About 36 mln Americans (27% of US Internet users) say they download either music or video files and about half of them have found ways outside of traditional peer-to-peer networks or paid online services to swap their files, according to Pew Internet & American Life Project.

19% of current music and video downloaders, or about 7 mln adults, say they have downloaded files from someone else’s iPod or MP3 player. About 28%, or 10 mln people, say they get music and video files via email and instant messages. However, there is some overlap between these two groups; 9% of downloaders say they have used both of these sources. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3% for results based on internet users. In all, 48% of current downloaders have used sources other than peer-to-peer networks or paid music and movie services to get music or video files. Beyond MP3 players, email and instant messaging, these alternative sources include music and movie websites, blogs and online review sites.

49% of all Americans and 53% of internet users believe that the firms that own and operate file-sharing networks should be deemed responsible for the pirating of music and movie files. Some 18% of all Americans think individual file traders should be held responsible and 12% say both companies and individuals should shoulder responsibility. 18% of Americans say they do not know who should be held responsible or refused to answer the question.

The public is sharply divided on the question of whether government enforcement against music and movie pirates will work, but broadband users strongly believe that a government crackdown will not succeed. Some 38% of all Americans believe that government efforts would reduce file-sharing and 42% believe that government enforcement would not work very well.

Broadband users are more skeptical about government anti-piracy efforts. Some 57% of broadband users believe there is not much the government can do to reduce illegal file-sharing, compared to 32% who believe that enforcement would help control piracy.

Current file downloaders are now more likely to say they use online music services like iTunes than they are to report using p2p services. The percentage of music downloaders who have tried paid services has grown from 24% in 2004 to 43% in our most recent survey. However, respondents may now be less likely to report peer-to-peer usage due to the stigma associated with the networks.

The percentage of Iternet users who say they download music files has increased from 18% (measured in a February 2004 survey) to 22% in January 2005. Still, this number continues to rest well-below the peak level (32%) registered in October 2002.

US consumers are not overwhelmingly antagonistic toward the concept of copy-restricted music CDs, provided these CDs come with the proper incentives, according to Parks Associates. When given a choice between a normal music CD and a copy-once CD priced $5 less, 33% of those who do not rip CDs and 27% who rip CDs preferred the copy-once CDs. The music industry proceeded with the idea of copy-protected CDs very cautiously in 2004, releasing only 10 mln in the US.

Samsung expects global shipments of MP3 players to reach 35 million to 45 million units in 2005. The company forecasts the shipments will rise to 55 million units in 2006 thanks to growth in demand for both flash memory and hard disk drive based products. Samsung expects its sales to jump to $700-$750 million in 2005, up from about $250 million in 2004. The company aims to sell more than 5 million MP3 players this year, up from 1.7 million units in 2004.

Sales of portable digital music players are set to grow 57% in 2005 after growing 116% in 2004, according to iSuppli. Over the next five years, shipments of MP3 music players will expand to 132 mln units in 2009 from 36.8 mln in 2004. Sales of HDD-based players will increase to 56.2 mln units in 2009, up from 9.8 mln in 2004. By 2009, HDD players will be 43% of the total MP3 market, up from 27% in 2004.

Jupiter Research expects music subscriptions by 2009 to outpace downloads, generating $890 mln in revenues versus $800 mln for download sales. Sales of digital downloads in 2004 jumped to nearly 200 mln copies from 20 mln in 2003.

Of the 22 mln Americans who own MP3 players, 59% are men compared to 41% of women. Those on high income – judged to be $75,000 or above – are four times more likely to have players than those earning less than $30,000.

Almost 25% of those with broadband at home have players, compared to 9% of those who have dial-up access. Almost 20% of US citizens aged under 30 have one. This compares to 14% of those aged 30-39 and 14% of those aged 40-48. 16% of parents living with children under 18 have digital players compared to 9% of those who don’t.

Of the 22 mln Americans who own MP3 players, 59% are men compared to 41% of women. Those on high income – judged to be $75,000 or above – are four times more likely to have players than those earning less than $30,000.

Almost 25% of those with broadband at home have players, compared to 9% of those who have dial-up access. Almost 20% of US citizens aged under 30 have one. This compares to 14% of those aged 30-39 and 14% of those aged 40-48. 16% of parents living with children under 18 have digital players compared to 9% of those who don’t.