The 21st century is becoming better known as the “digital” age, and the “y generation” is far more accustomed to downloading music than taking a trip to the record store. But the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a majority (69%) of adults still say they rarely or never download music.

Twenty-percent (20%) say they occasionally download music. Ten percent (10%) of adults say they download music at least once a month, with just one percent (1%) who say they do it every day or nearly every day.

Generational differences are quickly apparent. Over 80% of those ages 50 and older say they rarely or never download music, compared to just 55% of those 18 to 29.

Still, just 29% of adults ages 18 to 29 say they download music occasionally, 11% say about once a month, and two percent (2%) about once a week.

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The plurality (49%) of adults say the good ole’ radio is the sound device they use most often. Twenty-one percent (21%) use a CD player as their main source for music, while only nine percent (9%) rely on either an MP3 player or satellite radio. Four percent (4%) are more likely to listen on either a tape player or their computer. A lonely one percent (1%) give the preference to a record on a turntable.

Adults ages 18 to 29 are more inclined to use an MP3 player than any other age group, while adults ages 40 to 49 are the ones most likely to choose the radio.

In 2001, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich and his band mates sued the peer-to-peer file-sharing service Napster over making their copyrighted music available for free downloading. Since then, Napster and other subscription services such as Rhapsody offer their music downloads for a monthly fee, with compensation going to the musical artists.

Just 14% of adults say they subscribe to these services, but that's double the number who subscribed in September 2008. However, the overwhelming majority (83%) do not subscribe.

Still, 86% insist they download their music legally. Just three percent (3%) admit to downloading music illegally, but 11% say they aren't sure how they get their music. Among those 18 to 29, virtually no one statistically acknowledges downloading music illegally, but the number who aren't sure rises to 16%. The recording industry's trade association has been cracking down in court on illegal downloading in recent years as the practice began having a noticeable impact on CD sales.

In the survey last September, 71% said they downloaded their music legally, while three percent (3%) admitted doing so illegally. Twenty-six percent (26%) weren't sure.

Sixty percent (60%) of adults now say they listen to music every day or nearly every day. Twenty-one percent (21%) say they occasionally listen to music. Adults ages 30 to 39 listen to music daily more than any other age group.

Only 10% of all Americans say they rarely or never listen to music.

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