QandAs: Buzz

Where can I download free music?

Answer:

It sounds like an easy answer but, in truth, finding

free music on the net can often pose quite a challenge. In the case of many websites, the term "free music" is not meant in regards to cost, but to the fact that it may be freely used and transferred, much like free software. Searching for a site that offers free downloads is further hampered by the number of sites that use the term free music to lure people in, before charging them for downloads or, in some cases, offering free 30-second samples of music in an attempt to coax the listener into purchasing the artist’s entire cd.

Fortunately, there are a few different options if you’re looking for music that doesn’t require you to pay out any monthly club or a host of other fees. One example of this format is music.downloads.com - a site that allows you to go in and sample a wide variety of music from many different genres, then download it directly onto your computer. Allowing you to simply click on a button, in order to download a song, this music will transfer directly into your files in just a few short minutes.

If new music is your desire, a surprising avenue is the growing MySpace networking group. Originally starting out with just a few new bands, interest in www.myspace.com quickly grew and, before long, large-name artists began making MySpace their space. There, artists are able to not only give fans a sneak peek at new and upcoming music, but can also upload demos for fans to download and listen to, as well as letting the fans help choose what they would like to hear on upcoming albums. Quite often, this format can be used, not only to download free music, but also to receive free cds from upcoming hopefuls.

If you don’t mind a little diversity and aren’t particular about whether or not you hear certain songs, perhaps internet radio is an option for you. A similar option would be music.yahoo.com , which plays like an internet radio station but still allows you to tailor-make your station and “teach it” to play certain artists and songs. This is done through a simple process of rating; if you hear a song that you like, you are then able to rate it anywhere from 1-5 stars. The higher you rate the song, the more often you’ll hear it come up on your play list. While this is a wonderful method of listening to new music, free versions are often limited and have fewer features then their paid-for counterparts.

The final option for free music is a P2P format, such as limewire.com , where multiple users connect to servers and are able to share files between one another. While this is an excellent method for downloading free music, it is often abused by those who violate copyright laws and can be quite risky for the inexperienced user.

Free music is available, though many may argue whether or not it is truly free - with the risks of copyright violations and viruses, one must be very wary before they download anything on the net. Additionally, be careful of any and all fine print; far too often, what appears to be free, ends up costing after a trial period. Be sure to read things over carefully and be a wise downloader. If you follow these simple rules, you’re bound to be enjoying free music online for a long time.


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