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BASICS OF FREE INTERNET MUSIC

If you want to get in on the online music revolution, understand that there are different avenues to take. Anybody can listen to music all day long on their computer, but there are different ways to do it. Do you want to download files to your computer to keep forever, or is it acceptable to just listen to the music like a radio station? Do you have very specific musical needs, or just want to expose yourself to a wide variety?

• streaming music - One popular way is to listen to "streaming music". This is a lot like a radio: you can listen to music in realtime, but you are not able to save the music to your computer to listen again later. Using these services is generally completely legal; there are no copyright laws being broken.

• downloadable music - Another approach is "downloadable music" where you download files to your computer (usually in MP3 format) that you can listen to again and again. In order to play and organize MP3 files you will need software such a iTunes.

• Googling for music - Lots of people leave MP3 files lying around on their websites, and Google has a tendency to find them. You don't need to be a Google expert to do this--just use a simple interface like g2p.org and find MP3 files you like. Once you find some, you can either listen to them or save them to your hard drive. This method is easy, but it's "hit or miss." You're bound to find something interesting, even if it's not what you were specifically looking for.

• podcasts - A feature of Apple's popular software iTunes a podcast is like a radio show which is delivered to your computer on a regular basis. You do not need an iPod to listen to a podcast. You do not need a Macintosh to run iTunes! You can download iTunes from Apple's iTune Homepage.

• P2P (file sharing networks) - File sharking networks (also called "peer-to-peer" or P2P networks) allow people to anonymously exchange music files upon demand. These services often have a bad reputation because so many people that use them download copyrighted songs, in spite of laws that prohibit such behavior. Nevertheless, there is a world of copyright free music available from the same networks. We cannot suggest to anybody to break the law, but what you do with your file sharing software is your decision to make.

• bit torrents - Similar to file sharing networks, this is a method to transfer files across the internet with people you don't even know. While somewhat technical, the interfaces make using these systems relatively easy. Warning: like file sharing networks above, many people use this technology for illegal exchange of copyrighted material.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FREE ONLINE MUSIC

1. Q: I'm not picky, and I'm not computer genius. What's the easiest way to listen to music?
   

   A: Try Grooveshark or Slacker.com first. Nothing to download, no need to register. A monkey can figure it out.

2. Q: What's an MP3?
   

   A: An MP3 is a file type which contains audio. For example, your computer may store the file Yesterday.mp3 which contains the song Yesterday. There are other formats, such as "shorten" (used strictly by snooty audiophile types) but MP3 still remains the most popular format.

3. Q: What's a podcast?
   

   A: A podcast is an audio file (MP3) that is sent to your computer on a regular schedule, e.g. weekly or daily. Some people say that podcasts will one day replace the concept of radio and even television shows. Other people say it's a bunch of hype.

4. Q: Is it legal?
   

   A: It depends mostly on two factors. First, whether or not you are downloading the music or streaming it. Second, whether the music is copyrighted or "public domain" (free to distribute). The good news is that streaming music services are generally 100% legal, and probably the easiest way to go for most people. When you use tactics like P2P or BitTorrent, where you share files with strangers online, there is a chance that you'll encounter files which contain copyright music. We cannot condone the theft of copyrighted music, but whether to press that "download" button is a choice you'll have to make for yourself.

THE TOP LINKS FOR ONLINE MUSIC

Now that you have an idea of the various options available to modern internet music fans, here are some very important links to help you get starting listening and downloading free music online.

1. Archive.org Live Music Respository (website / streaming, download)
   Thousands of live concerts archvied for both streaming and downloading. Most of these acts are what you would call "Jam Bands", but hundreds of bands are covered including Jazz, Bluegrass, Funk, Blues, and more. The entire archive is copyright free for public release, including rare old media. Everything is 100% free to listen or download, no account necessary.

2. Grooveshark (website / streaming)
   lets you look up specific songs. Start off typing in the artist name, then pick a song from the list, it's as simple as that. Sites like Slacker (see below) are great if you want your computer to act like a radio, but when you have a specific song in mind, Grooveshark is the easiest way to jam out.

3. Slacker.com (website / streaming)
   Slacker is a customizable radio station that will play streaming music of a variety of genres. If you don't like a song, you can press the "skip" button (two arrows pointing forward) and it will skip to the next song. You can register for free to take advantage of some advanced features, but it's not necessary to register to listen to music.

4. iTunes (software / download)
   Apple's revolutionary music playing/downloading system offers a variety of features to help you enjoy music on your computer. You can use iTunes to play MP3's that you download online, you can subscribe to Podcasts to receive music and other variety shows on a regular basis. Some podcasts are 100% free, but others require you to pay a small price at the Apple Music Store. You do not need an ipod to listen to podcasts. Just click on the link "Download Now" and get iTunes for your computer; it's available for the Macintosh and the PC.

5. Limewire (software / download)
   One of the most popular file sharing networks on the internet today. Unlike it's cousin Kazaa, Limewire is completely free of spyware, adware, and other malicious applications. Be warned that a great deal of music available through Limewire is copyrighted, and those who engage in downloading copyrighted music are technically committing a crime.

6. G2P (website / download)
   G2P (Google-to-Person) is a method to use Google's powerful search engine to sniff out MP3 files on the web. You no longer have to be a Google expert to locate the MP3 files you are looking for, this handy website will take a simple search ("the Beatles") and turn it into a complicated search that usually drops you off right at the MP3 files you are looking for.

7. Bit Torrent (software / download)
   A software package available for the Macintosh, PC, and Linux, Bit Torrent allows people to transfer large files using "swarming" technology that vastly accelerates the download speeds. Once you have the Bit Torrent software, you'll need to visit a site to acquire the bit-torrent files which allow the download to take place. More information on how this works is available at the Bit Torrent site. Warning: Like Limewire above, much of what is available from these networks is copyrighted material.

8. BT Junkie (website / download)
   In order to use Bit Torrent, you need to access what are known as bit torrent files. Services such as BT Junkie allow you to do just that, through an easy search-engine interface. Another popular site like this one is isohunt.com.

9. YouTube (website / streaming videos)
   No discussion of online music is complete without mentioning YouTube, the internet's most popular video site. Want to see Elvis Presely performing live? Want to see a Nirvana video? Whether you like alternative rock or Bulgarian sheep dancing music, just about any musician you can think of has dozens (if not hundreds) of videos available at YouTube.