Ring tones net stars a windfall

Sunday Mirror, Oct 14, 2001 by MIKE MERRITT

SCOTS pop stars Travis, Texas and Rod Stewart are ringing up new fortunes...from mobile phones.

The stars are cashing in with bumper royalties payouts as phone users choose their favourite songs as their ringtones.

The Performing Right Society, which monitors and collects writers' and publishers' royalties, is charging ringtone download sites five per cent of gross revenue, subject to a minimum charge of pounds 800 a year.

This income will be distributed on the basis of the music provided on the sites.

Many users have already downloaded Travis' Why Does It Always Rain On Me? and Rod Stewart's Sailing on to their phones.

Mike Palmer, head of broadcast sales for PRS, said the UK market for ringtones was growing rapidly. He added that PRS was keeping a close eye on the situation to stop pirates ripping-off artists.