April 24, 2008

By By Robert Thompson, Toronto

The Canadian Recording Industry Association has unveiled a new awards program for ringtones.

The awards, which recognize platinum certification of ringtones that have been sold more than 40,000 times, and gold certification for those sold more than 20,000 demonstrates the popularity of mobile music, says Graham Henderson, president of CRIA.

"Ringtones are another way Canada's recording industry is getting music to fans where they want it and how they want it," he says. "The new awards program celebrates not only the artists behind the most popular ringtones, but also the burgeoning genre of mobile music and the fans who are discovering it."

Platinum certification was given to 43 ringtones, with 15 achieving "double platinum" status, while 17 ringtones received gold status. CRIA says sales of master ringtones - original song recordings downloaded by mobile phone subscribers to replace standard ring sounds - represented approximately 45 percent of Canada's digital music sales in 2007.

"Canada's music industry is working hard to build a stronger legitimate digital music marketplace in this country," Henderson said. "The recognition of top-selling ringtones is another step forward in bringing digital music sales into the consumer mainstream."

Top selling ringtones include "Smack That" by Akon, and "Sexy Back," by Justin Timberlake.

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