Eamon Tops First MEF / KPMG Ringtones Chart
MEF and KPMG today publish the first authoritative top twenty ringtones chart to provide accurate market data for the UK ringtone market

LONDON, June 1 2004 - The first artist to be number one in this prestigious new chart is Eamon, with a ringtone taken from the track “I don’t want you back”.

The MEF Official UK Ringtones Chart is the first chart in the world to be compiled from confidential data provided by the leading ringtone licensees and is collated by KPMG the global professional services firm. It is the authoritative fortnightly sales chart for the mobile music entertainment industry and will become an important source of information for this rapidly expanding sector of the UK music market. Participating aggregators include Amplefuture, Buongiorno/Vitaminic, Infomedia, Musiwave, Opera and Phonefurniture.

Ringtones are key to the mobile entertainment market since they provide the majority of revenue and are helping stimulate new business models. Analysts at Informa Media Group estimate that £90 million was spent in the UK on ringtones in 2003.

"The mobile and music industries are rapidly converging and in creating this chart the MEF has recognised the importance of having a yard-stick for measuring success. We worked long and hard to make this the industry’s authoritative chart and we expect it to become increasingly important as mobile music revenues grow,” says Ralph Simon, Chair, Mobile Entertainment Forum Americas.

“Persuading ringtone providers to share their confidential sales data was initially a challenge. However, we are now seeing more companies wanting to join, which means that the UK’s number one ringtone chart is about to get even better,” says David Simmons, Head of the MEF Ringtones Initiative and CEO of Songseekers, the prominent music rights and publishing company.

KPMG’s Calum Chace says: “The Ringtones Chart will provide a benchmark for the industry as consumers deepen their love affair with mobile ringtones. As this chart evolves, it will track the convergence of fashion, fads and ‘phones and will highlight the commercial opportunity for the mobile music industry as more music is consumed in the form of ringtones. For instance, we can expect to see different songs topping the MEF Ringtones Chart and traditional music charts, as they are bought for different purposes and used on different media.”

Notes to Editor

Enquiries: For further information contact David Bramley at Platform PR, david@platformpr.com +44 (0)20 8964 9149.

For KPMG enquiries contact Bernice Marks, KPMG Corporate Communications, +44 (0)7789 925294 or the KPMG Press Office +44 (0)20 7694 8773.

If you are licensing ringtones in the UK and would like to become part of the MEF Ringtone Chart please contact: Sarah Roberts, MEF, sarah@mobileentertainmentforum.org

If you are interested in licensing the MEF Ringtone Chart for publication please contact Phil Matcham, phil@theofficialcharts.com or Darren Haynes, darren@theofficialcharts.com at the Official UK Charts Company, +44 (0)20 7478 8500.

About the Mobile Entertainment Forum: The MEF is a global trade association representing all participants in the mobile entertainment value chain interested in driving the industry's evolution and commercial potential through collaboration, consultation and promotional activities. MEF is committed to reducing the barriers to entry into the innovative mobile entertainment market, thereby encouraging entry by new businesses and increasing competition and growth to the benefit of all industry players and consumers. MEF’s main goals are to promote the development of the mobile entertainment industry, build awareness for the industry and facilitate the development of commercial standards and best practices for mobile entertainment. For more information, please visit: www.mobilentertainmentforum.org

About KPMG KPMG is the global network of professional services firms who provide audit, tax and advisory services. KPMG LLP operates from 22 offices across the UK with 9,000 partners and staff. KPMG recorded a UK fee income of £1,008 million in the year ended September 30th , 2003. KPMG LLP, is a UK limited liability partnership and the UK member of KPMG International, a Swiss cooperative.

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