Cellular Firms Recognize Christian Market for Ringtones

Jenny Song/TN : Jul 10, 2007
The Tennessean

"People are more actively seeking out Christian ringtones than any other ringtones."

(Brentwood, Tennessee)—Daniel Dingeldein is a born-again Christian who prefers music on his cell phone that reflects his faith. When his phone rings it plays the refrains of a Steven Curtis Chapman song: "Let us pray, let us pray, everywhere in every way."

"It kind of reminds me of something I need to be doing on a daily basis," he said.

According to a report in The Tennessean, those in the ringtone industry are realizing there is a growing and largely untapped market of consumers who want to express their Christianity through digital media such as ringtones. As a result, new businesses have sprung up to respond to the market, and even major carriers (such as AT&T and Verizon) are responding. (Photo by: Mandy Lunn/The Tennessean)

The report states that EMI Christian Music Group of Brentwood, the largest label in the Christian music industry, says daily sales of its ringtones have gone up by more than three times since AT&T separated Christian ringtones into a major category in April.

Reporter Jenny Song notes that marketers have found Christian buyers to be a "loyal and driven bunch."

"People are more actively seeking out Christian ringtones than any other ringtones," said Brian Patterson, marketing and business development manager at Mobile Streams.