Online music subscriptions allow listeners access to thousands of songs for a low monthly fee. Find out which music download sites are the best value.

Many music fans use music download sites to download individual MP3 tracks or an entire album of mp3′s. At $1 per song or around $10 per album, downloading an MP3 album can be less expensive than buying a CD. Another service currently being offered by sites that sell music downloads are online music subscriptions. This service allows the listener to pay a low monthly fee to be allowed unlimited access to millions of songs.

Pros and Cons of Downloading Music With an Online Music Subscription

The main benefit of a music subscription is that the listener is able to instantly have a collection of thousands of songs, without spending thousands of dollars. This music can be listened to on a PC, or played on a compatible home audio system, phone or mp3 player. The listener can create multiple track lists for various occasions. Some services also give the subscriber some MP3 tracks each month that can be kept after the subscription ends.

However, online music subscriptions may have drawbacks for some listeners. Using these services can be compared to “renting” music. The music is streamed, and therefore most of the songs do not become the property of the listener. The streamed music can not be burned to CD’s. When the subscriber stops paying the monthly fee, they will lose all any music that has been downloaded through the service.

Subscription music site are not for those who want to a lasting music collecting. In this case each MP3 must be paid for, although some free download sites are available. Other sites may give listeners free music downloads for supporting a cause.

Best Subscription Sites for Music Downloads

Many sites offer music download subscriptions, and some are more reliable than others. Here are some of the most compatible and trusted sites for music downloads.

Purchasing a monthly online music subscription can allow listeners to stream thousands for songs for a small fee each month. These songs can be played on a variety of MP3 devices. However, subscribers can not keep these songs unless they continue to pay a monthly fee. Rhapsody.com and Napster.com are two of the most trusted sites for music downloads.

Tired of paying to download music? These music download sites allow listeners to legally obtain free music from new artists.

Downloading music to an mp3 player or computer hard drive is a convenient and easy way to stay on top of current music trends. Music downloads on many sites cost around $1 per song or $10 per album. However, other sites allow listeners to obtain free downloads from new artists who are attempting to promote their music.

A decade ago, most music downloads were “free.” Many sites were created to allow listeners to share their music with millions around the world. However, sharp falls in music sales prompted laws to be changed regarding file sharing. It is now illegal to share copyrighted music online without the artist’s permission. Therefore, most music found online must be purchased.

Listeners looking to find free music are not entirely out of luck. Some sites do offer free mp3 downloads from artists looking to have their music heard. Artists may offer one or several songs as free downloads, in the hopes that listeners will then purchase the entire album. Downloads from the following sites are free and completely legal.

Music Downloads from betterPropaganda.com

At betterPropaganda, listeners can download hundreds of free mp3′s from indie, electronic, rock and hip-hop artists with no subscription required. The site allows listeners to search in the categories of new mp3′s, popular music, or artist name. Many artists offering free mp3 downloads are new, although the site also features more established artists such as The Shins, Iron and Wine, and Death Cab for Cutie.

Along with free mp3′s, video channels can also be found on betterPropaganda. See electronic, rock or hip- hop videos, along with artist interviews. Listeners can also sign up for their newsletter, download podcasts and RSS feeds.

Free Music from AudioStreet.net

AudioStreet also offers free, legal downloads from artists who are just rising to fame. This site offers the advantage of featuring artists in many music genres, such as rock, rap, country, reggae and blues. This site also offers convenient search options, charts and videos.

Another feature of the AudioStreet site is the AudioStreet A&R Radar. Artists can get discovered by uploading their own unsigned music onto the site. As the song is played and recommended by listeners it will climb higher on the AudioStreet A&R Radar. This chart is watched by over 100 record labels.

Music lovers can explore the newest independent label and unsigned music on AudioStreet.net and betterPropaganda.com. Downloading mp3′s is free and legal on these sites, and no monthly fee is required. Listeners can stay ahead of trends and save money by visiting these sites.

Want more free music? Check out Free Music Downloads for Supporting Clean Energy Legislation. Interested in music subscription sites? Check out Best Online Music Subscription Sites for Music Downloads.

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Spotify, an online music program aimed to make music distribution easy, has a ways to go, but may still end up helping the music industry in the long run.

One of the newest additions to the musical distribution landscape is the online music service, Spotify, a European-basd company co-founded by Daniel Ek. Though not yet available in the US, the service, which offers both free and subscription-based versions, includes a vast library of thousands of songs available as streaming music.

However, the burning questions remain – how does one get consumers to pay for something that they can currently get for free (albeit illegally), can one sustain a business model based on the idealized view that the mindset will change, and, most importantly, is Spotify the model that will do it?

What are the drawbacks?

Several problems have come up with regards to the service. For one, if a subscriber cancels their subscription, they lose any songs they’ve accumulated in their library. Also, if a subscriber opts for the free service, they have to put up with advertising, which those who opt for the paid subscription-based service avoid. Also, though the library available includes thousands of song titles, there are still thousands more unavailable to consumers.

What’s available and what isn’t?

Though Ek states that the labels have thus far been very receptive to Spotify some tracks are not available in every country, and many big name bands have opted out of inclusion, including The Beatles, Metallica, and Led Zeppelin. While there are plenty of artists still available, the service also ostracizes a rather large pool of talent by not including independent artists (yet), which means no Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and Ani DiFranco, all of whom handle their own deals and aren’t affiliated with a major label.

However, “right now, due to our huge scope and the level of work that lies purely in adding our labels’ entire catalogues (we’re only a third of the way through even now), we haven’t struck any independent artist deals, although we’re definitely open to it,” Ek says in an interview with the UK’s Daily Telegraph.

What does the future hold?

Currently, Spotify is working out some kinks, including making music easier to purchase, cleaning up the library handling, and improving portability. However, Ek is still very optimistic that the business model will be a success, and firmly believes he will be able to convert those who utilize illegal file-sharing into those who purchase their music legally (preferably by using Spotify, of course!). It seems only time will tell, though recent studies have shown that illegal file-sharing is going down. Maybe Ek is onto something.

When it comes to on-demand music websites, consumers are currently spoilt for choice. Here’s a list of leading streaming music sites including where to listen for free.

Massive music catalogues, slick features, excellent social networking options, and the ability to instantly buy songs are all part of the package with the top on-demand music websites. Here’s a run-down of 5 of the best online music streaming websites on the market for free music on-demand.

Spotify

How it works: Essentially, Spoitfy is like a streaming version of iTunes where registered users can listen to any track from Spotify’s enormous music catalogue (around 6 million tracks), create play lists, and upload and share their Spotify play lists on Facebook.

What it costs: A free version of Spotify which features advertising is available. To access the free version, an invite from a Spotify Premium member is required. At the moment, Spotify’s free version is only available in certain countries. A commercial-free Premium version of Spotify which offers higher quality streaming plus iPhone and Android applications for mobile phones is available for £9.99 a month (UK price).

Where it’s available: Spotify is a Swedish company and is currently only available in Sweden, Norway, Finland, the UK, France and Spain.

Last.fm

How it works: Last FM streams a random play list built around an initial artist selection as chosen by the user. Strong community and social networking features, band bios, phone application options, and the ability to buy music are other key features of Last.fm

What it Costs: A free version of Last.fm is available in the UK, US, Ireland and Germany. Outside of these countries, a subscription of €3.00 per month is required, although there is a free trial period.

Where it’s available: A subscription version of Last.fm is available in most countries and the site is available in 12 languages.

Pandora

How it works: Like Last.fm, Pandora is an interactive music on-demand site which automatically creates specific play lists based upon selected artists and feed back from the user. Pandora apps are available for iPhones, blackberry and Android Phones and play lists can be uploaded to Facebook.

What it costs: A free version supported by advertisements is available which offers 40 hours worth of free listening each month. A premium version called Pandora One is available for a subscription fee of $36 a year. This offers extra benefits including unlimited listening hours.

Where it’s available: Due to licensing restrictions, Pandora is only available in the United States.

we7

How it works: we7 is a relatively new music-streaming site which offers instant access to over 4 million songs without registration requirements. Benefits include social networking features and music purchasing.

What it costs: A free version of we7 is available which doesn’t require sign-up. Tracks on the free version of we7 are preceded by advertisements (short audio ads know as blipverts). A commercial free premium version is available for £4.99 a month.

Where it’s available: we7 is a UK targeted music site so some tracks aren’t available in other countries due to licensing restrictions.

TubeRadio.fm

How it works: New kid on the music streaming block, TubeRadio.fm bills itself as ‘iTunes meets youTube meets Spotify’ and provides music videos as well as songs sourced from YouTube. Other features include music biographies, lyrics, social networking, and mp3 purchasing.

What it costs: TubeRadio.com is currently offering a totally free service.

Where it’s available: Providing there aren’t any country specific restrictions concerning youTube, accessing TubeRadio.fm shouldn’t be a problem.

Apple iTunes

On the 1st of May 2010, Apple confirmed its plans to close the music service La La Music which the company purchased in December 2009. Music industry experts are speculating that the closure of La La may be part of a move by Apple to incorporate the music streaming service into iTunes. (source: 6Music music news)

Keeping Abreast of Online Music Streaming

Things move fast in the world of on-demand music and these sites are just the tip of the music streaming iceberg. Websites get upgraded, new features are added, and music licensing laws change so it pays to check for updates and new websites regularly.