Everyone loves music, and everyone loves free stuff. Combine the two and you’ve got a great deal! The internet is full of places to get free music downloads legally.

Ever since the RIAA stepped in and began implementing new rules regarding the downloading of music off the web, free mp3 music downloads have been harder to come by. However, there are plenty of sites on the web that offer free music without harming the musical artists themselves or facing a fine down the road.

If you’re looking for free mp3 music downloads, you don’t have to visit questionable, unknown sites either. Plenty of well-known sites offer free versions of their music for downloading.

Apple’s iTunes store, the site that revolutionized music downloading for today’s generation, offers a whole section of free music from new, hot artists. These downloads have ensured quality and are compatible with most popular devices. iTunes also offers discounted music on hits and singles, some only costing only $0.69 each.

The iTunes Store

Starbucks has also begun offering free music on their website, usually from debuting artists. Starbucks has a knack for discovering great talents in the music industry. It’s a great way to discover all the artists that your friends will be talking about tomorrow.

Amazon.com

The multimedia-selling giant Amazon.com has also hopped on the MP3 downloading bandwagon with the MP3 sharing page. You can buy entire albums for free with the Amazon MP3 downloader, then transfer your MP3 files to your computer, MPs player, Kindle, iPod, or iPhone.

Smaller Labels

If you’re looking for the next best thing, you should check out Rolling Stone’s Rock & Roll Daily page. The site offers quality music and quality downloads, all Rolling Stone approved. MP3.com also offers more than 200 free downloads on their site, as does ArtistsDirect.com. There is also a list of smaller labels such as Dischord, Sub Pop, and Fat Wreck Chords, as well as others.

What to Look out for:

Some websites are not completely honest about whether or not their music is exactly legal to download. Some sites skip over the fine print in favor of getting more downloads. Be sure that you pay attention to anything that might be considered copyright infringement so that you don’t end up getting a nasty letter from a lawyer.

The other thing you’ll have to keep a close eye on is quality. Some sites don’t manage the quality of their downloads, so you might walk away with an MP3 without the best sound. Sites that let you listen to the MP3 beforehand allow you to check on the quality before you download it to your computer, and should ensure that you get the quality you’re looking for.

Selection:

While it’s true that legal MP3 downloading sites don’t usually have the best or widest selection, you can usually find something worth listening to. Sites such as Rolling Stone, the iTunes store, and Amazon are always on the lookout for new and up and coming artists, so they’re definitely worth a look. You can also look for sites offering discounts on singles and EPs.

If you’re looking for sites with a wide selection of free downloads, simply do a quick Google search. A little wandering around the internet will turn up some great sites that will usually have what you’re looking for.

Here are a few of the internet’s most popular free MP3 downloading sites:

iLike – iLike is a social music site that connects you to new music through what your friends are listening to. The site also has a selection of free downloads. It can also be a great way to find out what’s hot on the music scene.

Unsigned Band web – This site is a place for unsigned bands to get their music heard without having to go through a record label first. The site has tons of free downloads from every genre imaginable. If you’re looking for the “next big thing,” this might be the place to find it.

Mp3.cm – Mp3.com has over 1,000 artists on their website from a variety of genres. You can either stream music or choose from one of their many downloadable files.
Purevolume.com – While this site is meant for streaming, you’ll also be able to find a downloadable gem or two scattered around the site. The easiest way to find free downloads is by searching for newer music.

MTV – While their selection isn’t as wide as some other sites, MTV is known for finding bands worth hearing. They usually offer around a dozen downloads at any given time, so check it out!

Free Downloads from the Artist

Although it’s not a popular practice, there are some artists who offer free copies of their albums online. If you’re looking for a copy of a specific album, you might want to check with the artist’s official website first. If you can’t find the album itself, you might be able to find a promotional deal or a discount on the music.

Streaming Music

Over the past few years, users have made a huge switch from downloading to streaming music. There are tons of sites around the internet offering freeplay music in the form of streaming such as Pandora and Grooveshark. While you can’t upload these songs onto your portable listening device, these sites can be just what you need to get your free music fix without having to worry about downloading anything illegally or paying money down the road.

Whether you’re looking for a whole album of free music to download or just a way to listen to your favorite music for free, there are plenty of options for you. Just beware of sites that don’t comply with downloading regulations. They can give you downloads with poor quality and even land you in court if you download material illegally. But as long as you use trusted sites, you’ll be able to fill up your library with all the songs you want!