More mobile stuff. US royalty society BMI has predicted a downturn in the sale of ringtones in the US this year, although that is most likely due to the growing popularity of newer but similar products such as ringback tones.
BMI say US ringtone sales for this year will be approximately $550 million, down $50 million from the peak in 2006 when sales brought it approximately $600 million. However, ringback tones, the service where mobile owners can set it so people calling their phone hear music instead of (or as well as) the traditional 'ring ring' tone (a service which has been around for a while but has only really taken off big time in those crazy Asian markets so far, but which is now gaining pace in the US), should bring in about $65 million this year. It is the first time BMI have estimated ringback tone sales, so it is unclear how much of that income accounts for the $50 million decline in traditional ringtone sales.
Commenting on their estimates, BMI VP Of New Media And Strategic Development, Richard Conlon, told reporters: "As we forecasted last year, the ringtone market matured in 2006. The slowdown in ringtone growth, however, was partially offset by the first wave of promising US growth in ringback tones".