continues article (sign up required), but I'll share a bit of their content here just because of how stunning it was to me:

Finally this week, further proof that mobile is the new new media: Mobile ringtones are expected to outsell CD singles this year in the UK. Industry watchers expect GBP 70 million worth of ringtones to be purchased in the country this year, while sales of CD singles are already off 37% from last year, when they totaled GBP 97 million. But while the record companies cry about the bottom falling out of the singles market thanks to mp3s, the ringtones sales figures are good news, as the tones can actually be more profitable than the CDs. Watch as the cycle comes full-circle, with CD singles counting on included mobile content like ringtones, graphics, and screensavers to drive sales.

This takes the concept of working your market just a bit further - handset manufacturers that are on their game will be engineering models a generation beyond simple polyphony, into real-time media playback, mp3 or whatever. Would record companies take note? This is a major distribution channel for something beyond just publishing royalties, give the kids the sounds they crave!

What if your ring tone wasn't just a fancy MIDI file, but instead a custom-remix of your favorite hot tracks, fresh off the producer's desk? Now that would be something... You'd have a hardware lock on the content, it could be set up with expiration dates, you'd partner directly with the carriers for distribution, everyone would win!

posted by Brian @ 11:50 AM