3G Operator 3 UK Celebrates Million Track Milestone

Europe UK : With average sales of over 200,000 tracks per month, mobile media company 3 announced that its audio service has made up over 53% of mobile audio track downloads since the start of 2006, according to the Official Charts Company (OCC), the body responsible for compiling the UK charts.

Inset shows the Kaiser Chiefs who are one of the best downloaded bands.

OCC figures also show that 3’s audio sales already account for 3.7% of the combined singles chart and 7.5% of the digital download chart this year. The findings come as 3 celebrates the millionth audio download on its award-winning music service in just 4 months

Graeme Oxby, Marketing Director of 3, said: “These figures show that 3 is dominating mobile music and punching way above our weight. Every one of our 3.5 million customers has a music shop in their pocket, and their choices now have as much impact on the charts as a traditional music store.”

Brit award winning artist James Blunt has sold over 80,000* copies of his single “Goodbye my Lover” in the UK and it was revealed today that over 10 per cent (8,627) of these have been downloaded through 3, the mobile media company. With these findings suggesting 1 in 10 prefer to buy Blunt’s singles over the phone, the mobile music medium is now playing a major role in the UK charts.

Other artists celebrating mobile success with 3 include:

• Hard-Fi: Cash Machine – sold 7.4% of all singles on 3
• Kaiser Chiefs: I Predict a Riot – sold 5.5% of all singles on 3
• Gorillaz: Dare – sold 4% of all singles on 3

3’s video sales – which currently outstrip audio sales - are not considered eligible for inclusion in the charts by the OCC. If included, 3 predict that its share of the singles market would more than double. Over 15 million music videos were watched by 3 customers in the first year of the video jukebox service.

3 has led the field in music over mobile with a series of innovations. 3 streamed the first live gig on mobile, launched the first music video jukebox, introduced ‘dual downloading’ (each audio track downloaded simultaneously to your mobile and PC) ; and have worked with labels and artists to secure a series of world premieres on 3, including James Blunt, Madonna and Robbie Williams. A Will Young track was the millionth song to be downloaded from 3.

3 has also adopted an industry-leading, transparent pricing policy for music over mobile. 3’s customers pay a flat-rate for each track or video, with no hidden per megabyte costs.

"It will be really interesting to see 3's progression throughout 2006," comments Mark Krendal, Head of Digital at Polydor: " Their rapid ascension to being the front-running mobile music service has already shown 3’s potential to have a positive effect on music industry revenues in addition to showcasing emerging artists.”

The millionth download arrives two weeks after 3 was named ‘Best Digital Music Service’ at the Music Week awards.

“3 has really pushed the boundaries in offering their customers innovative, exclusive and consistently great music downloads, which overall creates a highly unique and desirable service for them,” comments Ajax Scott, publisher, Music Week.

3 will continue spearheading mobile music in 2006, with plans to release the UK’s first mobile-only single and the launch of a new music service for up-and-coming talent in the months ahead. 3 is also running a special course on making music videos especially for mobile with St Martins College of Art.

This Weeks 3G News By Photos
This Weeks 3G News