Music Publisher Boosey & Hawkes Licenses Classical Ring Tones

The works that will be made available include Stravinsky's Petrushka and Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. Boosey & Hawkes owns the copyright to more than 200,000 classical works, including those leased to The Music Solution, a company that sells music tracks to cell phone networks and users around the world.

TMS receives a fee of Ô£10,000 to turn the works into ring-tone files. The two companies will split the revenues from the venture.

John Minch, the company's managing director, said the deal was part of an attempt "to reach out to new markets with classical music. . . If people have enjoyed something over 30 seconds, there is a chance they will enjoy it over an hour and half."

The new ring tones will be available at the beginning of 2005.

In related news, Roger Lewis, will step into the newly created position of non-executive chairman at Boosey & Hawkes. According to the Guardian, he will be leading the publisher's attempt to get broader recognition for classical music, by encouraging its placement in television programs, movies, and ads.

Lewis is the former managing director of Classic FM, and a French horn player.

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