The Stones to offer fans access to ‘A Bigger Bang’ through the phone

By M&C News Jul 28, 2006, 19:25 GMT

They may not be the psychic hotline, but rock icons The Rolling Stones are looking to get into the phone business by offering music fans a toll-free number that allows them to listen to a concert for a $1.99 per seven minutes fee. A warning will come on during the sixth minute to offer fans the opportunity to purchase more time.

The phone number will allow fans to listen to any of the Stones’ European concert dates in “real time” and will be available through both cell phones and regular phone lines. The band is the first rock group to use the technology
 
The veteran rockers have announced a service allowing fans from all over the world to phone in to a toll-free number and, for a nominal fee, listen to any of the band's European concert dates in real time.

The system, which launches with the Stones’ Paris show, is expected to be able to  handle 1 million callers per show, but callers will need to take into account time zone differences since the shows are broadcast in real time.

Even with its delays due to Richards’ health problem following an accident, the Stones’ concert tour has managed to secure the top spot in ticket sales for the year. The band also recently announced plans to extend the tour to North America with dates taking them across the U.S. and parts of Canada.