StarHub offers music from record label

SINGAPORE--StarHub will sell digital music tracks from local record label Hype Records, in an exclusive tie-up and the first of such partnerships in the republic.

Under the deal announced last week, never-before-released song tracks by Singapore Idol winner Taufik Batisah and finalist Olinda Cho will be promoted and distributed solely by the Singapore-based telco through its mobile, online and cable TV platforms.

The 10 new digital tracks are currently available and can be purchased from the telco's online music store Play, at S$1.79 (US$1.14) for users with a Hub ID and S$1.99 (US$1.26) for those without an ID.

StarHub's I-mode subscribers can also access the online portal through their service, which was launched last year, via their mobile phones to purchase and download the music tracks, which are also available as ringtones and calltones.

"Technology is going to change the way music is heard," said Ken Lim, director of Hype Records and Singapore Idol chief judge. "Digital media offers infinite and vast opportunities for the record industry. Music lovers will have greater access to their catalog through a multitude of devices."

Michael Sim, StarHub's corporate communications manager for business IP and fixed networks, said each track downloaded can be copied into CDs for up to 10 times and can be stored legally on an unlimited number of devices.

According to Frost & Sullivan, premium content--including ringback tones, music and video applications--is poised to drive Asia's mobile communications market, predicted to reach US$32.9 billion by the end of 2011.

Nonetheless, messaging services such as SMS (short message service) and MMS (multimedia messaging service), still account for the majority of mobile data revenues.