A method of assigning responsibility for playing tones and announcements to a network element in a multimedia communications network is provided. The method includes receiving a call from a caller to a subscriber at a first network element, as part of the call a tone or an announcement needs to be played to the subscriber; determining whether a second network element is able to play the tone or announcement; playing the tone or announcement through the second network element, if the second network element is able to play the tone or announcement; attempting to locate a third network element that is able to play the tone or announcement, if the second network element is not able to meet the request; and playing the tone or announcement through the third network element, if the third network element is located.