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Written by asap
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Friday, 16 June 2006 |
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 NEW YORK — A golden cell phone was handed to rapper Rick Ross on Wednesday as the music industry officially honored 128 songs that are among the first batch of gold and platinum ringtones.
Music on vinyl, tapes and CDs long have been recognized with awards for sales of 500,000 and 1 million and beyond a million and now ringtones are the latest to be recognized.
“The ring tones are just another gateway to connecting with the kids and the fans,” Ross said. “That’s just the next level.”
His award had a shiny cell phone on it rather than the usual gold album.
Ross, whose first album comes out later this year, was cited for his best-selling single “Hustlin’.” He was joined by big-name acts such as the Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, 50 Cent, Kanye West and others.
RING (TONE) OF HONOR
In all, 84 acts were cited as gold winners, 40 platinum and four as multiplatinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The awards are given based on downloads of the ringtones.
“Just a few short years ago, it was unthinkable for sales on ringtones to go platinum,” said RIAA Chairman Mitch Bainwol. “But here we are. We’re transforming the way we hear our music.”
According to industry experts, about 10 percent of music industry revenues worldwide come from ringtones.
BUBBA SPARXX WAS UNAWARE OF RINGTONE POPULARITY
Rapper Bubba Sparxxx, who was cited for the gold sales, said he was unaware of the ringtones’ popularity.
“I had no idea about the importance of ringtones,” Sparxxx said. “But I do after coming here. I sold 800,000 ringtones. Now I know it’s an exciting innovation.”
Ross said when he goes into the studio in the future, the idea of making a popular ringtone will definitely be a part of the process.
“You want to do a record so catchy that everybody wants to go out and get it as a ringtone,” said Ross.
Agreed Sparxxx: “I’ll be more conscious of making exciting melodies to put on the ringtones.”
NEW REVENUE STREAM
Sparxxx noted another good reason for good ringtone quality: “It’s a new revenue stream.”
A typical ringtone can cost up to $2.99.
The gold and platinum certification came under the title of “Master Ringtone,” signifying that they were created from the original masters of the songs. Ringtones are sometimes a synthesized instrumental version rather than the artist’s recording.
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