Music industry has another death-spasm, coughs up "ringles"

It seems like every couple months one of the major labels announces yet another harebrained scheme to entice consumers to purchase CDs, regardless of what people actually prefer, and right on schedule, Sony BMG and Universal have announced their latest three-martini-and-a-cocktail-napkin plan: the "ringle," a $6 CD single featuring a remix and ringtone. There's really not much more to say -- trying to revive the CD single by adding in something that consumers are used to getting over-the-air seems like it speaks for itself -- but it's certainly interesting to see the labels desperately try and nab as much of the ringtone market as they can, even as their partners try and move forward. We'll see you at the funeral, boys.

[Image courtesy of Boy Genuis Report]

[Cykeo @ Sep 10th 2007 10:54PM]

That's... That's just sad.

$6 for a single?! That's crazy, when most albums debut at between $15 and $20. The ringtone does NOT make up the difference.

[Zak @ Sep 10th 2007 11:30PM]

Why should you have to pay for a ringtone anyway. My old Nokia uses MP3's. I am not going to pay money for a ringtone. What a waste of money. The whole music industry is a rip off. I buy pirated goods, you know where they warn you the money is going towards drugs. Well from what I can see that cuts out the middleman as most famous musicians end up taking and dying from drugs anyway. You only have to watch Britney Spears latest showing at an award show to see where the money goes if you by the ring tone to Hit me baby one more time.

[scott jones @ Sep 10th 2007 10:55PM]

I wonder if they paid Pringles for stealing their intellectual property and trademarks! ;)

[John @ Sep 10th 2007 11:17PM]

[Image courtesy of Boy Genuis Report]

Reading comprehension could fix the problem...

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 10th 2007 11:28PM]

Sarcasm detection: Fail.

[John @ Sep 10th 2007 11:53PM]

Oh, I am sorry. Never mind all of the idiots who fail the Reading Comprehension detector around here on a regular basis.

[Sotheby @ Sep 10th 2007 10:56PM]

Uhhh, what a horrible name. It sounds like some sort of infectious skin disease.

[Jonathan Allen @ Sep 10th 2007 10:57PM]

That is some weird crap

[Louis sansano @ Sep 10th 2007 10:59PM]

Universal, From iTunes...to pringles (excuse me ringles)

[Chino B @ Sep 10th 2007 11:02PM]

"We'll see you at the funeral, boys."

Somehow that cracks me up. lol

[humpty @ Sep 10th 2007 11:02PM]

what

the

f*ck

?

[drater rojam @ Sep 10th 2007 11:05PM]

I just threw up a whole bunch of ringles reading this.

[Chris @ Sep 10th 2007 11:09PM]

killer photoshop job on that one, hats off!

[LJKelley @ Sep 10th 2007 11:11PM]

I think Singles are very important but should be more like $3. Its unfair to class music as a success based on Radio Plays (controlled by large Radio Corporations) but should only be based on downloads and purchases and thus singles should be reintroduced to the US Market. I always import the singles of my favourite artists.

[David Susilo @ Sep 10th 2007 11:22PM]

+1

[artifex @ Sep 10th 2007 11:14PM]

I'd buy a couple... if they stuck them on the mini sized cds, like singles were supposed to be delivered. :)

[Vesh @ Sep 10th 2007 11:16PM]

At first I thought the Pringles were actually part of the package and I was kinda excited....

[AKBlade13 @ Sep 11th 2007 6:05AM]

I agree.

Seriously Universal. First hating on Apple by not renewing the contract for music. Then selling no DRM content on Amazon Unboxed, other stores and not on iTunes. You even jack up the prices forcing Apple to ditch NBC?

Finally, you come up with this idea?

I'm sorry but SCREW YOU!

Heck no I'm buying one of those.

AKBlade13

[Adam @ Sep 11th 2007 12:06AM]

yea...there's probably about $6 worth of pringles there. and I actually like pringles.

[Scooter @ Sep 11th 2007 7:31AM]

stack 'em high like Pringles and I might even buy a box for $6.

[ipodrulz @ Sep 10th 2007 11:35PM]

Looks like Rringles to me... (there's two Rs)

[Curtis @ Sep 10th 2007 11:37PM]

So how is this different then Jay Z disc I bought for $4 ot $6 3 years ago that had 2 singles, 2 music videos, and soft sort of multimedia web application on it? I forgot what they called it, but it wasn't something stupid ass like "ringle".

Sony BMG and Universal should drop their "real" CDs to $6 to $10.

[Fubar @ Sep 10th 2007 11:41PM]

C'mon, guys, you've got to expect the labels to lurch around some--those tar pits are sticky.

[Josh L @ Sep 11th 2007 1:21AM]

That's true -- though it would be much more satisfying if a giant meteor smashed into the earth, eradicating all music labels in a huge ball of fire.

[Xzavier @ Sep 10th 2007 11:42PM]

Engadget need to get in contact with Sony BMG. They obviously didn't read the "Engadget Interview: Phil Schiller, Apple Senior VP of Worldwide Product Marketing" or the "Know Your Rights: Is it illegal to make my own ringtones" article!

Tisk Tisk Tisk!

:D

[Jesse S @ Sep 10th 2007 11:48PM]

If the CD dies, where am I supposed to get my high-quality lossless files and box-art?

Yes, I probably can't tell the difference between a well-encoded lossy file and a lossless one, but I can't encode that lossy file to another lossy format, that's a big no-no. I need lossless so I can encode to whatever I want to. And I have yet to see a large online music store (like itunes) that uses good-quality lossy files, anyway.

Actually, isn't there some company from Britain that sells master-level (quality) lossless files?

[John @ Sep 11th 2007 12:56AM]

I love CDs. I don't want them to go away. I think it's fine to pay $10-$15 for lossless files, the physical CD, the album art and liner notes. Whenever I buy a new album, I listen to the music while reading through the liner notes - White Stripes albums have neat little notes written by Jack in them. I find it incredibly satisfying to actually have a physical object I purchased, not some string of bits that people I've never met or heard of will tell me I can only use in ways they say I can.

[paul34 @ Sep 10th 2007 11:56PM]

Looks like somebody's got a case of the ringles!

[Felix @ Sep 11th 2007 8:43AM]

DUDE!! that was so lame it was awesome. . case of the ringles.. ha ha ha

[ryan @ Sep 11th 2007 12:05AM]

I know this is just a blog, but it should be "every" and "announces" in the first line. It may not be formal literature, but considering how many people read it, you may want to fix that.

[Billy Kincaid @ Sep 11th 2007 12:07AM]

So why would I pay $6 for the ONE ringtone I want, when I could pay 99c for the same thing on iTunes or whatever.

[Mike @ Sep 11th 2007 12:10AM]

wow I'm surprised... 25+ comments and no "once you pop you just can't stop" even though its obvious that won't be the case for this one :)

[pablo m @ Sep 11th 2007 12:21AM]

Another crappy cash scheme for the loss. When will they ever learn?

[Bogsnogger @ Sep 11th 2007 12:45AM]

Is the 'very' in the first sentence supposed to be 'every'?

[greyscale @ Sep 11th 2007 12:59AM]

The CD single is only dead because the majors killed it. It's something consumers want and will be back eventually if it isn't already.

And for those of you who think physical formats are dead, you couldn't be more wrong. Physical formats will never die. CD, vinyl, high-def DVD, all here to stay. Many people will always prefer having a tangible copy of their favorite music/movie and no mp3 with a jpg for a cover will ever replace it.

Who buys mp3's anyway? Retards. You're paying full price for about 1/10 of the audio quality, best case.

[Jesse S @ Sep 11th 2007 1:14AM]

Want to get married?

[greyscale @ Sep 11th 2007 1:32AM]

Sure, if you're ok with women on the side. They don't mean anything to me, strictly physical.

[LordFarkward @ Sep 11th 2007 4:00AM]

i hear wedding ringles

sorry couldn't resist

[J Hanson @ Sep 11th 2007 1:03AM]

I love the headline! It made me laugh. The labels are so busy trying to force anyone to give them mouth to mouth. "We'll see you at the funeral, boys."

[charliedigital @ Sep 11th 2007 1:24AM]

no conspiracy nut, but at first glance the Pringles guy combined with the Universal logo looks like Hitler for the 1st millisecond you look at it.

[Alex @ Sep 11th 2007 1:45AM]

I see a lawsuit, Ringles Dog Treats: http://arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=12427

[Penguin4x4 @ Sep 11th 2007 2:02AM]

I came here to comment but it seems like greyscale beat me to it. I'd rather have a three way with Rosie O'Donnell and Hilary Clinton than use iTunes, let alone buying something from the iTunes store...bleh...

[Bloobie @ Sep 11th 2007 2:12AM]

On a side note, ringtones are now officially available through the iTunes Store.

[evo @ Sep 11th 2007 2:23AM]

Ther

[Digital Dude @ Sep 11th 2007 2:24AM]

More info here:

http://www.MusicRingles.com

I think this idea will stick, it's a cool name.. "ringtones and singles" in one.. "Ringles" lol

[srf32 @ Sep 11th 2007 2:40AM]

OK

[Eric Leung @ Sep 11th 2007 3:42AM]

once you pop you just cant stop?

[aaronbareford @ Sep 11th 2007 4:49AM]

Ahhh you beat me to it! lol
But seriously that photoshop job is very good :)

[daniel @ Sep 11th 2007 4:46AM]

thats there idea of value i remember when singles here where £3 so about $6 and you got 4 songs, think singles now are £5 and you get maybe 2 songs, singles just arent worth buying

[Rick @ Sep 11th 2007 5:50AM]

huh! paying real money for music on a CD, that's sooo 1987.