In full compliance with Apple’s “never use your computer for anything ever again” initiative, you can now buy ringtones and alert tones directly from your iPhone. REJOICE. [TheNextWeb]
But the person who goes “ooohhh I need an iPhone but I don’t know why & I haven’t investigated any alternatives” is exactly the kind of person who would buy ringtones.
What’s next….Apple sells wallpapers through app store? This company just keeps getting more ridiculous each day…and more uneducated people fall for their antics each day.
1. ringtones are not (always) just 30 second snippets – many are specific re-mixes for the format (for example, not too much bass, time compressed, mostly mono), the best from the source multitracks and focus on the songs hook so that we identify the source of the tone. Good audio engineering is not for noobs and costs dosh. 2. lots of people buy them. I happen to know how many, but an NDA prevents me being precise. Lets just say millions and more than single digit millions in Australia alone. 3. buyers are not fools, but are identifing with music they often love, a signature track. This costs them about what coffee costs. 4. because ringtones are played publically, artists (lyricists and composers, not just the performers) are entitled to public performance rights, just like the use of a composition or lyrics in a film or as muzac at a mall. That is how these people feed thier families.
I know this because I used to be involved with (sucessfully) selling them. No one was ripped off in my view – most people buy one tone a year at most, usually of a song that speaks to them and that they really indentify with. They then use that tone for ages and listen to it far more often than tracks they buy. Yes some premium sms/mms “subscription” services are dodgy, but I was not involved with that side of things and neither is apple.
yeah well at least these ring tones don’t come with a subscription that you have to pay $15 or something ridiculous and receive annoying texts every week eg. jamster
Nik
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 8:32 AMWho the hell buys ringtones?
Stew
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 2:06 PMAgreed.
But the person who goes “ooohhh I need an iPhone but I don’t know why & I haven’t investigated any alternatives” is exactly the kind of person who would buy ringtones.
Joshua
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 8:59 AMWhat’s next….Apple sells wallpapers through app store? This company just keeps getting more ridiculous each day…and more uneducated people fall for their antics each day.
Lee F
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 9:15 AMyou forgot to mention that for the most part, a 30 second snippet costs the same as purchasing the entire song.
Or did I miss something?
jeremy
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 10:21 AM1. ringtones are not (always) just 30 second snippets – many are specific re-mixes for the format (for example, not too much bass, time compressed, mostly mono), the best from the source multitracks and focus on the songs hook so that we identify the source of the tone. Good audio engineering is not for noobs and costs dosh.
2. lots of people buy them. I happen to know how many, but an NDA prevents me being precise. Lets just say millions and more than single digit millions in Australia alone.
3. buyers are not fools, but are identifing with music they often love, a signature track. This costs them about what coffee costs.
4. because ringtones are played publically, artists (lyricists and composers, not just the performers) are entitled to public performance rights, just like the use of a composition or lyrics in a film or as muzac at a mall. That is how these people feed thier families.
I know this because I used to be involved with (sucessfully) selling them. No one was ripped off in my view – most people buy one tone a year at most, usually of a song that speaks to them and that they really indentify with. They then use that tone for ages and listen to it far more often than tracks they buy. Yes some premium sms/mms “subscription” services are dodgy, but I was not involved with that side of things and neither is apple.
anth
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 10:29 AMyeah well at least these ring tones don’t come with a subscription that you have to pay $15 or something ridiculous and receive annoying texts every week eg. jamster
Greg
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 11:18 AMWelcome to 2004. People have been downloading ringtones directly on their phones for almost a decade. Revolutionary! Magical!
Jacob
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 11:36 AMI’ve been able to do with for a long time now…. Ring tones were always available in the iTunes app > More > Ringtones…….