Download MP3s

If you’re a music fan like me, you probably spend about half the time you’re online downloading MP3s. It’s easy and it’s cheap, so why not? However, MP3s, despite their versatility, are quite often difficult to download.

Download MP3s: The Role of FTP

You might have experienced getting an error message from a music site while trying to download MP3. And sometimes, MP3 search engines give you hits where links are busy or broken. The reason for this is that HTML browsers are not a powerful enough tool to meet the typical requirements to download MP3.

To download MP3s efficiently, what you need is an FTP server. FTP or File Transfer Protocol is the online tool used in downloading and uploading files. It is one of the simplest and safest ways to exchange files over the Internet. Because of this, FTP is the thing that feeds the MP3 music craze, online auctions, and online gaming. FTP is also used by website creators who use it to transfer files back and forth.

Download MP3s: The FTP Site

An FTP site functions like a huge, digitized filing cabinet. The owner of the site organizes, labels, and keeps certain files in his computer available for public view. Like in a traditional filing cabinet, you also need a ‘key’ to access the FTP site. This virtual key is the UserID and Passwords.

There are two ways to create an FTP connection to a server. You can use your web browser, e.g. Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator, Mozilla Firefox, etc., to access a site and download MP3s or other files. You can also use a dedicated FTP software program, termed as an FTP Client.

Download MP3s: Browser vs. FTP Client

When you use web browsers to upload and download MP3s, you often encounter difficulties. For instance, you have a dial-up connection and you’re trying to upload a file into your webpage. Oftentimes, it takes forever just to upload one single file just by using your web browser. Also, downloading documents through a simple browser are not protected and there’s every chance that your files might get corrupted during the whole process.

When you use an FTP Client on the other hand, uploads and downloads are smooth and easy. Plus, you also have added security. Other additional features include the capability to resume a download when you were unable to successfully finish it. This is especially helpful to people who have dial-up connections and frequently lose their Internet connection.

Download MP3s: The FTP Client

An FTP client is a type of software used when transferring files back and forth over the Internet. Examples of an FTP client are Kazaa, Napster, imesh, Streamload, and more. The programs are available for a certain dollar amount and once you get them, you can start to download MP3s without hassle. Note that some of these software programs have free trial versions which you can download and install into your computer.

Free MP3 Download

When you think ‘MP3’, what comes to mind is not file compression or digitized version of music; rather, what comes to mind when somebody mentions it is ‘free music.’ To be sure, the term has quite naturally become synonymous with it. But it’s only logical of course. What with the many sites that offer free MP3 downloads for users who want to get good music for close to nothing. Below are a few examples of online sites where you can find free MP3 downloads available.

MP3.com – Free MP3 Download

With its huge archive of music and videos, MP3.com is surely one of the first stops you’re going to make when you’re looking for free MP3 downloads. To get full access to the site, you need first to create a free MP3.com account. That should be accomplished quite easily using their online form.

Once you’re done with the registration process, your membership will entitle you to your own personal profile page, your music collection list, your wish list, and your “now playing” list. Besides that, the site also lets you track your favorite artists and post reviews of songs, albums, and artists. You also get a personal music statistics and a whole lot of perks.

Ampcast.com – Free MP3 Download

Another great place to look for free MP3 downloads is Ampcast.com. The site is a gathering place for music fans who want to listen to good music, get free MP3 downloads, and interact with other people who share their interests. Signing up at this site is quick and their online registration form is easy to fill out.

When you finish with the form, your free MyAmp account will allow you to get all the free MP3 downloads and streaming that you want and give you access to great new music and discounted CDs. You can also create your own playlists and the site will track all the music and videos you have played so you won’t forget. Their community section is where you can meet up with other music fans and talk about anything and everything under the sun. You can also participate in some online polls and vote for your favorite music.

MP3Raid.com – Free MP3 Download

Here’s a site that doesn’t require you to sign up or register for any account when you want to get free MP3 downloads. MP3Raid.com is quite simply a place to raid for free MP3 downloads. Just type in the name of the band or song on the box provided and the site’s powerful search tool will show you all the links to places where you can get that particular free MP3 downloads. What’s more, free music is not the only offering this site has in store for you. You can search for anything from audio files, lyrics, and even tabs. Search through their music archives from A-Z and start downloading free music.

MP3 Download Sites

Who’s up for some cheap music? Who’s up for some cheap and legal music? If you are, then scroll down below for a list of the best legal MP3 download sites on the web.

MP3 Download Site: Epitonic.com

Epitonic is an MP3 download site that specializes in bringing you cutting edge and Independent music from unsigned or undiscovered artists. Here you can find a wide array of music from different genres, including rock, punk, folk, acoustic, pop, electronic, hip hop, jazz, experimental, 20^th century, and more. Aside from music, this MP3 download site also offers pertinent news, album releases, and reviews to help you choose from among their list of free music products. One of the main attractions of this site, besides their high quality MP3s, is its free Internet radio and Epitonic Black Box that lets you play only music that you like.

MP3 Download Site: Ampcast.com

Another MP3 download site that showcases Indie music is Ampcast.com. Be the first to “discover” and experience raw music from a lot of talented but undiscovered artists in online music scene. As you listen to their songs, you can also read about them and find out how their music came to be. You can even get inspiration from these types of talents and soon, you might even be one of those musicians who play their music exclusively for online listeners. This MP3 download site lets you sign up for a free account and once you do, you stand the chance to win free prizes, download free music, and customize your own playlists.

MP3 Download Site: MP3Raid.com

MP3Raid features a collection of free songs, full albums, free lyrics, top singles and more. Look for your favorite song through this MP3 download site’s powerful search tool. Simply type in the name of your favorite song title, the name of the artist, or even the title of the album then download away.

MP3 Download Site: Download.com

Download.com is perhaps the top MP3 download site that features the largest collection of music from every conceivable genre. Get a load of all their free MP3 songs, music, and videos. The site also offers wondrously diverse music from all parts of the world from the Celtic/British Isles to the Caribbean down to South Asia. Listen to all kinds of music, such as rock, pop, alternative, punk, electronic, dance, hip hop, r’n’b, soul, country, folk, and plenty more. The site also offers MP3s for those who dig blues, jazz, Latin, world, reggae, classical, new age, religious, soundtracks, and holiday theme songs.

MP3 Free Download

MP3 free downloads are the most popular products that you can get right off the Internet. The idea is somewhat the same to food sampling in grocery stores. The first thing you do is acquire a taste for that particular food product and then going out to buy it. With MP3 free downloads, what you do is listen to a few tracks from an album and if you find that you like the music, you would then go out and buy the album from the record store.

Of course, this is pure euphemism since not everyone really goes out to spend their money on expensive CDs. But the idea is there and all we need is a little practice.

Below is a list of some online sites where you can get MP3 free downloads. Note that these are only a few of the thousands available out there.

MP3.com – MP3 Free Downloads

There’s no doubt that MP3.com is your one-stop source to digital music. Here you can get MP3 free downloads from all sorts of musical genres. Are you for rock, pop, or hip hop perhaps? How about some soul, urban, or groovy beats of electronic-dance music? MP3.com is one of the largest music communities on the web. They have everything that is even remotely connected to music. Get relevant news, interesting artist facts and info, album previews and singles reviews, features, photos, and more. Get MP3 free downloads of the latest songs to grace the charts and all the latest videos from your favorite artists.

Download.com – MP3 Free Downloads

Another great place to get your MP3 free downloads is CNET-owned Download.com. The site has probably one of the largest and most comprehensive MP3 collections on the web, containing musical genres you’ve never even heard of. Scan through their list of genres and locations or look into the Editor’s Picks and see which songs are worth downloading. If you’re an artists, the site lets you sign up for an account with them without charge so you can start uploading your own unique work and share it with the rest of the world.

YourMP3.net – MP3 Free Downloads

Here’s another site that features MP3 free downloads. Get anything from albums and tracks to hit songs and lyrics. Browse through their dozens of top MP3 free downloads. Do you like Linkin Park, Green Day, or Usher perhaps? Get access to works of all the hottest artists and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can always ask the site staff to include it in their already huge archive. Just click on their online MP3 Request form and you’re on your way to getting your favorite MP3 free download.