25 years later, is it time for a new iPod?

The iPod's 25th anniversary coincides with a surprising resurgence in dedicated music player demand—Google searches for "MP3 Player" tripled since fall 2025, and Reddit's digital audio player community attracts 90,000 weekly visitors. Startups like Sleevenote are capitalizing on this gap between consumer demand and poorly-designed Chinese alternatives. Sleevenote's new device focuses on album-centric listening without algorithms, targeting music fans frustrated by streaming fatigue and low artist royalties.