Mobile phone makers and operators are always touting their handsets’ and services’ ringtone capabilities, crowing they have the latest and greatest offerings so you can customize your phone to reflect your mood and personality. (Nevermind wondering how paying to play pre-recorded snippets of someone else’s music reflects your personality—it’ll make your head hurt.)
So what exactly appeals to consumers as ringtones? According to market research firm The NPD Group, rap and hip-hop ringtones account for 23 percent of ringtone downloads among more than 75,000 survy respondents. Next up: rock (17 percent), R&B (11 percent) and pop (11 percent), and alternative (8 percent).
