The explosion of MP3 players, driven by Apple’s iPod, has raised awareness and usage of digital music in general in the U.S. this year, according to a new study by JupiterResearch. In fact, iPods and other MP3 players may have driven adoption of digital music during 2006.
“Use of playlists has steadily increased, and ripping music has reached a penetration rate of 25 percent,” said David Card, Vice President and Senior Analyst. “Over 60 percent of portable music device users regularly rip music, while 58 percent of iPod users and 44 percent of users of other portable music devices use playlists.”