Mobile media company Zingy will team with MTV to launch an album of original ringtones by hip-hop producer Timbaland, the companies said Friday.
The offerings will include polyphonic and master ringtone beats, voice ringtones, ringbacks, voicemail greetings and images. Content initially will be available only through MTV-branded mobile properties, including Virgin Mobile in the United States and other carriers in Europe and Japan.
The network will launch a TV and Internet promotional campaign to support “Made Hear: Original Ringtones,” the franchise under which MTV will offer mobile content. Other artists are expected to sign on to “Made Hear” in coming months.
“Our agreement with Timbaland is evidence that the mobile phone has become a legitimate platform for music distribution, so much so that artists are creating music specifically for this medium,” said Andy Volanakis, Zingy’s chief operations officer.
Earlier this week, Zingy announced deals to bring exclusive mobile content from hip-hop artist Kanye West and late pop singer Aaliyah to wireless phones. Like other content providers, Zingy is working to establish direct relationships with artists that circumvent record labels and outside publishing houses.
“Now that ground has been broken, I anticipate we will sign several similar agreements in the coming months,” said Volanakis. “We have only scratched the surface on what artists will begin to deliver on mobile.”
