Truth Or Fiction: Are There Free Officially Permitted Music Downloading Web Sites

Well, the answer to the question �Are there free (legal) music downloading sites available is not exactly black or white. Actually, the whole business of free music downloads seems to fall into the gray area.

Downloading music is easy, fast, convenient and very affordable. Can you download any music from legal websites for free? Yes and No. Many sites will allow you to download a certain number of songs at no cost to you before you are obliged to become a member. Even memberships, however, are very reasonable. You can often purchase a tune for well under a dollar and sometimes for as little as a quarter. Just be sure you do your homework on the front end --- look around, ask questions and see what is out there.

It can not be overstated � the vast, vast majority of music download sites are operating according to laws governing such things. There are, however, some vendors who put out music which is considered illegal. This type of music is called pirated, hijacked � or in plain terms, stolen. This means the site does not have the permission of the artists, record companies, producers (whomever holds the rights to this music) to distribute the music. Basically, these sites are illegal because they are giving away something (for free) that they have never owned. The music industry has seen losses in the billions of dollars due to pirated music.

These illegal free music download sites try to operate under the radar. Many times they are successful; other times they are not. The music they are making available at no cost to the public is actually considered stolen � you will also hear of it referred to as music that has been pirated or hijacked. Many states and countries around the world now prosecute citizens caught downloading hijacked music. So, be careful if you are new at this � know who you are dealing with and exactly what they have to offer.

One of the great things about getting your music through music downloads is the variety of available. Music is a great thing the whole family can enjoy. You can download Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana) for the kids, The Plain White T�s for you and Bob Dylan or Jefferson Airplane for the grandparents. You can take turns listening to songs from each generation. Often, when introduced to different music, people develop a deeper appreciation of the art form.

To say music is everywhere today is an understatement. Adults, adolescents and youngsters alike download their music to an MP3 player so they can take their music everywhere. People you spot with wires coming out of their ears are probably listening to music on their iPods or similar devices. That is not the only way that music becomes portable, however. Once you�ve mastered downloading free legal music, you can learn how to burn it to a disc (that just means copying it onto a CD). Once in CD format, you can play the music in portable CD players, on your boom-box or in your car.

Adhering to the law is a good enough reason to avoid free illegal music downloads. There is another good reason also. When dealing with unlawful sites, you have no idea where the music is coming from and what might be coming with it. You can easily be allowing dangerous computer viruses to enter your system � which can lead to total breakdown of your computer or to costly repairs. When you deal with reputable sites (often, the best sites are the ones you�ve heard the most about) you are ensured that the quality of the music will be excellent and your exposure to viruses is minimal (or non-existent).

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Isaiah Henry has done several comprehensive reviews on music services online and written many articles on download music. Go to Any Music Download for up-to-date info on such sites as eMusic.

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