The Harry Fox Agency which represents the interests of music
composers and songwriters has begun a program to enable licensing
of cell phone ring tones. This marks a move to stake a claim in
what is potentially a multibillion dollar market. Revenues for such
services have already reached an estimated $300 million in
Japan.
Personalised ring tones are proving popular in Europe and Asia.
Users can receive digitally delivered music files which personalise
their phones with their favourite songs.
Harry Fox claims to have been approached by 20 ring tone
providers and consequently created an easy system to allow them to
license their works. Questions concerning licensing of ring tones
have already arisen. Last year, EMI Music sued California based
YourMobile.com, a ring tone provider, claiming that YourMobile had
failed to obtain the proper licenses to distribute EMI songs in the
form of ring tones. Following this case, YourMobile signed an
agreement with several music publishing companies.
Earlier this month, The Harry Fox Agency reached an agreement
with recording companies for use of songs on-line, removing a
significant hurdle to the provision of commercial internet music
services.
