span fact, the market is so strong
class="cap">W hen these days that even Billboard,
ring tones first arrived on who have tracked the fortunes of
the market it was treated like a the nations most popular songs
craze, a short term gimmick that for over fifty years, is now
would eventually fade away like running a chart on the popularity
the Yo-yo and clangers. The of the most popular ring
industry today chalks up $4.40 tones.
billion in sales with $600
Market Analysts do however
million in the US alone and has have a note of caution for the
become a marketing tool for the future expansion in the industry.
music industry who are suffering This points to the ever
in uncertain times as sales of increasing supply and use of
Cd's and video actually fell 7.6% phones that can play MP3 files in
in the last year. Even the the same way your i pod or music
electronic reproduction ring player can. They point to the
tones of original songs are diversification of use of mobile
making a comeback in some kind of phones as a possible hindrance to
retro kitsch movement. further explosive growth. One
Record companies are happy to thing is for sure, this is
sign up for revenue in a market definitely no longer a craze and
that sees their new bands as well like all industries that mature,
as their established artists it will need to adapt to stay
being heard for 'free' in schools ahead of the field.
and around shopping malls as
The darker side of the
teenagers swap and listen to industry is one that has also
their friends ring tones. Its a caught the news in recent months.
marketing dream that is not only In Florida, the Attorney General,
free for the record companies but Bill McCollum recently agreed a
actually brings in revenue. In settlement with ring tone
promoter AzoogleAds. The of its affiliate promoters.
settlement of $1 million was for
'Consumers should never be
misrepresentation on the part of billed for services they thought
AzoogleAds in that their online were free of charge', Attorney
promotion of ring tone downloads General Bill McCollum was quoted
has misled members into believing as saying. 'Today's agreement
the downloads were free.
establishes a precedent for
Ring tones normally come with wireless companies accepting
a contract in which the telephone responsibility for the way cell
service provider is billed by the phone content is advertised on
promoting company for a monthly the internet and the manner in
subscription. This charge, which which charges are passed along to
is then added to the subscribers consumers. AT&T should be
phone bill allows the subscriber commended for being the first
to download a fixed number of wireless company in the industry
ring tones a month.
to offer this reform.'
McCollum successfully argued
These latest developments are
that misleading promotion ads sure signs that an industry that
online had left countless started as a craze is developing
subscribers paying for services into a mature industry and
that they did not know they had finally carrying the
signed up for. McCollum heads a responsibility that goes with it.
cyber fraud task-force in Florida As for the future - give me a
that expects further action and ring!
is currently in talks with a
number of ring tone promotion
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Article Tags: industry, ring, tones
