Downloading Music FROM THE WEB: Tips And Tricks

With invention of the Internet, downloading music has never been easier. No longer does one need to go to the store and purchase CDs; one simple click of a mouse and you can get any song you want. Here is some information about music downloads to help you take advantage of this convenience.

An inexpensive way to download music is to follow feeds from popular music download sites. Sites such as Amazon or iTunes have free music downloads available on a daily basis. Just search for "free music"� and a list of free songs and albums will be listed for you to download.

Amazon and iTunes are popular markets for finding downloaded music. You can set up a free account and browse songs from millions of artists. In many cases, you can even listen to a small sample of a song before you buy it. This is a great way to access a lot of music all in one place.

Consider joining an online forum of music enthusiasts. Many will share their downloads for free. This allows you to explore different genres of music or the latest cd from a known artist without committing a lot of time or money to the task, making it easier to build your library with an eclectic blend of tunes.

You can obtain free and cheap music downloads from some band websites. Some popular bands like to give away rare tracks, live tracks, and rough cuts that you won't find on their albums. These are usually free or really cheap on their own websites. This is a great way to not only get music from a band you like, but to get access to cool extras that you won't find at large online music retailers.

If your taste in music changes a lot, consider using a site that allows you to stream music, rather than download it. Streaming allows you to listen to a large variety of songs, but the doin' the barf music never resides on your computer. This can save you money and space on your hard drive, so it is sometimes the better option.

When you discover that you enjoy a couple of songs by any artist, think about purchasing the whole album. Buying entire albums still often results in the lowest average per track price, regardless of sales source. You also receive more music that way. Perhaps you will even come across a song that will become your all-time favorite.

If you plan to download music online, be sure to install a reputable antivirus program. This will ensure that all songs you download don't contain any malicious code. You don't wan to end up ruining your computer just to get a free song! Antivirus software protects you from that fate.

Make sure you have broadband internet connection if you download music online. If you have a dial-up connection, the download will be much slower and the files will take forever to transfer. So if you want to enjoy your music right away, a broadband connection is the way to go.

Many artists have put up their own music for download at under one dollar per song. This is a good way of getting a copy of your favorite song and directing all proceeds back to the artist instead of to a third party distributor. The artist gets paid in full for his work, and you get a great song.

When you are choosing a site to download music from, make sure to pick one that allows you to preview any track you want to download. This will allow you to hear what kind of quality the track is before downloading it. The bigger music services will give you a guarantee of their music, but smaller services will not. Previewing a track will help you avoid paying for music that is low quality.

Be sure to check the file format before downloading any music. You've got to be sure that the file you get is compatible with whatever system you are using. If unsure, a good bet is to stick with MP3 files. This file extension is about as universal as they come.

Make sure that the sites that you get your music downloads from are secure and safe. Even sites that are legal paid downloads could allow malicious software to enter your computer. You should avoid music websites that have a ton of pop-up ads. Some may contain viruses, spyware, adware, and the like.

Getting the information you need about music downloads shouldn't be too hard for you now. Just make it a point to work hard at putting this information to good use and you shouldn't have any problems. It's fun to listen to great music that you've downloaded because of the great tips you got here!