Xavante Indians living on the southern edge of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest plan to start selling ringtones of traditional chants like “the hunt song” and “the healing dance” to cell phone users in China and Europe.
Brazilian cell phone users can already download the tones for about $1.40 each and 100 Xavante in the remote Sao Pedro village in Mato Grosso state have been profiting from the sales for the past few months, said Gilson Schwartz, coordinator of an aide group called Cidade Movel.
His group helps riverside communities in the Amazon find alternative sources of income in a region where most people live without modern conveniences and economic growth usually depends on mining or logging the forest.
“We want to create a business model of social content for the wireless phone industry,” he said.
I like the idea of social content. Does anyone offer a ringtone that chants, “F* the RIAA, F* the RIAA”?
I want to meet the guy who though customizable ringtones was a good idea… and kick his ass.
I thought there was programs to make your OWN..
#2 – I understand that there are… but it is still annoying to be standing in public only to have the sudden and surprising loud chorus of Baby Got Back break the peace…
Everyone else bad taste in music shouldn’t be thrust upon an unsuspecting public.
On the good side of cell phones, ThinkGeek is selling a bluetooth device that looks like an old black AT&T handset… For you retro phone fans.
I think the “F* the RIAA, F* the RIAA” ringtone is already copyrighted.