U.K. wireless users most likely to use their cell phone as a music player

SEATTLE–The United Kingdom is on the cutting edge of mobile music, with 3 percent of British wireless consumers using their mobile phones as a music player, according to new figures from M:Metrics.

The measurement firm found that British subscribers are leading five Western markets when it comes to listening to tunes on their handsets, outpacing their counterparts in Spain (2.8 percent), Germany (1.4 percent), the United States (.7 percent) and France (.6 percent).

Americans are more likely than others to download a ringtone, with 10.4 percent of all users accessing the music clips. The penetration of ringback tones is greatest in Spain at nearly 10 percent.