First, there were vinyl records and 8-track players. Then, there were cassette players and compact discs. Now, listening to music is as easy is pressing a button on your cell phone or computer. To really enjoy downloading music, be sure to read the following tips so you know what you are doing.
If you are on the Internet looking for free music downloads, you have to be extremely careful. Downloading music without paying is illegal and is punishable by law. Another reason you want to avoid this is because hackers use music downloads as a way to send viruses to your computer.
A great tip when downloading music is to preview similar artists on itunes. Most of the time, itunes will show a dozen of similar songs and artists on the right whenever you highlight a song in your library. This can be a great way to discover new music that you like.
Try browsing the daily deals sections on Amazon.com and iTunes for some great music downloads. Some of the tracks sell for about a penny a piece. Most of this is older music, but a lot of it is considered “classic.” This is also a great way to find some interesting albums or tracks that you may never have considered for your collection.
Listen to the previews before you buy a full album. The previews enable you to hear part of a song prior to making a purchase decision. There is no charge for the previews, and most popular downloading music sites have them. You’ll save money using this method by only buying albums you really enjoy.
If you want to try out some more obscure artists, keep your eyes peeled for free music available from them. Even the most popular sites, like Amazon and iTunes, offer free downloads from time to time. This is great way to build your music library without spending money on tunes you may or may not like.
When downloading music online, make sure that you only download files with the correct extension. Never download files with .exe file extensions. This extension can harm your computer. It can hijack your computer system and completely destroy it. Even worse, you could open yourself up to identity theft or other security issues.
If you are downloading music from a site where the songs are free, you run the risk of getting a virus on your computer. Before downloading, check the size of the file. Although these file can be small, most range from 2MB-5MB. If the file is less than 250KB, steer clear since it is probably a text file. Most viruses are transmitted through maliciously coded text files.
If your taste in music changes a lot, consider using a site that allows you to stream music, rather than download it. Streaming allows you to listen to a large variety of songs, but the music never resides on your computer. This can save you money and space on your hard drive, so it is sometimes the better option.
Not all free music is illegal music. Major online retailers of mp3 files routinely put out free samplers for you to enjoy. Older music performed by many artists might fall into public domain. Some artists even release tracks for free sheerly for the promotional benefits they get out of it.
Stay away from any music downloads that require a peer to peer client, also known as p2p software. No matter how slickly designed such sites are, they are probably just an access point for music pirates and torrent users. Avoid these, as almost all torrent activity is a legal risk.
Take advantage of free trial periods. If possible, always try before you buy. Don’t commit to any sort of subscription before you know it’s right for you. Many of the larger online music services offer free trial periods. Make sure the program you choose is easy to use and convenient.
If you want a discount on your music downloads, look for gift card deals at local retailers. A lot of music download venders (iTunes, Spotify, etc.) have gift cards, and sometimes these cards are offered at a discount to their face price. So a $50 iTunes card may be sold for $45. It’s a way to save a little money on your music.
If you want to subscribe to Google Play, you will need to use a Spotify desktop app to access the music. At the moment, this is the only way to be able to use Google Play off of its website. That said, new apps are in the process of being created right now.
In conclusion, music has changed throughout the times. People used to listen to music by purchasing records, 8-tracks, cassettes and CDs. These days, downloading music is the easiest and most popular way to listen to you favorite music. Use the above advice to see what downloading music has to offer you.
