'Rahman and Motorola, what rubbish!'

We're not being boorish in abusing people who've spread this story. Officials from Rahman's office themselves are poking fun at the media which has been floating highly unbelievable stories like Rahman endorsing Motorola. Agreed, brand AR Rahman sells. More today than ever before. And a few media houses and online websites have been using it to their advantage with stories like these. But such fakes are being rubbished by people close to the maestro himself, who IndiaGlitz spoke to.

The latest in the beeline of rumours about Rahman was about him endorsing Motorola for a record price. 'Then what about his dealings with Nokia already?' his officals ask in jest. That a person cannot endorse two brand of the same field is common sense, they think. And it was less than a few months ago that Rahman, in collaboration with Nokia, brought out his mobile album, Connections, as part of his deal with them. Rahman and Nokia have earlier collaborated for his album, Pray For Me Brother. Officials in Rahman's studio say there were not even talks about an agreement with Motorola and this was a complete baseless rumour.

Now, reports in various spurious sections of the media have announced that Rahman has inked a deal with Motorola for a record Rs 28 crore to take over as its youth icon and brand ambassador, instead of David Beckam. Websites and online sources mind find it interesting to publish such stories, but those who know the truth only call them 'imaginative'.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

A R Rahaman launch nokia 5800

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Nokia is up with the launch of Nokia Connections the Music Album

Nokia is exploring a new way to the launch of Nokia Connections a music album for Nokia Xpress Music devices. Nokia together with the maestro, A.R. Rahman is coming up with its much awaited music album featuring the heart stirring compositions of A.R. Rahman for Nokia Xpress Music devices and 5800 Xpress Music.


The album is one of its kinds, with best nine original compositions from the legendary A.R. Rahman. Nokia connection is an exclusive album also presenting other eminent musicians such as Sukhwinder, ShivMani and Blaaze with their Classic composition such as Rajasthani, Punjabi folk, Hindi, Tamil which in its way stands to “Connecting People”.


The album is the wonderful creation, by both AR Rahman as the composer of lead soundtrack and the award winning Kanika Myer of BharatBala Productions, as the director of music video. The album includes some other tracks as Mann Chandre, Kural, Mylapore Blues & Mosquito. This variety of composition makes the album its best USP thus reflecting an effort to combine people together.


Mr. Vineet Taneja, Head GTM, Nokia India says, “Music on the move is, and will continue to be, an important element of the mobile experience. Nokia has blazed a trail for music on mobiles - from handset personalization via ringing tones to music consumption through integrated FM radios and MP3 support. Nokia’s music innovation continues as we offer more and more localized and relevant content to our consumers.”


He also adds “We share a very special and long-term relationship with Rahman and we have pioneered many innovative things together - the first vertical format video with ‘Pray for me brother’, the first remix contest for a Rahman song and now this exclusive album for the XpressMusic devices. We thank Rahman for participating in our journey of redefining mobile music.”


Mr. AR Rahman speaks of this experience with Nokia, “I am very happy to join hands with Nokia for yet another industry first. The album, Nokia Connections is very close to my heart as we have taken inspiration from different walks of life to create nine soundtracks that establish the diversity of music,” and he concludes “In today’s time a song like “Jiya se Jiya” becomes even more relevant as it gives the message of embracing everyone irrespective of their region, religion or language.”


Nokia in associations with Universal will release Nokia Connections across all leading music channels by mid-December. So music lovers can enjoy the songs on Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia 5220 XpressMusic & Nokia 5320 XpressMusic from January, 2009.


Courtesy: mobiletor.com

Nokia music phone price to go down

The company does not foresee a similar reduction in prices for its N-series phones.

Nokia, the leading mobile handset manufacturer in India that sold 146 million MP3-enabled phones globally, is expected to slash the prices of its music phones in India in the next few months. The company's music phone series, XpressMusic, which at present retails at Rs 5,000 and more, is expected to come down to Rs 3,000. The company does not foresee a similar reduction in prices for its N-series phones, which are high-end multimedia and music-capable devices.


Raghuvesh Sarup, head of GTM (programme portfolio and categories), Nokia India, said, "We are the largest supplier of music devices in the world. In our new identity as an Internet services company, Nokia will be bringing several MP3-based applications and music mixers that will be available for downloads over mobile and online." Nokia, along with AR Rahman and Big Music, has already launched Nokia XpressMusic mixer application, which is an online music mixer to remix two tracks from Rahman's forthcoming film Ada...a way of life.

Sarup reasoned that the move to lure customers to its music phones with reasonable price points is part of Nokia's strategy to ready consumers for the launch of Nokia MusicStore — its online music distribution service that will have more than two million albums — later this year.

Mobile music downloads, currently valued at Rs 160-180 crore in the domestic market, is set to see 40 per cent CAGR growth with companies like Nokia pushing services through its in-built music applications on handsets.

Royalties worth Rs 50-60 crore were paid to the music industry in the past 18 months and value-added services — of which music with full song downloads, music videos and ringtones forms the bulk — are estimated to contribute 20-25 per cent to a service provider's revenues.

According to a PricewaterHouseCooper report, Indians seem to have purchased more music through mobile phones last year, and mobile music purchases are set to grow nine times more by 2009.

But TNS, a global market information and insight group, adds a note of warning: ൞ per cent of users now sideload music (transfer from PC or laptop) compared to just 16 per cent who download from the web/operator network." Using the phone as a music player does give device manufacturers like Nokia to open up an opportunity to increase consumer involvement with their products.

But for network operators and music rights owners, incremental revenue growth through downloading may be limited, adds the TNS report.

In the next 12 months, Nokia is expected to launch several XpressMusic phones at lower price points that would help the company build a user base.

Besides, this year the company is also betting big on phones supporting applications likes maps, music and games. "By year end, we should have 12 handsets from the existing six models that will come with built-in Nokia maps, and pricing of these global positioning applications are being worked out," said Sarup.

Analysts anticipate that in 2008‚ for the first time‚ the number of replacement purchases in emerging markets will exceed those of first-time buyers.

Nokia's move to lure with its music and entertainment download services rings sense as mobile music is expected to comprise up to 75 per cent of the Asian music sales by 2009, according to Music Sales data.

Courtesy:business-standard.com

A day with Rahman!

Just imagine! If you have a bent for music and if you are creative enough to please the selectors you will win a day to spend with the Mozart of Madras A.R. Rahman.

The leaders in mobile phones - Nokia and Big Music have are getting together for this music carnival. All the participants have to do is remix two leading compositions of this music icon from the forth coming flick, 'Ada' – A way of life.

This is the first time ever that Rahman has allowed anyone to remix his compositions. The interesting fact is that Rahman had done music for this film as soon as he completed working for the Aamir Khan-starrer 'Laagan'.

This competition will go one for a month wherein fans of Rahman can remix two songs 'Gulfisha..' and 'Gum Sum..' from the album of Ada and remix it using Nokia's recently launched Nokia XpressMusic mixer application.

For those who are not aware of this application, Nokia XpressMusic mixer application is an online music mixer available on www.nokia.co.in/XpressMusic that has pre-loaded Ada tunes.

The chosen one will get to spend a day with the music supremo and also remix the Ada soundtrack from Rahman's studio.

Ada-A way of life has new comer Ayaan Ahmad and Nauheed Cyrusi playing the romantic lead pair. The film also stars Ayesha Jhulka, Rahul Roy and Milind Gunaji.

So grab a Nokia mobile and start your remix now!


Courtesy: Indiaglitz.com

Now, remix A.R. Rahman on your Nokia mobile

As part of its endeavour to connect people to their passions, mobile phone major Nokia has joined hands with A.R. Rahman to give young Indians a chance to remix two tracks from the maestro’s forthcoming film “Ada… A way of life”. The announcement at a press conference here Monday marks the first time the composer is allowing listeners to remix his creations.

As a part of this initiative, Nokia and leading music house BIG Music will run a month-long contest where participants can remix the two “Ada” soundtracks - “Gulfisha” and “Gum Sum” on Nokia’s newly launched Nokia XpressMusic mixer application.

This is an online music mixer available on www.nokia.co.in/XpressMusic that has pre-loaded “Ada” tunes.

Users can remix the soundtracks by clicking on their favourite music genre such as Jazz, Folk, Punjabi, Hip-Hop and Rock amongst others. Participants also have the option to download the Ada tracks from the Nokia XpressMusic website and remix with their own professional music equipment.

The winner, to be chosen by Rahman, will get an opportunity to spend a day with the music legend and compose the remix soundtrack with him at his studio.

This remix would be released through a music video that would profile the winner and Rahman along with the top 10 finalists.

Elaborating on the concept, Rahman said: “India is full of talented young people and this contest is my way of unleashing their creativity.

“Nokia and BIG Music have come up with a very interesting concept and I am looking forward to see how the listeners interpret my music and give it a new form,” he added.

According to Raghuvesh Sarup, head of programme portfolio of Nokia India, “we share a very special and long-term association with Mr. Rahman and we treasure this relationship.

“We are very grateful to him for agreeing to this initiative and giving youngsters an opportunity to express themselves through music,” he added.

Courtesy: thaindian.com