Music Labels Aim to Pocket a Comeback with New CD

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A new music format is popping up in Europe. This format is known as pocket CD. Record companies are hoping that it will help bring some new life and money to the record industry. This disc "Carries a selection of music tracks and mobile phone ring tones from a host of artists ranging from 50 Cent to Black Eyed Peas."

Some of the world's largest record companies are testing a new music format in Europe known as the pocket CD to spin new life into faltering music singles. At three inches in diameter -- or roughly half the size of a conventional compact disc -- the pocket CD carries a selection of music tracks and mobile phone ring tones from a host of artists ranging from 50 Cent to Black Eyed Peas. The technology made its debut in Germany last summer with Universal Music, Sony Music and later EMI and BMG, all selling a limited number of the CDs to test the public's appetite.

Now, Universal Music, for one, is introducing the format in the United Kingdom next month. A spokesman said it will ship 1,000 units of the pocket CD for 16 of its artists including 50 Cent and The Rasmus. Pricing has yet to be determined, he added. With ringtone sales on the rise and CD single sales plummeting, record executives are hopeful the new format will reverse the fortunes of an industry beset by rampant piracy and slumping sales. The discs can be played on a PC where the ringtones can be downloaded and then transferred to a mobile phone.

News source: Reuters

bah- this is crap. turns out to be b/s.

(2 replies) #1 Avi on 21 Jun 2004 - 17:49

Sounds nice... I wish they could wait until the blue-ray cds would catch up in the european market... Thanks for the news.

#1.1 cq107 on 22 Jun 2004 - 00:48

blue-ray DVDs you mean...
Audio CDs are only ISO 9660 format, red, blue, or yellow book.
SACD, DVD-A, and DVD are completely differnt and cater to "audiofiles"

#1.2 noll3095 on 22 Jun 2004 - 01:08

"Audiophiles" you mean...

#2 Korgun on 21 Jun 2004 - 17:58

in the whole thing i saw 50 cent about 40 times lol

he must be really really really popular in europe

(4 replies) #3 idbuythatforadollar on 21 Jun 2004 - 18:09

QUOTE

ranging from 50 Cent to Black Eyed Peas.

wow, what an incredible range. This will make me never download music again.

#3.1 gawdflesh on 21 Jun 2004 - 18:23

The ringtones are the selling point for me. I know I don't nearly have enough ways to annoy people around me than to play an entire 50 Cent song every time my phone rings.

#3.2 yert* on 22 Jun 2004 - 07:40

rofl...I hate 50 cent and BEP. They do completely suck.

#3.3 iascoot on 22 Jun 2004 - 09:39

agreed

#3.4 YaZoR on 22 Jun 2004 - 09:51

I second that agreement.

Wheres Aphex Twin and all that?

(1 reply) #4 nic on 21 Jun 2004 - 18:13

how is the format? Is it conceiled in a case of some sort. Or is it the same old story of exposed disc just waiting to get scratched. I'm guessing the later, because recording companies want you to buy the same damn CD over and over and over again. Damn Weezer (blue album, i've bought 4 times now)

#4.1 YaddaMe on 21 Jun 2004 - 20:01

Take better care of your discs.... however, we all know sh*t happens, so instead of buying a new disc, invest in some Micro-Mesh, which is better than any kit you can buy at the store, & resurface your discs. That stuff is so great it'll get out nearly any scratch you throw at it (except, of course, data layer scratches). It's cheap too compared to the alternatives.

http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/mmr_pads.htm#2x2

(2 replies) #5 Grappa on 21 Jun 2004 - 18:46

Call me crazy, but doesn't this sound like Ye Olde Mini-CD?

#5.1 LampkinsMateSteve on 22 Jun 2004 - 09:23

You are crazy, but that's beside the point. I also thought of that straight away.

#5.2 beatlesdb on 22 Jun 2004 - 11:05

That's exactly what they are - they have just added a data track for ringtones - they took the original mini-Cd's off the market as they were too easy to steal. What is old is new again

(1 reply) #6 shift on 21 Jun 2004 - 18:47

wow, i hope they bring one out with 50 cent on!

#6.1 TheFamousGeoff on 21 Jun 2004 - 23:24

I dunno - I'm holding out for Black Eyed Peas...

#7 ghos on 21 Jun 2004 - 18:48

Ya I don't see what the big deal is. They have been trying to market a smaller CD for years but no one has bit on it. I have 2 mini-cd singles from years back , that attempt failed. I don't believe this will work either, although Europe is a different market than the US. Still unless they can fit a full album on the smaller CD, or make it cost effective to buy, it won't work.

(1 reply) #8 Korgun on 21 Jun 2004 - 18:53

"I know, the reason our sales are declining must be due to piracy and the size of the CD's. Not the quality or our business practices"

#8.1 epple on 21 Jun 2004 - 20:28

Aahahhaha, that's so damn right I don't know if I should cry or laugh.

(4 replies) #9 five04 on 21 Jun 2004 - 18:54

am i the only one who likes their cell phone to sound like a phone when it rings instead of some retarded song?

#9.1 nic on 21 Jun 2004 - 19:27

here here

#9.2 Cyranthus on 21 Jun 2004 - 19:53

your not alone... its a damn phone not a circus!

#9.3 roadwarrior on 21 Jun 2004 - 20:07

Mine plays "Dixie" and has a Confederate battle flag cover. But, hey, that's just me.

#9.4 TheFamousGeoff on 21 Jun 2004 - 23:23

I agree - my current phone didn't have a normal ring ring tone on it when it was new. I used its built-in dictaphone to record a phone ringing and that is now my ringtone. Sad? Yes. But better than what came with it!

#10 Phil Gates on 21 Jun 2004 - 19:30

from 50 Cent to Black Eyed Peas to 50 cent from Black Eyed Peas, both of them, and thats it.

#11 djze on 21 Jun 2004 - 20:46

Will it cost 50 cent?

#12 fubarshibby on 21 Jun 2004 - 20:47

All I have to say (since I don't live in the UK) is that The Rasmus is awesome.

#13 aem4162 on 21 Jun 2004 - 20:53

i've always wanted to have a variety of ring tones for the cell phone that i don't have

#14 neufuse on 21 Jun 2004 - 21:37

so they cover the range of 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-A-B? what about the rest of the alphabet?

(1 reply) #15 SimplyPotatoes on 21 Jun 2004 - 22:31

50 cents and black eyed pee...... i just previewd black eyed pee on itunes and both sound the same...horrible.

#15.1 Jaded1 on 22 Jun 2004 - 07:54

Guess you need to have some meat with your potatoes, cause 50 cent and the black eyed peas sound nothing alike!

(1 reply) #16 sodapop on 22 Jun 2004 - 00:52

I don't even use a phone...What they gonna do about that? I don't even answer the home phone, If you leave a message I might check it next week.

#16.1 Skyfrog on 22 Jun 2004 - 01:33

I thought I was the only one that hated phones. I almost never use it for anything, and if nobody else is home to answer it I just let it ring. If I want to talk to anyone I'll go see them in person. As for ring tones, I wouldn't have much use for those anyway. I have no intention of owning a cell phone, and the phone in my room still has a dial.

#17 badall on 22 Jun 2004 - 03:03

this sucks for the people useing those slot loader drives

#18 Galley on 22 Jun 2004 - 03:07

WTF, I have several 3" CD singles that came out nearly 15 years ago!

(1 reply) #19 riahc3 on 22 Jun 2004 - 07:37

how is this cd new if we've seen these discs both in USA and Europe for years?? I dont get it....

(and offtopic but did 50 Cent pay Reuters and Neowin.net to advertise himself or something? That is the most times ive seen his name in a article, post or whatever lol (besides we want Lloyd Banks)

Now back to your regular non commercial advertivsing posts

#19.1 beatlesdb on 22 Jun 2004 - 11:07

The difference is that they have a new hip name thanks to some marketing bright spark

(1 reply) #20 deadmonkey on 22 Jun 2004 - 07:50

I don't think anything will start me buying CDs again. It isn't the price, etc. it is that fact that there is no decent music available at the moment. Who knows maybe the music as always been crap and I have just realised this as I am older now who knows.

I guess this will be popular with younger kids who love having different ringtones every day, I personally prefer just an old mono ringtone. Jebus I am getting old hah

If I were to buy CDs things I would be interested in are...

1. More music on a 'single' CD. The UK has such crap laws about it can't contain more than X number of minutes and only 2 songs, etc. That is crap! I want a few remixes and an instrumental version, etc. I also want the video on the CD but I DONT want it in QuickTime! Use DivX or XviD it is better quality!

Ahh I am just preeching to the choir here I know. It is a shame companies don't listen to their customers for new ideas about WHAT THE CUSTOMER WANTS!

#20.1 riahc3 on 22 Jun 2004 - 08:39

ever thought that maybe "WHAT THE CUSTOMER WANTS!" isnt exactly what everyone else wants......

#21 djtaylor on 22 Jun 2004 - 08:30

The discs can be played on a PC where the ringtones can be downloaded and then transferred to a mobile phone.

Since when have you downloaded from a CD?

#22 LampkinsMateSteve on 22 Jun 2004 - 09:27

This is going to bomb. Or at least I hope it does.

#23 Fally on 22 Jun 2004 - 13:27

Sounds dumb. I already use 3 inch discs... Big development, the record industry is gonna use them now.

#24 Starman on 22 Jun 2004 - 14:06

Yeah, I have some 3" CDs from 1986 or so. This is 'new'? Uh, no.

#25 jgoewert on 22 Jun 2004 - 18:25

I'm holding out until they put out the full collection of Spice Girls music.

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Music Labels Aim to Pocket a Comeback with New CD

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