Ralph Simon

Ralph Simon is recognized as one the mobile industry's leading international authorities on mobile music, entertainment, mobile content rights and super-distribution. Simon is chairman the influential Mobile Entertainment Forum in the USA and Americas, and plays a leading role in the mobile entertainment industry representing and helping MEF's member companies grow and create revenues from the usage and distribution of mobile music, entertainment content and applications.

Simon one of the true pioneers of the mobile entertainment industry having been the first to introduce ring tones to the USA, UK and Australasia in 1999, where he co-founded and became Chairman of Yourmobile, (now known as Infospace Mobile, the US market leader in mobile music & entertainment) the first company of its kind to specialize in the development, distribution and application of mobile music, entertainment content, intellectual property and publishing rights for mobile phones and devices.

Prior to Yourmobile, Simon had co-founded and developed the Zomba Group of record labels and music publishing companies including Jive Records, growing it to become the world's most successful and leading independent music publishing and recording organizations. In addition, Simon also held the position of Executive Vice-President of Capitol Records and Blue Note Records, where he was instrumental in launching EMI's global New Technology & New Media division. His music industry background, and experience in managing some of the world's leading record producers has been a key ingredient to understanding the creative and technology elements that are the core of today's mobile music businesses.

He has over two decades of successful entrepreneurial and leadership experience in the record, music publishing, entertainment and now mobile industry. He serves as a special advisor to leading companies in the mobile content and rights areas, and also advises and guides the mobile interests of some of the world's leading recording artists and celebrities, including U2, Beyonce & Destiny's Child, Justin Timberlake, Shania Twain, Metallica and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. He is also very active internationally observing major trends in mobile entertainment from Asia-Pacific, the UK & Europe and the Americas. He serves on the advisory board of leading Finnish mobile channel & platform specialists, Starcut, and acts as a specialist mobile advisor to entertainment companies in the music and television business.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in the UK, and a member of the Academy of Recorded Arts & Sciences in the USA. Simon is based in Los Angeles.