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MP3 players headed for mainstream

18 February 2005 4:19 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 2 comments

Recent studies are showing that American consumers are purchasing MP3 players in huge numbers. It is estimated that 1 in 10 adults owns an iPod or another portable digital audio player. Survey results offered by the Pew Internet and American Life Project (PIP) showa that some 22 million of those aged 18 and older own MP3 players. It shows that 1 in 5 people under the age of 30 own a portable digital audio device, while 14% of those ages 30 to 39 have them, as do 14% of those aged 40 to 48.

The most purchases are made by those in the upscale income brackets, 24% of those in households earning more than $75,000 have the players, while just 6 percent of those earning less than $30,000 have them. A primary reason for the success of the players so far is down to Internet Access growing, especially broadband connections. "When any technology reaches the 10 percent saturation rate, it is no longer occupying a niche, it is on the way to mainstream," PIP director Lee Rainie said.

However, while this seems to be excellent for the music industry in ways, it's not so good in other ways. For example, copy protecting digital content has proven to be a hard task so far for the entertainment industry. While 32% of owners get their music from legal online music stores, predictably, more get their music from P2P networks; approximately 58% of them. This is understandable as younger owners, especially teens, would be more inclined to use P2P networks to get their audio than to use pay-par-download services.

Source:
Yahoo

Permalink to this article

Apple expands iPod family (23 February 2005)

Norway proposing new copyright laws (11 February 2005)

Napster takes aim at the iPod (3 February 2005)

Sony admits ATRAC was a mistake (23 January 2005)

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daemonzx6 (Senior Member) 18 February 2005 8:32
I've had an mp3 player since the 128MB flash players were around $150. I still have that one until I can get my hands on a Digital Mind Corp. HD player, or something similar. [ + quote]
strcruzer (Junior Member) 18 February 2005 11:42
Did they bother to take note of the fact that upscale income earners are the ones buying these? DO they think the kids that get them have the money to buy expensive music DL's? Napster is a joke now, stop subbing and they take it all away. Just another scam to fleece the consumer. THe Music DL's are still over priced, it still costs more than (or as much) as a regular CD, on top of this they are trying to foist their DRM crap on us. THey can keep it. I will listen to my existing collection of CD's and such. I refuse to purchase CD's or DRM'd MP3's until the RIAA and MPAA get it through their heads that the consumer is not their personal cash cow to milk. [ + quote]