Warner Music Group has agreed to license its catalog of master ringtones to the Internet-based Skype telephone service. The Skype service allows customers to use the Internet to make telephone calls. It has about 74 million subscribers worldwide.
In the coming months, Skype will add master ringtones to its online retail store, where customer can browse, buy and download their ringtone of choice. This site will include a “featured artist” section, showcasing a number of tracks from different WMG artists with links to an artist-branded Web site where the ringtones can be purchased.
Madonna will be the first featured artist, with master ringtones of “Hung Up,” “Push” and “Sorry,” from the new “Confessions on a Dance Floor” album, as well as catalog hits like “Like a Virgin” and “Vogue.”
The WMG ringtones from are expected to cost $1.50 each.
Skype currently offers a variety of ringtones and voicetones on its online store today the same price, limited to electronica beats from Ministry of Sound with some classical and swing music mixed in. Skype says it expects to offer ringback tones and other music-based personalization options in the future.
This is the first major label licensing agreement for Skype.
