Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Proof the world has changed: Billboard to begin ranking ringtones

Billboard has announced plans to begin ranking ringtones.

The chart, dubbed Hot MasterTones, will be based on data compiled by Nielsen Mobile and represent the top 20 best-selling master ringtones for the week.

"This is really where the growth has been in ringtones," said Geoff Mayfield, Billboard's director of charts.

There is a whole new market here for advertisers and "jingle makers." Companies who don't consider bloggers, cell phone Net users, and the whole plethora of new web apps are missing the boat. It is more than an Internet presence but a presence of conversation about your product.

Never has buzz been more important in marketing and selling products.

As for ringtones, the article goes on to say:

The U.S. ringtone market is expected to exceed $600 million in sales this year, up from $500 million last year, according to BMI, a major performing rights organization that represents songwriters, composers and music publishers.

Billboard estimates global ringtone sales racked up $4.4 billion in 2005, up from $3.7 billion the previous year. Much of that growth was due to sales of master ringtones, according to the magazine.


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