LUCRATIVE RINGING TONE BUSINESS IN SRI LANKA

The ringing tone racket was started by two young Musicians discloses Amarasiri Peiris

The Sri Lankans musicians, in the likes of singers, lyric writers and composers of music sweat and toil hard to make melodies to make a successful song. These songs made with a lot of hard work and time put in has been over a decade swindled by two young musicians to make ringing tones and selling them to ‘Mobile’ phone companies. Via this illegal exercise these two young musicians have earned millions of rupees without shedding any sweat. This was revealed by popular singer Amarasiri Pieris to the ‘Lakbima’ newspaper. The following is his full story:
“A particular ringing tone could be obtained according to a prescribed system and the present law complying with laid down regulations. It should not harm the singer, the lyric writer and the musician; too have to be benefited as the songs belongs to these three parties. Selling these songs to ‘Mobile’ companies is a shameful and a disgraceful exercise.
I was the very first person to be invited to give the ringing tones of my songs to this company. This was about 10 years back. When I was invited to negotiate I went to the company, who welcomed me and spoke to me in the most pleasant manner. They wanted my ‘landune’ song and told me they will pay me any amount I want. I told them that this song does not belong to me totally. It belongs to three persons. They are the lyric writer, the music composer and me.
In the first instance I have to get the consent of the other two besides me. They too agreed to my suggestion. But if I agreed to it on my own today I would have been a millionaire. Very unfortunately this ‘mobile’ company had used my songs as ringing tones completely without my knowledge. I then went to meet them with my Lawyer who wanted to know their records pertaining to ‘ringing’ tones. At that time from my ‘landune’ song alone they had earned a massive Rs 85 lakhs.
At that time I asked them how did use my songs to ‘mobile’ phones as ringing tones. Then they said as they did not want go behind the singers they had bought them from an agency house. The ‘Agency’ had been formed and inaugurated by two young musicians who are highly involved with ‘pop’ music. From this illegal exercise they have earned millions of Rupees and they have said at many places this is how we earn money so easily and in a very simple manner.
When queries were made they said they will pay me 25% from now onwards and that they would not be able to pay the past dues. I told them that 75% belongs to three persons. I explained to them very clearly as earlier. Up to now I have not been paid a ‘red’ cent for my songs which have been used extensively as ringing tones.
The entire swindling and the responsibility lies on the shoulders of the ’mobile’ phone companies. They should do this business with the three involved. The singer, the lyric writer and the music composer.
From this method any outsider, layman could earn millions of rupees if they can swindle others songs and give the ‘mobile ‘companies it is very unfortunate that the money that that is due to the respective singers, lyric writers and composers of music melodies are deprived of their dues and left in the lurch owing to these Agency companies”.