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Guide to digital music

Where to download music on the internet

Want to download music legally but don’t know where to start? Please read on… 

Method 1: Try out free music sites

There are many legitimate music websites which provide free music downloads or samples. For example the record companies below allow users to some sample tracks and/or music videos:

 

Do not expect to find full albums to download on these sites. You’ll only find a couple of tracks or excerpts intended to whet your appetite and encourage you to purchase the artists’ CD or digital music from legal online music services.  

Independent, less well-known artists are an exception – some of them may allow you to download their complete song catalogue in order to promote themselves.  The Roadrunner Records website contains selected complete tracks and the websites ArtistServer, MP3.com.au and mysongcast.com allow up-and-coming artists to upload their tracks for you to access without cost.

Free music websites:

 

Method 2: Purchase music online

An increasingly popular way to find and download music online is to head for legal online music services.  Sometimes they will also offer free music to sample. The legal online music services in Australia are:

 

Practical things to keep in mind

There are a number of digital music formats that you can play on your computer or portable music player, the majority of these employ Digital Rights Management (DRM) which is protective software which restricts the ability to copy or distribute CDs illegally: 

  • AAC files – the Advanced Audio Coding file is a digital music format used by Apple iTunes. AAC files are only playable on certain players and devices, most notably iPods and Apple Macs. 
  • WMA files – the Window Media Audio file is a Microsoft digital music format.  WMA files are only playable on certain players and devices such as Creative Zen, iRiver, Samsung, River or Archos players.  WMA files are not for example compatible with iPods or Apple Macs. 
  • MP3 files – are an audio specific compressed file.  MP3s are not subject to DRM and are playable on almost all devices including iPods. 

 

You should be aware of these formats when you are purchasing digital downloads because you need to ensure that you get the right format for the type of player that you own. 

It’s incredibly tempting to employ file sharing programs to download music illegally. Not only is this against the law but think of the artists who need your support.  They are creating music that you love, but they are also trying to earn a living. 

You do not have to break the law to find and download free music. There are many websites out there offering legitimate music – you just have to want to find them. 

Click on this link to read about common Internet File Sharing Myths http://www.mipi.com.au/Internet-file-sharing-myths.html.

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