Music and mobile mix a world first

MUSIC GROUP Mean Fiddler stands to boost turnover by millions of euro after it announced plans yesterday for the world’s first service to recognise tunes heard in public and download a digital version over the internet.

The company, which was set up by Waterford-born entrepreneur Vince Power and is jointly controlled by Mr Power and fellow music promoter Denis Desmond of MCD Promotions, said it had teamed up with British entertainment group Shazam to link Mean Fiddler’s internet download service with Shazam’s mobile phone technology.

The new service will allow mobile phone users who hear a piece of music being played in a public place, such as a pub or on a car radio, to use their phone to identify the track.