RSSDown to the Load: Music Downloads for (Almost) Free
Remember when Napster first came out? There was a frenzy of free music downloads—and a TON of lawsuits. There was talk of the music industry changing forever, and of artists not seeing a pound of profit.
Musicians had a good point. As much as I love getting music for free (let’s face it, money doesn’t grow on trees and there’s too much music I want to get my hands on!) I understand the need to protect the artist’s rights.
The law must have agreed because Napster—and now iTunes—charge for downloads. Granted, it’s still much cheaper to download a CD on iTunes or Napster than it is to buy a hard copy at the store, but I digress.
One thing is for sure: the internet has changed the music industry. Some may pine away for the good ol’ days, but I think it’s brilliant that virtually anyone with talent has the possibility of being discovered on YouTube. Take Justin Bieber, for example. It doesn’t matter if you love or hate his music, or think that he looks like a twelve-year old (guilty), the fact is that he was discovered on YouTube for covering Usher songs and now he’s an international phenomenon.
Gaining that sort of stardom is rare for 99% of musicians out there, but if nothing else the internet gives performers an instant worldwide audience. And for those of us who make up the audience, we’ve got entertainment at the tips of our fingers—literally. Accessing the music we love is easy and actually very affordable compared to just a few years ago. That should be some consolation if ever you find yourself frustrated with having to pay for music again.
NapsterUK may not be free anymore, but there’s still plenty of almost-free opportunities. As you’ll see on VoucherGurus, you’ll receive 15 free MP3s by just signing up, and becoming a member of Napster is just £10 for the first three months! It’s not 100% free, but it’s pretty darn close.
And of course, we all know and love iTunes. I’m sure there’s a small percentage of people who don’t have an iPod and prefer MP3 players, but I’ll assume that most of us music lovers have converted to the Apple way. Most downloads are less than a pound, and it couldn’t be easier to transfer your favourite tunes to your iPod. For those living in a cave and without iTunes, the download is quick, easy, and best of all: free. You’ll never look back, trust me.
For NapsterUK vouchers and iTunes discounts, be sure to visit VoucherGurus.co.uk before downloading to your heart’s content.