What are some legal websites to download music from for free?

Answer

There are many free, legal, music sites that allow users to stream music for free online, but not download music for free. E.g. Pandora.com, Slacker.com, Last.fm, etc. Many sites, such as MP3 search engines, will explain that the site is free and legal, but it may not be obvious that it is actually illegal to download the copyrighted music found through the site, yet it is not illegal for the actual site to search for the music, because it isn't hosted on their servers, but is hosted on other's servers.

Copyright Laws

What Does It Mean?

Under the U.S. Copyright Law, copyright owners have the exclusive right to print, publish, copy, and sell their protected works. The copyright owners of the books and music you purchase usually are indicated on those publications.

The printed music you use reaches you as a result of the collaboration of a number of people:

• the composer or arranger who devotes her or his time and creative effort
• the publisher who invests time and money
• your local music retailer who supplies your musical needs.

Whenever printed music is copied without permission, you are '''STEALING from'''

• composers/arrangers
• publishers
• music retailers

This answer is closed to changes. This is done in rare cases when questions are being vandalized or answers have become debates. Email WikiAnswers @ Answers.com if you would like it to be reopened.

First answer by Lkysmy. Last edit by Sdresh. Contributor trust: 416 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 14 [recommend question]