Downloading Music is Favored By Millions of Fans
Downloading music has become so popular that by mid-2005 music downloads
exceeded half a million per day. Hundreds of sites by or for artists allow free
downloads. Many more feature inexpensive memberships or small fees to download
individual songs or albums.
Beware the Download Cops
We hear it on the news all the time. Download music from the Internet and you
could be sued, fined, or go to jail. The truth is free music downloads, done
correctly, are safe and legal.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) wants us to believe all free music downloading is illegal.
RIAA pays particular attention to members of file-sharing
services like Kazaa and Grokster. The technology is still legal, but using
it to share downloadable music is a grey area. And if they think you've crossed
the line, RIAA
can and will find you!
Legally get Free Downloadable Music
First understand restricted and unrestricted
copyrights. Most songs are copyrighted and many prohibit gratis downloads.
But many musicians want to share their music by offering free downloads. Why? Some are unknowns looking for exposure,
but even famous artists know offering free tracks leads to more CD, concert and
merchandise sales. Plus it boosts their image and popularity.
An excellent source for low or no cost downloads is web sites created for a particular genre like jazz, hip-hop,
classical or other types of music. Their mission is to promote the work of those artists. The site
may be supported by advertising, donations or small fees, but visitors are free to download
all the songs they want.
Paid Downloads Are a Bargain
Fifty years ago record shops sold 45 RPM "singles" for about a dollar, and 33
1/3 RPM albums were between five and ten dollars. According to government
inflation statistics, what cost a dollar in 1955 would be $7.19 in 2005. And a
$5 record album 50 years ago would cost nearly $36 today!
Considering download prices range from about 69 cents to 99 cents for a
single track and complete albums around $7 to $10, it's not a bad deal at all.
Think about it... What are the odds of finding a station selling gasoline for 29
cents a gallon (1955 average) today? With CDs selling in the $15 to $20 range,
paid music downloads really are a bargain.
Most music download sites offer a free trial period. During the trial you can
download perhaps 50 to 100 songs at no cost. Cancel before the trial ends and
the songs cost nothing. Of course they hope you'll stay and pay, which as we
just pointed out, is a cheap way to build a music collection.
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for unbiased information and the
best online merchants for mp3 players,
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