A cassette tape player (1) utilizes a tape cassette (2) having apertures (7, 8, 9) formed through one side wall of its casing to accept a magnetic head (71) and a pinch roller (74). The cassette tape player (1) has a body assembly (16) on which the tape cassette (2) is freely loaded or unloaded and a lid (17) supported by the body assembly (16) so as to be freely rotatable for closing and opening the cassette tape player (1). The tape cassette (2) is inserted into a loading region (40) of the body assembly (16) by closing the lid (17). A head assembly chassis (52) is supported by one side end portion of the cassette loading portion so that it moves to­gether with the lid (17). The head assembly also supports a magnetic head holder and the pinch roller (74). The tape cassette (2) is supported by securing the upper surface wall of the cassette casing by inserting cassette holding members (57) into the pinch roller (74) insertion openings (10) of the tape cassette (2). These holding members (57) which are substantially parallel to the inner top wall of the lid (17) support one side of the upper surface wall of the tape cassette (2) while spring members (62) provide opposing pressure to the opposite side of the upper surface wall of the tape cassette (2). The holding member (57) and spring member (62) combination hold the tape cassette (2) for loading in a compact arrangement to ensure efficient use of space in the cassette tape player (1).