New findings released from TEMPO, the company’s quarterly study of digital music behaviors, show that the percentage of Americans aged 12 and older who now own a portable MP3 players is up significantly over ownership levels found one year ago (15 percent), and nearly double the proportion of owners found in April 2003 (11 percent). And in a sign that not only new buyers are driving this trend, six percent of Americans own more than one portable MP3 player.

Total headphone-MP3 sales reached US$4.23 billion in 2005, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. These popular devices accounted for 85 percent of all factory-level portable audio sales last year, CEA statistics showed.

The recent TEMPO research also found nearly one-quarter of portable MP3 player owners believe their devices have the ability to play video, and interest in viewing music videos, photos, TV shows and even full-length movies is especially strong among younger consumers who have experience downloading music. Over one-third of music downloaders between the ages of 12 and 24 say they are extremely or very interested in viewing video content on their portable devices (39 percent—music videos; 33 percent – TV shows; 32 percent—full length motion pictures), compared to fewer than one-fifth among downloaders aged 25 – 54 (15 percent, 18 percent and 17 percent, respectively).

Even more than video content, however, radio listening is one of the most desired additional uses for portable MP3 players. Nearly half (46 percent) of teens and college-aged downloaders are interested in portable FM radio and 39 percent express interest being able to access satellite radio on their portable device. Older American downloaders are also interested in using their MP3 players to listen to radio broadcasts, with roughly one-third of 25 to 54 year old downloaders interested in FM and Satellite Radio capabilities (37 percent and 32 percent, respectively).