Free MP3 Music Downloads P2P

The major record labels and the software developers may be battling it out in court over this issue, but that doesn’t change the fact that there is tons of free music on the internet for the taking. The most popular way to swap music is peer to peer (P2P) networks, which allow users to download tunes from other people’s computers, while they at the same time make their own songs available to fellow users.

Some in the recording industry site P2P networks as the biggest problem with MP3 downloads. Because the tracks being traded are usually copyright protected, the industry claims that trading the tracks free of charge is copyright infringement – and stealing. Some proponents of P2P networks maintain that it is no different than mix tape/mix cd swapping that has always been commonplace (but then, the labels never really liked that either). They also argue that it actually is a promotional tool that encourages sales, and that the industry has other places to look besides downloads to explain their drop in sales. However, if the music is copyrighted and has not been sold or given to you by the copyright holder, it is not legal for you to own it.

Though the debate rages on, there are many good P2P networks to turn to when looking for a good, free, MP3s. Remember: downloading and sharing copywritten material is illegal!

LoveToKnow does not condone the use of P2P programs for the illegal downloading or distribution of copywritten material. Please use these programs responsibly and share only Free Music and other freely-distributable media. Also learn more about Downloading Legal Music.

Kazaa is the most widely known P2P network in the post-Napster world. With a visit to their website, users can download the Kazaa software and begin searching with a few minutes. It is also possible to configure your computer so as to not allow upload of your own tracks into the Kazaa system. That’s not really in the spirit of P2P networks, but some users prefer to utilize it in that way.

Kazaa is great for finding major label stuff, mainstream stuff, and some indie stuff, but the more obscure you go; the more unlikely you are to find it on Kazaa.

Kazaa is not without its problems. It comes bundled with a lot software that is considered spyware, though with a couple internet searches, you can find out how to get rid of that. Because Kazaa is free, it supports itself through selling pop-up advertisements. That may be handy if you are looking for “sexy singles in your area,” but can be fairly annoying if you’re not. Kazaa will continue to run in the background unless you ensure you close the entire program when not in use, so unless you are constantly in the market for new ringtones, close the whole program. If you want to skip the pop-ups altogether, there is a pay version of Kazaa that is ad free.

{http://www.soulseek.net Soulseek] is the P2P network of choice for the indie kids in us all. None of this choosing not to share your own music if you want to be part of the Soulseek – if you want to take, you have to give. The more you give, the more you can take, and the faster you will be able to take. Soulseek functions as a community, with genre and band specific chat rooms in which you do your music searching. Unlike Kazaa, you can download entire albums through Soulseek.

The quality of the MP3 downloads from Soulseek is more reliable than Kazaa, and the selection of music much more extensive for those whose taste run beyond the mainstream. Soulseek does have some very specific rules of etiquette for its users, so make sure you read all the information on the site before downloading the program.

LimeWire rivals Kazaa in terms of popularity. Like Kazaa, LimeWire involves just a quick software download, and you’re off. Unlike Kazaa, LimeWire is bundle software free, so you don’t have to worry about downloading spyware along with your P2P system.

LimeWire has an extensive database of popular and independent music simply because it is the P2P network that is accessible to the widest number of users. LimeWire uses Java technology, making the software compatible with Windows, Macs, and Linux (most P2P networks only function on Windows). Another advantage of LimeWire is it supports firewall to firewall MP3 transfers.

One drawback to LimeWire is it is part of the Gnutella network, which computer experts say puts your network at high risk for intruders and virus infection.

All P2P networks are only as good as their users – the more users a network has sharing their MP3s, the more music available for everyone to download. There are many, many P2P networks that can be found with a quick internet search, however, it makes sense to use the more popular ones to get the best track selection.

P2P networks are associated with some risks – you might find the file you are downloading is not what it claims to be, or you might find you are downloading infected files. Always make sure your virus detection software is up to date before using P2P networks, and run your virus scan often.

Also, bear in mind that P2P networks are legal; they are simply channels for sharing files. However, sharing copyrighted files, whether you are uploading or downloading them, it may be illegal.

• Kazaa
• Soulseek
• LimeWire

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