March 02, 2007

By by Leila Cobo, Miami

A girl and a song. Warner Music Latin America is banking on that combination to bolster mobile music sales of its catalog.

Beginning this month, a series of video ringtones featuring celebrity Latin models synchronized with hit Warner Music tracks will be available for mobile users to download from various portals in the United States, Latin America, Europe and the Far East.

Miami-based entertainment/production firm Sierralta Entertainment Group was contracted by Warner to produce exclusive videos to synchronize with the Warner tracks. Sierralta's roster of faces includes Renata Gonz?lez, host of "Elatinmusic TV," Colombian model Natalia Par?s and Maxim USA model Tami Donaldson.

The deal is exclusive to Sierralta and Warner, and both Sierralta and the models receive a percentage of every image downloaded.

To date, Sierralta has produced 20 video tones, with a second batch of 20 due out in the coming weeks. The contract calls for 120 exclusive video tones to be produced before year's end. These will include the "Hit Boys" series, which will feature top male models and actors.

The video tones are available in 30-second, one-minute and 90-second versions, with prices ranging from $1.30 to $2.25.

For the full story see "Ringtones Get A Pretty Face" in the March 10 issue of Billboard.

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