Will allow users to convert almost any song into a ringtone for an additional fee.
I’ve talked before about how its interesting that amidst all the lamenting by the RIAA about declining CD sales revenue is the fact that ringtone sales are quietly rising by leaps and bounds every year.In fact, people bought over $9 billion USD worth of ringtones worldwide last year. That’s right, $9 billion USD! This is about a 41% increase over last year and is expected to hit about $32 billion USD by the year 2010.
In the US alone, revenue from ringtones was more than $600 million in 2006, up astronomically from a mere $68 million in 2003.
Now it’s being reported that Apple plans to jump into the ringtone market and begin allowing users to turn almost any song sold through iTunes into a ringtone for an additional fee. The exact price for the service is unclear so far, but may be comparable to the price differential between iTunes Plus and standard music tracks that cost $1.29USD and 99cents respectively.
Previously purchased tracks will also be able to be converted for a presumably nominal fee as well.
Interestingly enough, users will be able to customize what portion of a song will become a ringtone unlike other services in which the clip is predetermined.
With the recording industry looking for every possible way to make money and stay relevant this may become an essential and lucrative means of propping up its bottom line.
Though, to be fair, what I don’t understand is why people bother buying ringtones at all. Most cell phones allow the use of MP3s for ringtones these days instead of that polyphonic nonsense of the past. It’s beyond easy to clip what you want and then transfer it your phone. I mean if you buy a track is it really worth paying extra to have some "cut it up" for you?
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Stupid service. Why the hell can’t you use any mp3 as a ringtone for free already? It is an Ipod device…
I just use phonezoo.com for this. works quite well and it’s free
itunes already has FREE ringtones! just record the awesome 30 second sample of ANY song they have with audacity and export the file as mp3 (just make sure you set the bitrate to work on your phone ie 128kbps). My wife figured this out but I’ve seen it all over the net since then. Go! do it now! lol
Oh boy! Thank you so much iTunes! Thank you so much RIAA! But let’s not stop there. How about doorbell tones? Automobile horns? Instead of bells in schools let’s have certain songs for each period (”Uh oh there’s Ozzie: I’m late for English!”). Clocks! Big Ben should play an excerpt of a Beatles’ song on each hour! Egg timer tones…the possibilities are endless! (All for a fee of course.)