MP3 - Street Legal
Below is pointers to web sites that let you legally download music that is not encumbered with user-unfriendly Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) technology.
My criteria for including a web site in the lists on this page are as follows:
- All tracks available for download are put online with the explicit consent of the artist or copyright owner, or are in the public domain.
- At least some of the tracks available are DRM-free.
Given these criteria, I will not list Torrent tracker sites, as it is obvious that they are mostly used for illegal file sharing. Nor will I list some well-known Russian download sites that sells tracks by top-10 international pop and rock stars at a fraction of the price tracks by those stars sells for anywhere else. While those Russian sites may be legal in the sense that their operation is based on a loophole in Russian copyright law, it is obvious that they haven't secured the consent of the relevant copyright owners, so I will not list them.
Please help prove that selling DRM-free music is a sustainable business model by supporting those music stores and those artists that make their music available in user-friendly, DRM-free formats.
The listings are split into four categories:
- Commercial Sites (where you pay)
- Gratis Music (where you don't)
- Artist Sites (some artists share)
- Blasts From the Past (really old stuff)
Below is the sites I am currently aware of. New sites appear constantly. I'll try to keep up and to list the cream of the crop below. To check for the latest legal MP3 download sites, try to google for "legal mp3".
I've added some factual notes to each site, to the best of my ability and knowledge. If you know about more sites that should be listed, or you believe that my factual notes on a site (payment, formats, DRM, etc. on a site is wrong, please drop me a line.
Commercial Sites
The section lists sites that charge for downloads. I.e. they are like the larger commercial online music stores (e.g. iTunes, Napster and MusicMatch), except that at least some of the files they sell are not DRM-encumbered.
- Ambient.us: http://www.ambient.us/shop/
Musical styles: Ambient Payment: Paypal and major credit cards Typical cost: US$ 9.00/album Formats: MP3 (VBR) DRM: No
- Audio Lunchbox: http://audiolunchbox.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Payment: - Typical cost: US$ 0.99/track, US$ 9.99/album Formats: MP3, Ogg Vorbis DRM: No
- Bleep: http://www.bleep.com/
Musical styles: Electronica Payment: Paypal, major credit cards, SMS Typical cost: US$ 1.35/track, US$ 9.99/album Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Calabash music: http://calabashmusic.com/
Musical styles: Ethnic, world music Payment: Major credit cards Typical cost: US$ 0.99/track, US$ 9.99/20 tracks Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- e|classical: http://www.eclassical.com/
Musical styles: Classical Comment: Music from major labels, including Bis, Hänssler, Naxos, Vox Payment: Paypal and major credit cards Typical cost: From US$ 0.49/track, US$ 5.99/album Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- eFolkMusic: http://efolkmusic.org/
Musical styles: Folk, celtic, roots Payment: Major credit cards Typical cost: US$ 0.98/track Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- eMusic: http://emusic.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Payment: Major credit cards Typical cost: US$ 9.99/month for 40 downloads Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Karma download.com: http://www.karmadownload.com/
Musical styles: Dance, alternative, rap Comment: UK based site fronting a number of independent record labels and artists. Payment: Paypal and major credit cards, SMS (UK only) Typical cost: UK£ 0.89/track, UK£ 7.99/album Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Last.fm: http://last.fm/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Mainly a web radio, it also is a portal to sites where featured acts sell files Payment: - Typical cost: - Formats: - DRM: Up to artist
- LiveDownloads: http://www.livedownloads.com/
Musical styles: Jazz, funk, jam Payment: Major credit cards Typical cost: US$ 9.95/album Formats: MP3, FLAC DRM: No
- Magnatune: http://magnatune.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Payment: Paypal and major credit cards Typical cost: Up to buyer (Suggested US$ 8/album) Formats: MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, AAC DRM: No
- MP3.com; http://mp3.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Used to be a great MP3-resource, but is now mostly a portal to other webstores Payment: - Typical cost: - Formats: WMA, AAC, RAX. MP3 DRM: On almost everything
- MP3tunes: http://mp3tunes.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Payment: Major credit cards Typical cost: US$ 0.88/track, US$ 8.88/album Formats: MP3 (192 kbps) DRM: No
- Mperia: http://www.mperia.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Sells work for independent artists. Artist keep 70 % of profits. Discussion groups and community to help users find new music. Payment: BitPass Typical cost: From US$ 0.25/track Formats: MP3, Ogg Vorbis DRM: No
- Musicdock: http://www.musicdock.net/
Musical styles: Eclectic Payment: Paypal and major credit cards Typical cost: US$ 0.99/track, US$ 9.99/album Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC DRM: Up to artist
- Muzik101: http://www.muzik101.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Payment: Major credit cards Typical cost: US$ 0.99/track, US$ 9.99/album Formats: MP3 (192 kbs) DRM: No
- Nervous Records: http://www.nervous.co.uk/
Musical styles: Rockabilly, psychobilly Comment: Streaming previews (real audio) available. Also gratis samples. Payment: Paypal Typical cost: US$ 0.99/track Formats: MP3 (128 kbs) DRM: No
- Nettwerk: http://nettwerk.ca
Musical styles: Pop, rock, roots Comment: Streaming previews (real audio) available Payment: Major credit cards Typical cost: US$ 0.99/track, US$ 9.99/album Formats: MP3, AAC DRM: Varies
- Nuclear Blast: http://www.nuclearblast-musicshop.de/
Musical styles: Metal Payment: major credit cars Typical cost: Euro 0.99/track, Euro 9.99/album Formats: MP3, WMA DRM: Varies
- Osrecords: http://www.osrecords.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Small site, featuring music from a handful of artists. Also gratis samples. Payment: Paypal Typical cost: US$ 1.00/track Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- PayLoadz: http://store.payloadz.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Offers downloadable music, video, ebooks and software. Some by well-known artits. Payment: Paypal (US accounts only) Typical cost: US$ 1.49/track Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Smithsonian Global Sound: http://www.smithsonianglobalsound.org/
Musical styles: Ethnic, world music Payment: Major credit cards Typical cost: US$ 0.99/track Formats: MP3, FLAC DRM: No
- Vitaminic: http://www.vitaminic.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Currently under reconstruction. Payment: Major credit cards Typical cost: From US$ 0.99/track, US$ 69.99/annual subscription Formats: MP3 DRM: No
Gratis Music
The sites below do not charge for download. They are composed partly of promotional sites and portals, partly of sites keeping track of music by trade-friendly artists and acts. Please note: While there is no charge for download, the works are still protected by copyright. Only strictly noncommercial use is permitted. All other uses, such as radio play, remixes and soundtracks may require explicit permission and payment to the copyright holder. For works under the Creative Commons licence, check the licence before use.
- Blogothèque: http://www.blogotheque.net/mp3/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: French blog of music put online by musicians Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Common Content: http://commoncontent.org/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Search engine for Creative Commons licenced content Formats: MP3, Ogg Vorbis, MIDI DRM: No
- Download.com (c|net): http://music.download.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: The music section of C|net's download site Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Epitonic: http://www.epitonic.com/
Musical styles: Alternative, experimental, electronica, folk, hip-hop, jazz Comment: Independent and underground artists - and some "big shots" Formats: MP3, WMA DRM: No
- Free Music Webring: http://d.webring.com/hub?ring=freemusic/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Original music put on the web by artist Formats: MP3, Ogg Vorbis, MIDI DRM: No
- Garageband: http://www.garageband.com
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Unsigned artists promo site Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- inDiscover: http://indiscover.net/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Unsigned artists promo site Formats: MP3, Ogg Vorbis DRM: No
- Internet Archive Audio: http://www.archive.org/audio/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Live performances made of trade-friendly artists Formats: MP3, Ogg Vorbis, SHN DRM: No
- Iuma: http://www.iuma.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Unsigned artists promo site; owned by Vitaminic; slow and somewhat unreliable Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Mymusic.dk: http://www.mymusic.dk/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Danish unsigned artists promo site Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- No Record Label: http://www.norecordlabel.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Unsigned artists promo site Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Open Directory Project: http://dmoz.org
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Vast directory of free resources (not only music) Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Opsound: http://www.opsound.org/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Creative Commons Music Pool Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- PeopleSound: http://peoplesound.com/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Unsigned artists promo site Formats: MP3, Ogg Vorbis DRM: No
- Radio Plus: http://www.radio.plus.com/
Musical styles: Experimental, rock Comment: Tracks and live performances from legendary BBC DJ John Peel's radio show Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- TIBprod: http://www.tibprod.com/
Musical styles: Electronica Comment: Promo site for small independent record label Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Urørt (NRK): http://www.nrk.no/urort/
Musical styles: Eclectic Comment: Norwegian unsigned artists promo site Formats: MP3 DRM: No
Artist Sites
This section lists sites that either are official sites maintained by the artist or act themselves, or fan sites dedicated to trade-friendly acts such as the Grateful Dead, Please note: While there is no charge for download, the works are still protected by copyright. Only strictly noncommercial use is permitted. All other uses, such as radio play, remixes and soundtracks may require explicit permission and payment to the copyright holder. For works under the Creative Commons licence, check the licence before use.
- Gatas Parlament: http://www.gatasp.no/
Musical styles: Hip-hop Comment: Official web site of Norwegian rappers Gatas Parlament has a lot of MP3s available for download Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Grateful Dead Live: http://www.gdlive.com/
Musical styles: Rock Comment: The Grateful Dead (and derivatives) has always permitted their fans to record and share live performances Formats: MP3, SHN DRM: No
- Tom Fox: http://www.foxtunes.com/ (http://www.tomfox.net/)
Musical styles: soul, pop, r&b, jazz Comment: Official sites of singer-songwriter Tom Fox. He has quit music, but many of his songs are available for free download on his foxtunes site and for purchase at iTunes, Rhapsody, MSN music etc. Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Janis Ian: http://janisian.com/
Musical styles: Contemporary Folk Comment: Janis Ian's official webpage has several MP3s available for download Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- Rex Rudi: http://www.rexrudi.net/
Musical styles: Rockabilly Comment: Official web site of Norwegian rockers Rex Rudi has a lot of MP3s available for download Formats: MP3 DRM: No
Blasts From the Past
In Norway - and in most other countries - a work is protected by copyright for 70 years after the end of year of the author (Norwegian copyright law, § 40). Interpretations, in the shape of recorded and/or broadcasted performances are protected by copyright for 50 years after being recorded or broadcast (§§ 42 and 45). In the USA, many old radio show that was aired before the USA joined the Berne convention in January 1989 has entered the public domain because their producers never registered copyright for them in the first place.
- Kiddie Records Weekly: http://www.kiddierecords.com/
Musical styles: Fairy tales, speech Comment: Recordings from the 1940ies and early 1950ies Formats: MP3 DRM: No
- RadioLovers: http://www.radiolovers.com/
Musical styles: Big band jazz, speech Comment: Old time radio shows Formats: MP3 DRM: No
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