Abstract: A tape cassette comprising a housing, a pair of reels rotatably carried within the housing around which tape can be wound, an access opening for exposing a portion of the tape extending thereacross and between the reels to the exterior of the housing for engagement by a transducer assembly for recording and playing back information on the tape when the cassette is disposed within a tape player, and an assembly for biasing the tape portion in an outward direction with respect to the housing, such assembly comprising a pair of pads adjacent the access opening and spaced along the path of the tape extending across the opening and carried at or adjacent the ends of the arms of a bifurcated leaf spring mounted within the housing adjacent the access opening intermediate the pads such that said pads will resiliently bear on the tape to bias it as aforesaid.