• Backed up by Large Corporation (Real Networks)
• Supports more portable players than any other service
• Over 3 Million Songs Available
• Unlimited Downloads
• Awards by PC World and C|NET
• 14-Day FREE Trial

Visit Superpass

• Large, reputable company
• Over 3 million songs available
• Unlimited Downloads
• Charts & Personalized recommendations
• 7-Day FREE Trial

Visit Napster

• DRM-Free mp3s
• Rock band merchandise
• Includes community and social media tools
• Interviews, live performances, videos
• Pay per download

Visit Shockhound

• Internet Radio Site (not download site)
• Over 6,000 stations from 150 countries
• 260 Genres
• Also compatible with Blackberry phones

Visit Live365

• $0.99 per song
• Built around the iPod
• NOT compatible with other players
• Includes Movies and TV Shows
• Offers FREE educational content

Visit iTunes

• Lowest Price
• Plans for 30, 50 or 75 Song Downloads per month
• Over 2 million songs available
• Compatible with most MP3 Players
• 14-day FREE Trial 

Visit eMusic

• German Site - Select English language on top right
• Offers DRM-free songs
• Compatible with ALL mp3 players
• Offers sample downloads
• 14-Day FREE Trial

Visit MusicMonster

Have you heard about illegal music downloads? Are you confused as to what is legal and what is not? The internet boom has now made it much easier for people to receive information online. In addition to that, technology and software programs have made it easier for the average music lover and computer user to do things they never could before such as download and share music and MP3 files over the internet. Sites like Napster were highly popular and for good reason. What person doesn’t love some great music- especially if it’s free?

However, a lot of confusion has stemmed from the topic of music downloading and there are many people out there that are unsure of where the law actually stands on the matter. So what is illegal music downloads and what can happen to you if you are caught using them or sharing them with others?

How it Works

Let’s begin with a brief description of how it all works in case you’ve never actually done it before. Illegal music downloads usually consist of file-sharing songs and music. This is when a person at home that has ‘XYZ’ CD puts it on their computer and then visits a file-sharing website which allows them to upload the song files to the website so other people can then download that song and have it as well – for free. That person can also search the site to look for other songs they may want, download them to their computer and then save and use them as MP3 files or burn them to CDs.

There are many websites that set up these file-sharing opportunities for internet users and so many people out there stumble upon them or hear about them from a friend and don’t even know what the law is regarding this type of use of copyrighted materials.

Why is it Wrong?

Common sense tells us that downloading copyrighted material without paying for it is wrong so why then are so many people still doing it? Well, there are different reasons for this. One common thought is “well, I won’t get caught” while other people seem to think what can one little song hurt? It seems to many people to be a victimless crime and therefore, they can justify doing it. However, it is still against the law and if caught, there can be steep fines and penalties.

Another common excuse is that some people think when they pay a membership fee to the website that is posing the music; they are paying for the right to download it and use it and even to share it with others. What they do not understand is that it is not that music site’s property to sell to begin with. You are paying for access to their site; not for the rights to use the music downloads legally. The thing that you need to understand is that it is against the law to use music downloads that you have not paid for. Essentially, it is stealing music. This is why illegal music downloads are such a controversial topic right now. 

Isn’t it great to be able to take all your favorite songs around with you? This is the key reason why Walkman’s were once so popular. But as technology advances, so must our musical players and storage devices. The traditional cassette walkman evolved into the portable DVD player which was a nice improvement but also had its downfalls. They skipped and they were big and bulky. It was sometimes hard finding a comfortable place to put them. Now we have a brand new option and it’s all digital.

An Easier Way to Store and Play Your Music

You can store all of your favorite songs in such a smaller space and you can take it with you wherever you go. You never have to worry about running out of music or about CD skipping or other interruptions. iPods are great for work, for exercise and jogging, for busses, long car rides and so much more. But an iPod is only as good as the music on it and for this you need to be able to choose an iPod music download. You can use your home computer to get songs and music onto your iPod for playing later.

Downloading All Your Favorites

If you are looking for an iPod music download, you will be happy to know that there are many websites out there that you can use to download all the great music you want to listen to on your iPod.  The official Apple iPod site, AOL and many other well-known online websites offer free, legal iPod downloads which you can enjoy. There are many other websites with great options for you if you spend a little time searching and weeding through the garbage or illegal sites.

On some websites, you can sign up to receive notices via email when there are new downloads for you from a particular artists or in a particular genre. This way, you never miss out on any of the hot new releases for your iPod and you can always have the greatest downloads fast.

How to Download the Music

All this may sound good but it doesn’t help you if you don’t know how to actually download the files from your computer to your MP3 player. If you are confused a bit at first, don’t worry. Many people have a hard time downloading when they have never done it before.

Before you can download the music from your computer to your iPod, you will need to have the desired music on your computer. You can do this by downloading the files from websites or by copying your CDs from your personal collection onto your computer. Next, when you have the files on your computer, you just plug your iPod in using the USB cable.

Once the cable is plugged in you should open the application and then click on “Add File to Library” from the menu options. This should add it to your iPod library. Afterwards you might need to “Update all songs” on the iPod menu to make sure you get a refreshed list and then you will be able to see your song and listen to it on your portable device. 

Are you a music fan? Are you always looking for the next great download for your MP3 player? Do you want to know how to find a legal MP3 download? Maybe you didn’t even know they existed. Well, here’s some good news; it’s possible to get legal MP3 downloads from your favorite bands and artists and you can even get them for free. What kind of music can you find from free legal MP3 downloads? Almost anything you can think of. You can find all genres and music types and quickly and easily download these online for listening to on your MP3 player or even transferring to a CD. You can find the songs you want and preview songs from the hottest artists before buying their album.

If you are looking to find free legal downloads, there are actually several sites on the internet that offer these. To be legal, they must be with permission from the artists and whoever owns the copyright. Be cautious of some sites because you may not be sure if they are actually legal. However some sites that offers legal MP3 downloads are Amazon.com Free Music Downloads and similar well-known websites.

Searching for Legal MP3 Downloads

When searching for legal MP3 downloads, it is always best to stick with trusted sites that you know are legal, legitimate and less likely to give you a virus or some other unwanted program invading your computer. You want to check the source of the download and where the site says it comes from and how they have permission to use it.

You can usually search by genre and some sites also let you search by artist title or even song title if you are looking for something specific. Remember that when it comes to legal downloads, you can only get what the artist or performer has agreed to allow to be downloaded for free. You might not always be able to get your favorite song or the specific title you are searching for – but often you can!

Too Good to Be True

Let’s face it, when people talk about free and legal music downloads or MP3 files, you probably think it’s too good to be true. You are not alone. Many internet users think you can’t find good MP3 downloads without spending a lot of money or getting them illegally but this is not always the case. The truth today is that in many cases, it probably is. However, there are still some great sources of free and legal MP3 downloads that you can take advantage of.

There are also sites that host free and legal independent music. These are often bands that are trying to get noticed on the music scene or those trying to break into a new market. They offer their music for free downloads as a promotion and to get their name out there in the industry. If you are looking for great downloads online that are perfectly legal, you don’t have to worry about getting caught or being charged with piracy.