Who ever thought that the conventional telephone bell ringtone would ever become obsolete was right. Cingular Wireless recently announced Cingular Sounds, a music program that produces new songs as ringtones on wireless phones before the songs debut on radio. These ringtones include all genres of music including hip/hop, R&B, pop, Latin, country, rock, and many more. Cingular will also offer weekly text message updates from recording artists.
Ringtones are currently offered to customers for a one-time download fee of $1.99 to $2.49, and an additional charge for minutes used to download ringtones to a wireless phone. This new program takes ringtones to another level and many record labels agree that it’s a great way to promote music while helping fans bond with the artist.
“We are always looking for new and innovative ways to deliver music to fans,” said Capitol Records President/CEO Andrew Slater in a statement.
“Cingular Sounds is a great vehicle for helping fans to make an immediate connection with an artist.”
Cingular said there is no better way to give record labels and artists a profitable, powerful channel to reach music lovers. Cingular is the first wireless company to provide authentic music content from major record labels including Warner Music, Universal Music Group, EMI Music, and Sony BMG Music Entertainment. As a result, the company is in a unique position to work directly with the music industry’s top labels to reach a growing fan base, according to John Burbank, Vice President of Marketing for Cingular Wireless.
Cingular will unleash Cingular Sounds with an exclusive 30-second ringtone from the rock band Coldplay. The lead single called Speed of Sound appears on the band’s forthcoming CD entitled X&Y, which will be released by Capitol Records later this spring.
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the Nation. It serves about 50 million consumers. Cingular is partnered with SBC Communications and Bell South. Cingular is the nation’s only wireless company to offer rollover, the wireless plan that allows customers to keep their unused monthly minutes.
