Read These Tips Before Downloading Your Music
Music downloading used to be limited to expert computer users. Times have definitely changed. Millions of downloads are being enjoyed around the world. You can do this to when you learn how by reading the following article.
If downloading music from free sites, proceed with caution. Hackers and other malicious individuals can sneak viruses in with free songs, because they know users will readily download the music. Viruses can be attached easily to these downloads that you won't even know are there until they have already done some damage.
A good tip to keep in mind when you're downloading music is to keep track of what music you already have. You would hate to waste money by getting things you already have. You can check out your purchase history on different services.
A great tip to use when thinking about downloading music is to start using pandora radio. Pandora radio can be a great way to discover new music that's similar to music you already like. You simply create a station based around a song or artist you like, and it will playback similar music for you.
Watch the file sizes of your music downloads carefully. A normal music download will be somewhere between 2 megabytes and 5 megabytes. If you see something much less or much more, there could be something fishy about the file. It may be spyware and not the song you were hoping it was.
If you purchase your music through iTunes, pay the extra cash for iTunes Match ($25 per year). This music service gives you access to your entire library on the web - not just the songs you've recently purchased. iTunes Match looks at all of your songs and matches them with a cloud version. It's an excellent way to increase your cloud-based music library.
If you are looking for free, legal music downloads, consider using a free music archive. A couple popular ones are Free Music Archive and The Internet Archive. These are nonprofit sites that contain all kinds of free, legal music from many genres. These are great for securely and legally experiencing some new artists or getting some rare tracks from some of your favorites.
Watch the file sizes of your music downloads carefully. A normal music download will be somewhere between 2 megabytes and 5 megabytes. If you see something much less or much more, there could be something fishy about the file. It may be spyware and not the song you were hoping it was.
There are many forums online where the sharing of MP3s happens every day. They allow you to check out new artists and songs in the genre you enjoy. That said, be aware that files can contain viruses and that sharing of these songs, unless they are posted by the owner, is illegal.
Make sure you download music legally. There are a lot of easy ways to download music, but many of the most common ways that people download music are illegal. Educate yourself about what legal methods of music downloading are, so that you don't have to worry that you are committing a crime when you listen to your music.
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.
To avoid getting ripped off when downloading music, choose a website that is popular such as Amazon, Rhapsody or iTunes. These popular download services are generally more secure than lesser known ones since they have to maintain their reputation. Therefore, you don't have to worry as much about having your personal information stolen.
With so many different types of music out there and coming out often, you need a service that is going to give you the best availability. You don't want to find out about a song only to R&B realize that it's not available with your service. Look at online reviews, and make sure you choose an authoritative downloading service within the industry. Otherwise, you will find yourself unhappy and switching back and forth between services with your music split up among them.
There are literally thousands of sites which host music files. Even though many of these website are safe, there are still a great number that contain some infected files. Downloading just one of these infected files could possibly destroy your computer, so it is wise to be cautious. Before downloading a file, always scan it first with your anti-virus program.
Make sure that the sites that you get your music downloads from are secure and safe. Even sites that are legal paid downloads could allow malicious software to enter your computer. You should avoid music websites that have a ton of pop-up ads. Some may contain viruses, spyware, adware, and the like.
As has been mentioned, downloading music is a very popular way of getting the music you want. Like brick and mortar stores, all Internet retailers are different. Follow the tips above to help you find the best deals on the best music. You won't regret it once you have a full collection.