What do Metallica, Chingy and the OU Fight Song have in
common?

They’re all among the most popular ringtones on the cell
phones of OU students, according to Derrick Smith, who works in
sales at Norman Cellular.

Smith, who assists Cingular customers in adding features to
their phones, said he estimates that college students represent at
least 75 percent of local ringtone sales.

“There are always old ladies who want ‘Boomer
Sooner’ for their ring,” Smith said. “But of
course, around here, college students are the main
market.”

A poll released by the London-based Arc Group earlier this week
showed that ringtone sales jumped 40 percent in the past year to
$3.5 billion, according to an article on CNN.com on Tuesday.

Smith said ringtones cost about $2 each and are usually found
online. Most of the revenues go to the phone companies, he
said.

Emily Fultz, film and video studies senior, said she buys a new
phone about twice a year and pays about $2 for a new ringtone each
time.

“I like to get a variety,” Fultz said. “I look
for songs that not everyone else would have.”

Angela Rawlins, Spanish sophomore, said she got her ringtones
through a “package deal” that offered the first 20
songs at 50 cents each and any further ringtones at a discount.

“I like to match different ones for different
peoples’ personalities,” Rollins said. “My ring
was ‘Barbie Girl.’ I used that [Xzibit] song
‘Alcoholic’ for my friend who drinks a lot.”

Mary Ellen Hamm, University College freshman, said she has
downloaded several ringtones as well as screensavers and games from
the Web site 3gupload.com after making a donation of about $5 to
the site. She said she uses mostly rock and film music, such as the
“Lord of the Rings” theme.

Smith said the variety of available songs is growing as fast as
their sales, with several hundred available from Cingular.

Smith said the most popular artists among students include John
Mayer, 50 Cent and Dirty South rapper Chingy. He said the top five
songs for his customers are “1,000 Miles,” “Hot
in Here,” “Big Pimpin’,” “The Real
Slim Shady” and “Smooth Criminal.”
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