WAYNE, PA. (www.ringingphone.com) - For the third week in a row, Petey Pablo's "Freek-A-Leek" tops the Top 20 Ringtone Charts, according to industry leader, Ringingphone.com.
"There's no question that hip-hop music is consistently our biggest seller," said Bob Bentz, co-owner of Ringingphone.com, and an admitted 40-something hip-hop convert. "Hip-hop is the greatest music since the 60's."
Rap and hip-hop continue to dominate the Ringingphone Ringtone Top 20 with 13 of the Top 20 hits. "Damn" by YoungBloodz is No 3, "Lean Back" by Terror Squad is No 4, and Usher's "Yeah" is No 5. "Baby Boy" by Beyonce is in at No 6, "Nothin' but a G Thang" by Dr. Dre is No 8, and "Milkshake" by Kelis is No 9. Sizzling Beyonce has two tunes in the Top 20 with "Naughty Girl" hanging on to the final spot in the Top 20 Ringtone countdown.
While rap and hip-hop dominate the Ringingphone Ringtone Top 20, some classic rock tunes hitting the charts this week are Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall," and "Cocaine" by Eric Clapton. "Some oldies just pop in from time to time and I really can't explain why," added Bentz, "but 'Sweet Home Alabama' seems to make the Top 20 quite often. It's a great song and a great sounding ringtone, plus for our customers from Alabama, it's a must have classic rock ringtone," said Bentz.
Another ringtone that seems to always be in the Top 20 is the "Halloween" movie theme song that is No 2 on the charts. "This is another great sounding ringtone," said Bentz, "and it shows the continuing popularity of the horror flicks." Another favorite is the video game "Pacman" theme sound that comes in at No 7. "It's not just teens and college students that are buying ringtones, as most teens today probably have never even played Pacman," added Bentz.
"Latin ringtones can sneak into the Top 20 some weeks and we are also seeing more country ringtones and gospel ringtones being sold," said Bentz. "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West strolls in at No 16 just ahead of "Redneck Woman" by non-redneck woman, Gretchen Wilson. Bentz admitted that this was a "strange combination" to be adjacent in the rankings.
The ringtone business was estimated to be worth $3.5 billion worldwide in 2003, but is still a fledgling industry in the USA where sales reached just $70 million last year. Although Bentz would not reveal exact sales figures, he did say that the three-year-old business is growing by 15% per month. Bentz and the rest of the Ringingphone staff believe that they are not one hit wonders and the industry has a lot of growth left "at least as long as people keep listening to hip-hop."
RINGINGPHONE RINGTONE TOP 20
1. Freek-A-Leek (Petey Pablo)
2. Halloween (Movie Theme)
3. Damn (YoungBloodz)
4. Lean Back (Terror Squad)
5. Yeah (Usher)
6. Baby Boy (Beyonce)
7. Pacman (Video Game)
8. Nuthin' but a G Thang (Dr. Dre)
9. Milkshake (Kelis)
10. Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
11. Another Brick in the Wall (Pink Floyd)
12. My Band (D12)
13. Dirt Off Your Shoulder (Jay-Z)
14. I Like That (Houston)
15. Overnight Celebrity (Twista)
16. Jesus Walks (Kanye West)
17. Redneck Woman (Gretchen Wilson)
18. Tipsy (J-Kwon)
19. Cocaine (Eric Clapton)
20. Naughty Girl (Beyonce)
