Ringtone Melody Day

What Is Ringtone Melody Day?

December 1st is "Ringtone Melody Day" in Japan. It was established by Faith, Inc., which says that on this day in 1999 it distributed the world's first "ringtone melody" jointly with Xing Inc. (as registered with the Japan Anniversary Association).

The Birthday of a Service That Colored Mobile Phone Culture

Ringtone melodies let users download original music to set as their phone's ringtone, becoming a massive trend from the late 1990s through the 2000s.

• Origin: December 1, 1999, when Faith and Xing distributed ringtone melodies (described by the company as a world first)
• Purpose: to reflect on the impact ringtone melodies had on mobile phone culture and pass along that history
• Cultural reach: affectionately known as "chaku-melo" in Japan, ringtone melodies also had a major impact on the music industry of the era

From "Chaku-Melo" to "Chaku-Uta": An Evolving Technology

Ringtone melodies, originally simple electronic recreations of songs, later evolved into "chaku-uta" (ringtone songs), which used actual recorded audio, dramatically changing the music experience on mobile phones.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Recall the sound of a nostalgic ringtone melody
• Look into the technological evolution from ringtone melodies to ringtone songs
• Reflect on popular songs and ringtones from that era
• Take a fresh look at your current smartphone's ringtone settings

A Small Electronic Tune Colored the Youth of Many

The beeping, electronic sound of a ringtone melody carries the memory of an era spent alongside mobile phones. December 1st is a day to listen closely to that nostalgic tune once again.