Free music downloads for mp3 players legally

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All downloads canbe transferred to MP3 players, though not iPods. Insound A vast collection of free music downloads for mp3 players legally indie MP3s, from an online shop selling CDs and gig tickets to a US market. It also provides access to Apple's iTunes Music Store, the most successful download service by a vast margin. Its wide-ranging catalogue of 1. The only downside is that the file format - DRM-protected AAC - means the music will only play back using iTunes or iPods.

Tracks are in MP3 format, at 99p each, with super-high bitrate versions available on some tracks for a small premium. Virgin Like arch-rival HMV, Virgin recently closed its pre-fab OD2 store andlaunched a major UK digital music service of its own. Virgin's clean-looking jukebox software takes a leaf free music downloads for mp3 players legally ofiTunes' book, but iPods aren't supported. Macs and iPod owners welcome, though they should stick to the MP3s.

HMV HMV's first UK download service was an off-the-shelf store from OD2 seebelow. In Septemberhowever, the company joined forces with Microsoftto launch a bells-and-whistles jukebox program with built-in music store.

Join the Singles Club for free downloads of three selected bands each month, or go straight to the MP3 Shop for a decent pay-to-download selection with a rock and alternative flavour. Variable-bitrate MP3s ensure unusually good sound quality and compatibility with all computers and players. Sub Pop Label whose back catalogue includes Afghan Whigs and Nirvana - but downloads, though free, are only available for more recent free music downloads for mp3 players legally such as The Shins and Rosie Thomas.

Plenty of freebies, too. Bleep Established inprimarily as a vehicle for distributing music from Warp records, Bleep quickly expanded and now offers a good range of electronic and indie sounds. Unusually, you can preview entire tracks before you buy. Standard prices free music downloads for mp3 players legally 99p per track for downloads, or 1p a free music downloads for mp3 players legally for streams, though things are cheaper if you buy credits in bulk.

Tesco If the grocery-style branding doesn't put you off "Start downloading great music at everyday low prices"you'll find a decent-enough range of mainstream tracks at the ubiquitous 79p price-point. Everything is in protected WMA files, so Mac and iPod owners need not apply, but at least the sound quality is high - kbps. Trax2Burn One for the clubbers. Pick from hundreds of tracks from 20 or so dance labels, including End Recordings, Underwater and FatBoy Slim's Southern Fried.

Licensed retailers and other suppliers. Amazon Hundreds of free downloads in MP3 format: Perhaps Amazon is either trying to drive traffic before it starts charging, or free music downloads for mp3 players legally its downloads will push up CD sales. Artist Direct Another Stateside CD store that offers a few freebies, but this time they're streams rather than real downloads and hence can't be saved to your hard drive or transferred to your MP3 player. The files are available as high-bitrate, unprotected MP3s and also in the open-source Ogg Vorbis format so will work with all computers and players.

Neither Macs nor iPods supported. Connect Sony's pay-per-track service features music from all the major labels and many indies, but compatibility is an issue. Tracks are downloaded in Sony's own ATRAC3 format, which will only play back in Sony MP3 players or the same company's SonicStage jukebox software which you have to install before you start to download. Domino Records Eccentrically cool home to the likes of Adem, James Yorkston and Four Tet, as well as bankable US acts like Will Oldham and Smogits regularly updated archive of free downloads covers its impressive catalogue.

Where to download music legally. Legal downloading has at last entered the mainstream. A handful of major vendors, such as iTunes and Napster, offer catalogues of more than a million tracks in all genres, while a small but growing number of labels and artists have started selling MP3s directly from their own websites. There are even many legal freebies to be had: Below are links to a few of the major players. Things change all the time, and this list is far from exhaustive, so keep checking back to see what's happening.

Having signed deals with all five major record labels and free music downloads for mp3 players legally indies, it handles the technology and licensing for the following high-profile stores, plus Big Noise Music mentioned above. OD2-based services, which only work with PCs and non-iPod MP3 players, tendto operate on a pay-as-you-go basis - you buy a bunch of "credits", whichyou can then spend on streams or downloads, according to your preferences.

Listeners can join groups to help one another separate the dirt from the diamonds. Standard downloads are 79p each, though you could instead opt for a subscription package. Not compatible with Macs or iPods. OD2 OD2, founded by former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel, is the outfit behind most of the UK's major digital download retailers.

Matador Free MP3s featuring tracks from bands such as Pavement, Mogwai and Pretty Girls Make Graves. Any artist can sign up, upload and sell their work.

Ministry of Sound MSN Music MTV UK MyCokeMusic. Playlouder PlayLouder free music downloads for mp3 players legally currently making headlines for its planned "music ISP", which will combine broadband internet access with legal peer-to-peer file sharing. For now, though, PlayLouder is a music site featuring news, reviews, a whole bunch of attitude and plenty of MP3s.

Their ,song catalogue consists entirely of tracks from independent labels and artists, so you won't find many of the best-known acts. Unusually for a major subscription service, the files are MP3s, which can be played back on any system or device. Epitonic Free downloads - in MP3 and WMA format - of independent or underground artists mainly from the USwith smart editorial and personalised radio streams to boot. Well worth a look and listen if you want to expand your musical horizons.