News on Coldplay, James Taylor & More
Beginning today, the first track from Coldplay's upcoming Capitol album, "X&Y," is available as a 30-second master ringtone a week before the entire song can be heard on the radio. "Speed of Sound" is being offered exclusively to Cingular Wireless subscribers as part of a new music program called Cingular Sounds, designed to launch new singles as ringtones before they can be heard anywhere else.
In return for gaining exclusive rights to debut songs, Cingular will give new releases visible placement on its Web site and top billing on its phone-based ringtone store, and will e-mail and text message subscribers notifying them of the new song's availability. Cingular will also promote the offering in radio, TV and print advertising.
"Speed of Sound" will be debuted Monday evening on BBC Radio 1 by DJ Steve Lamacq. "X&Y" is due June 7.
-- Antony Bruno, L.A.