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Downloading popular songs to use as personal cell phone ring tones has turned into a $3 billion global industry. A growing revenue stream for songwriters and publishers, ring tones are now outselling digital downloads of music. NPR's Michele Norris talks to Geoff Mayfield, the director of charts for Billboard Magazine, which has just launched a "Hot Ringtones" chart.

A survey by automotive consultant group Planned Perspectives asked suppliers to rank their relationships with the six biggest U.S. auto producers. Toyota finished on top. GM was rated poor.

Burger King recently added smoothies and more wraps and salads to its menus. Its latest creation doesn't seem to fit the trend: a bacon sundae. The food chain claims the concoction of vanilla soft serve, fudge, caramel, bacon crumbles — oh, and a strip of bacon — weighs in at a whopping 510 calories.

For one listener, it was a good year for albums that were big and loud, but a few quieter, introspective picks snuck onto Robin Hilton's list as well.

The host of All Songs Considered shares the albums he loved this year. Many of Bob Boilen's favorite albums of 2013 were danceable. Many were intimate. Some managed to be both at once.

This year, the World Cafe host fell for an eclectic mix of albums, including gems by Courtney Barnett, Kamasi Washington and Tame Impala.

2017 was a year of chronic whiplash, not only for the ceaseless horror show of news headlines, but for the overwhelming number of great albums and songs that were released.

After some hikes, a granola bar or apple is all you need to recharge. But some treks call for a proper picnic — food you can sit and linger over, savoring the meal along with the summit view. These sturdy, well-seasoned dishes go the distance.

The All Songs Considered host's list includes many records that felt particularly appropriate for such a turbulent year.

There's a pumped-up sports anthem by a star cricket player, a moody Latin duet and a Malaysian song flavored with American rock, Chinese folk and Malay opera.