| Downloadable, top quality music is a really | | | | it often happens that the artist and record |
| appealing concept to many people, but many of | | | | company has approved the streaming of their |
| us want to stay the right side of the law. | | | | recently released albums. Streaming offers |
| There are some compelling reasons to download | | | | you the chance to listen to the album when it |
| music: it is a great way to check out a track | | | | is playing but without getting your own copy |
| or two from an unknown artist before | | | | downloaded. Closer to going to the store and |
| splashing out on the CD; it offers the | | | | listening to it on the headphones, but in the |
| downloader unrivaled ease - a few moments | | | | comfort of your home. Some useful sites to |
| after deciding on a track, it is yours. And | | | | visit are , (a Yahoo site), search for |
| streaming songs are sometimes available for | | | | Internet Radio via Google, or go to On these |
| instant listening. | | | | sites you can see and listen to music videos |
| | | | too. |
| So what is the deal with the law? Many | | | | |
| people will remember Napster being taken to | | | | So much for streaming, but lots of us want |
| court for encouraging file-sharing for free | | | | the files on our PC so we can copy it down to |
| among peers. This court case judged that | | | | our MP3 devices. It is time to look at those |
| people sharing files in this way are breaking | | | | sites where you pay to own the tracks you |
| the law - the fact that money isn't changing | | | | want. Macintosh's iTunes site, designed to |
| hands and no- one is profiting from it does | | | | get the best from the iPod, is at - it is |
| not matter. Of course file sharing still goes | | | | the top site at the moment. You are charged |
| on over peer to peer (P2P) networks (though | | | | ninety nine cents for each song you download, |
| not via Napster). Interestingly, recent | | | | but the quality is excellent and the track is |
| research has shown that P2P is increasingly | | | | yours to keep. |
| being used for legitimate file sharing - | | | | |
| photos, files and so on - and not just for | | | | Other sites are always fighting for this |
| swapping copyrighted material. | | | | lucrative market, each offering similar but |
| | | | slightly different services. There are many |
| If you want to stay the right side of the | | | | that work on a monthly-fee basis rather than |
| law, you should not download copyrighted | | | | billing by track. And a new and slightly |
| material from the Internet. But the fact that | | | | different concept is mercora ( Here you pay a |
| this practice continues shows how many people | | | | small monthly fee and share tracks - you |
| think downloading their tunes is the best way | | | | broadcast your tracks (you can make like a DJ |
| to go. So if you want the convenience and | | | | if you want) whilst you record the tracks |
| ease without transgressing, how do you do it? | | | | broadcast by others. Mercora pays a fee for |
| | | | broadcast rights which makes it within the |
| | | | law. |
| There are a variety of ways you can do it. | | | | |
| With a decent connection such as broadband | | | | Most of these sites offer a free trial, so |
| you will be able to get access to lots of | | | | why not give a few a go, pick up some free |
| great music from Internet Radio or from other | | | | tracks and decide which service you like |
| web sites that play newly released albums - | | | | best. |