MTV Music Downloads

Free MTV Music Downloads

Available Downloads

• MTV provides a list of over a dozen free downloads. The songs cover every genre of music the channel plays. You'll find everything from indie rock to hot club hits. For example, a recent list includes the pop sounds of Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse, heavy metal from Mastodon, and hip hop from Mims and Lil Boosie.
• MTV2 offers Discover and Download. Find tracks from hot new artists making their mark on the music scene. Some of these songs are also available from the MTV download page, so you should check both sites to make sure you are enjoying as much free music as possible.

Restrictions

The MTV site requires users to register and log in to download music. At the MTV2 site, you must provide your first name, last name, and email address before downloading a track. There is also an option which allows MTV to share your email address with the musician's music label.

Most files are in the WMA format. You will need Windows Media Player to enjoy them, and these MTV music downloads are intended to be samples to let you try out new music before buying it. Songs expire after 30 days, they can't be burned to a CD, and you won't be able to transfer them to a portable MP3 player. You will need to turn to other online music sources to build your digital music library.

However, a few songs, especially from less mainstream artists on MTV2, are available as MP3 files. These songs can be played on most portable players. They are also free of expiration dates and other limits; they're yours to keep, transfer, and burn to your heart's content.

Urge

URGE is an online music download service created by MTV in partnership with Microsoft. Integrated with Windows Media Player 11, it offers individual downloads and subscription rates. The service boasts of "millions of songs" and "hundreds of playlists," sure to offer something for everything taste. Special features include exclusive live performances, blogs, profiles, interviews, and over 130 radio stations.

Individual tracks cost 99 cents, a standard price for music downloads. Monthly subscriptions are available for $9.95 and $14.95 a month. The $9.95 plan only allows users to play URGE's tracks on their computer. The $14.95 "All Access to Go" plan allows them to transfer music to portable players.

CNET and PC Magazine both reviewed the service when it debuted if you're interested in reading outside opinions before committing to the service. URGE also offers a free 14-day trial.

Other MTV Downloads

MTV offers more than just music for online fans. Other available MTV downloads include:

• Podcasts - MTV has created podcasts from MTV News segments, artist interviews, and footage from big events like the MTV Movie Awards. Subscribe to the podcast feed to receive updates on the latest available clips, and download to take MTV with you anywhere.
• Ringtones - Download ringtones featuring today's hottest songs. Users must sign up for a monthly subscription plan to take advantage of this service.
• While you can't actually download the songs, The Leak will still be of interest to online music fans. Listen to an entire album before it ever hits stores.