More Burmese Ring Tone Options for Mobile Phone Users

More than 100 popular Burmese songs will soon be available for use as ring tones and call-waiting tunes on mobile phones in Thailand under an agreement signed by Thai and Burmese companies.

The Thai company, MP3 Thailand Co, will buy 120 Burmese songs from Burma’s Million Entertainment & Video Production and sell them to mobile phone users in Thailand. A large market is expected among Burmese migrants living in Thailand.

The deal was confirmed by Maung Thit Min, a composer and joint secretary of the Myanmar Music Association.

The songs will be selected from music written by such popular Burmese artists as Lay Phyu, Zaw Win Htut, Myo Gyi, R Zarni, Pho Kar, Ye Lay, Sai Htee Seng, Htoo Ein Thin, Sai Sai Kham Hlaing, Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein and L Saizi.

MP3 Thailand Co will pay US $100 for one year’s use of each song. The money will be divided between the composer, singer, band, recording studio and producer, Maung Thit Min said.

This is the second deal of its kind involving the sale of Burmese music for use on mobile phones in Thailand. The first involved the purchase of 18 songs by the Burmese company San Myint Myint for resale in Thailand and Malaysia.

Two Thai companies, DTAC and one-2 Call, also offer Burmese ring tones and music to subscribers.

Burmese music producers and performers alike welcomed the deals, saying they avoided piracy.

The popular Burmese singer Pho Kar said: “I feel it is better than pirating my album. The company is a big one and they contracted for the use of the songs systematically through the Myanmar Music Association".