Free music downloads legally online

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. 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.

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. Licensed retailers and other suppliers.

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.

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 Free music downloads legally online Fried.

Standard downloads are 79p each, though you could instead opt for a subscription package. Not compatible with Macs or iPods. OD2 OD2, free music downloads legally online by former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel, is the outfit behind most of the UK's major digital download retailers.

Tracks are in MP3 format, at 99p each, with super-high bitrate versions available on some tracks for a small premium.

Unusually, you can preview entire tracks before you buy. Standard prices are 99p per track for downloads, or 1p a shot for streams, though things are cheaper if you buy credits in bulk.

In Septemberhowever, the company joined forces with Microsoftto launch a bells-and-whistles jukebox program with built-in music store. All downloads canbe transferred to MP3 players, though not iPods. Insound A vast collection of free 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.

Having signed deals with all five major record labels and some 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 free music downloads legally online or downloads, according to your preferences.

Epitonic Free downloads - in MP3 and WMA format - of independent or underground artists mainly from the USwith smart editorial and personalised radio streams to free music downloads legally online. Well worth a look and listen if you want to expand your musical horizons. HMV HMV's first UK download service was an off-the-shelf store from OD2 seebelow.

Amazon Hundreds of free downloads in Free music downloads legally online format: Perhaps Amazon is either trying to drive traffic before it starts charging, or hopes its downloads will push up CD sales.

Its wide-ranging catalogue of 1. The only downside is free music downloads legally online the file format - DRM-protected AAC - means the music will only play back using iTunes or iPods. Matador Free MP3s featuring tracks from bands such as Pavement, Mogwai and Pretty Girls Make Graves.

Artist Direct Another Stateside CD store that offers a few freebies, free music downloads legally online 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.

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 signings such as The Shins and Rosie Thomas.

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 out ofiTunes' book, but iPods aren't supported. Macs and iPod owners welcome, though they should stick to the MP3s.

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.

Ministry of Sound MSN Music MTV UK MyCokeMusic. Playlouder PlayLouder is 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. 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.

Any artist can sign up, upload and sell their work. Listeners can join groups to help one another separate the dirt from the diamonds.

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. 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 free music downloads legally online or device.