music publishing A music publisher is a type of publisher that specializes in distributing music. Music publishers originally published sheet music. When copyright became legally protected, music publishers began to play a role in the management of the intellectua ...

, a ringle was an attempt to revitalize the CD market by bundling a song in both full

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

form and a shortened

ringtone A ringtone is the sound made by a telephone to indicate an incoming telephone call. Originally referring to the sound of electromechanical striking of bells or gongs, the term refers to any sound by any device alerting of an incoming call. On p ...

version on the same disc. Conceived by

Sony BMG Music Entertainment Sony BMG Music Entertainment was an American record company owned as a 50–50 joint venture between Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann. The venture's successor, the revived Sony Music, is wholly owned by Sony, following their buyout ...

, a 'ringle' consisted of three songs, including the advertised single along with a remix or possibly another song from the same artist, as well as a mobile phone ringtone and a program allowing the purchaser to transfer the ringtone to their

mobile phone A mobile phone or cell phone is a portable telephone that allows users to make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while moving within a designated telephone service area, unlike fixed-location phones ( landline phones). This rad ...

. Sony BMG stated that 50 ringles would be released between October and November 2007 in the USA, while

Universal Music Group Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as Universal Music Group or Universal Music) is a Netherlands, Dutch–United States, American multinational Music industry, music corporation under Law of the Netherlands, ...

would release up to 20. Bloggers at the time likened the move to "re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic", while the Sydney Morning Herald stated the concept "could be a case of too little, too late."

References

Mobile phone culture Single types {{music-publication-stub