http://www.macmerc.com/news/archives/2197
U.S. shipments of MP3 players will grow 35% to 18.2 million in 2005 and maintain a compound annual growth rate of over 10% through 2010, reaching an installed base of 56.1 million by then, up from 16.2 million in 2004. MP3 players will reach critical mass this year, fueling demand for digital music services and stores.
And fueling demand by library users for digital content for their players! The MacMerc tidbit concludes with this:
Mostly due to the iPod’s success, JupiterResearch has raised its near-term forecast, but projects that flash-based player shipments will surpass those of hard-drive models in 2007.
More, bigger shuffles? Huge capacity cards? Hmmm…