Verizon Wireless Customers Get Exclusive Bob Marley Ringtones

[Nikos Kartalis]

Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless company with the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, and Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s leading music company, announced today that Verizon Wireless customers can personalize their wireless phones with Ringtones by legendary artist and music icon Bob Marley. Available exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers, these featured tones will include classic songs by Bob Marley, including music off of the classic Island Records / Tuff Gong / UMe 1984 Bob Marley & The Wailers greatest hits collection, “Legend,” the best-selling reggae album of all-time, certified 10 times platinum.

No other artist has generated the galvanic global effect of Robert Nesta Marley. Singer, songwriter and shaman, he has received innumerable honors: the Jamaican Order of Merit, a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, membership of the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys. The New York Times calls Marley the most influential musical artist of the second half of the twentieth century. Even with over two decades after his passing, Marley continues to be the standard by which all popular music artists are measured. Later this year, UMG is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the pinnacle album “Exodus” with a new release of the album on Island Records / Tuff Gong / UMe, which will include rare photos and the historic “Live at the Rainbow” concert on DVD.

The availability of Bob Marley Ringtones marks the continuation of Verizon Wireless’ leadership in the mobile music arena. Verizon Wireless was the first national wireless company to offer Ringback tones in 2004; since then, the company has not only introduced unique artist relationships and offered iconic music-playing devices such as the Chocolate by LG, but also created cutting-edge music services that encourage music discovery, such as V CAST Song ID. Since 2006, Verizon Wireless has built a massive full-song mobile music store that contains more than 2.1 million songs from well-known and independent artists that customers can download over-the-air with V CAST Music.

Ed Ruth, director of digital music for Verizon Wireless, said, “These classic recordings by Bob Marley & The Wailers represent some of the best songs ever recorded – Bob Marley is an iconic singer, songwriter and performer and we’re proud to bring these Ringtones exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers in North America. This is yet another proof point to Verizon’s commitment to provide quality music – first – to our customers and reaffirms our leadership position in the mobile music business.”

Verizon Wireless customers can select from more than 30,000 Ringtones and 30,000 Ringback tones today; the following Ringtones from Bob Marley & The Wailers are now available:

• “Africa Unite”
• “Buffalo Soldier”
• “Burnin’ And Lootin’” (Live)
• “Coming In From The Cold”
• “Concrete Jungle” (Live)
• “Could You Be Loved”
• “Easy Skanking”
• “Exodus”
• “I Shot The Sheriff” (Live)
• “Is This Love” (Live)
• “Jah Live”
• “Jammin’”
• “Kaya”
• “Kinky Reggae” (Live)
• “Lively Up Yourself” (Live)
• “Natural Mystic”
• “One Love / People Get Ready”
• “Punky Reggae Party” (Live)
• “Redemption Song”
• “Running Away”
• “Satisfy My Soul”
• “So Much Trouble In The World”
• “Stir It Up” (Live)
• “Sun Is Shining”
• “Three Little Birds”
• “Trenchtown Rock” (Live)
• “Turn Your Lights Down Low”
• “Waiting In Vain”