Computer Services
Guide to Internet Music Services
Downloading music from file-sharing networks such as Kazaa, Morpheus and Gnutella is becoming increasingly risky. In addition to the possibility of severe penalties for illegally reproducing copyrighted materials, file-sharing networks are known to be havens for viruses, trojans and other forms of malicious software.
In order to promote the safe, legal downloading of internet music by UM students, the Computer Services Help Desk has compiled a list of some of the more popular legal music download sites. Students, as well as faculty and staff, are encouraged to consider utilizing these legal sources for online music as an alternative to the file-sharing networks.
There are many more music download sites than those listed below, and not all are legitimate. Computer Services does not endorse any particular music download service, and while we have attempted to identify selections that have good reputations, you should always exercise caution when shopping on the internet.
NOTE: All information below was current as of September 2005. Any details, particularly those regarding pricing schemes, are subject to change at any time by the music download site.
Apple’s iTunes
www.apple.com/itunes
2,000,000 songs available
Cost:
An average of $0.99 per song or as little as $9.99 per album.
Format:
Songs are downloaded in Apple proprietary AAC format.
Notes:
Apple has more songs available than any other service, and its AAC format
provides excellent sound quality. On the down side, songs you download
from iTunes can only be played via the iTunes software (available via free
download, or from the Computer Services Help Desk). The only portable device
that can play the tracks you download from Apple is Apple’s iPod. iTunes also
restricts the number of times you can burn a play-list to CD.
600,000+ songs available
Cost:
Monthly subscription plans start at $9.99 for 40 downloads; a free trial is
available to all new users.
Format:
MP3
Notes:
No restrictions are placed on the music you download from eMusic. Their tracks
can be played by any MP3 player. On the downside, you pay the monthly
subscription fee whether you download 40 songs or not.
MusicMatch
http://www.musicmatch.com
1,000,000 songs available on the MusicMatch Music Store
Cost:
$0.99 per song, most albums are $9.99
Format:
WMA (Windows Media)
Notes:
MusicMatch requires you download their free player, MusicMatch Jukebox, in order
to use their download service. MusicMatch Jukebox is a very good player, but
the free version may lack some features of the retail version.
855,000+ songs available
Cost:
$0.79 per song or $9.29 to $12.79 per album.
Format:
WMA (Windows Media)
Notes:
Does not require proprietary software to download songs. However, some users
have reported difficulty using Buy Music tracks with their portable players.
1,000,000 songs available
Cost:
Usually $0.99 per song or albums start at $6.95. You can also get a
monthly subscription to their unlimited music streaming service for $9.95.
Format:
WMA (Windows Media)
Notes:
Napster has a huge catalog of music, rivaling iTunes and MusicMatch. As with
Apple, Napster’s proprietary software is required for downloading and streaming.
800,000 + songs available
Cost:
All songs are $0.88. Albums range from $8.80 to $9.44.
Format:
WMA (Windows Media)
Notes:
No proprietary software is required to download songs. On the downside,
Wal-Mart offers no Mac or Linux support.
It is unknown how many songs are available from this service.
Cost:
Free (and legal).
Format:
MP3
Notes:
Free, legal music? What’s the catch? Well, the catch is that you’re not likely
to have heard of any of the artists at this site. But that’s not necessarily a
bad thing. Music.download.com
is a free resource for unknown artists to make their music available to the
general public. If you’re interested in finding new sounds, you might want to
give this site a try.
Here are a few of the smaller, more content-specialized music download services:
Audible
www.audible.com
Spoken word only
Audio Lunchbox
www.audiolunchbox.com
Focuses on independent artists, but has a few big names
Bleep
www.bleep.com
Focuses on electronica
eFolkMusic
www.efolkmusic.org
Folk music
LiveDownloads
www.livedownloads.com
Live performances and albums
Last updated September 2005