Tibaland set to release first 'mobile only' album

London, February 9 : The American music star Timbaland is all set to release the first ever "mobile only" album, aimed at dealing with illegal downloading.

The 'R and B' producer has signed a ground-breaking deal with the Verizon Wireless network for the purpose.

He will release a track each month, featuring star guests. The tracks will be made available to subscribers of V Cast, Verizon's mobile entertainment service.

Timbaland, who is currently working on Madonna's new album, will work with a different artist on a track each month. He will do so while touring the US on a Verizon bus.

The songs will be sold for one pound each, and then compiled as a mobile album. The subscribers can transfer the songs to their computers.

"Our goal is to show the music industry that we're truly a viable distribution platform for them," Times Online quoted Ed Ruth, Verizon director of digital music, as saying.

Timbaland added: "Not every place has a CD player but everybody has a mobile phone. Just producing a mobile album has never been done. I'm the first to ever do it."

The report also suggests that mobile downloads are attractive to the music industry because they are less susceptible to piracy. It states that sales of mobile full-track downloads doubled last year, accounting for 12 per cent of the digital market.

Timbaland believes that mobile networks may eventually replace record companies as distributors of music.

Verizon Wireless, a joint venture with Vodafone, may bring the mobile-only album to Britain.

ANI