Best Free Music Download Sites

Charles Cleyn
27 May 201803:58

TLDRThe video discusses the best free and legal music download sites. It clarifies that while you won't find major label artists like Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift for free due to royalty rights, there are numerous platforms offering free music from emerging artists. The top five sites listed are Jamendo, which features upcoming and European artists; SoundCloud, known for its wide variety of free music and background tracks; Amazon.com, which hosts thousands of free songs, including classical music and new bands; Free Music Archive, offering live takes from well-known artists; and Facebook pages of artists, where fans can sometimes access free music downloads by liking or sharing posts. These sites provide a legal alternative to discover new music and support upcoming musicians.

Takeaways

  • 🎵 There are thousands of music download sites, but not all are legal.
  • 🚫 Major label artists like Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift are unlikely to be found on free, legal sites due to royalty collection.
  • 🌐 Free legal music sites often feature upcoming and lesser-known artists looking for exposure.
  • 🔍 Jamendo is a platform for discovering new and upcoming artists, especially from Europe.
  • 🎶 SoundCloud is a popular site for free music downloads and is known for its underground and upcoming artists.
  • 📚 Amazon.com has a selection of free songs, including classical music and tracks from new bands.
  • 🎸 Free Music Archive offers live takes and sessions from well-known artists, often available for free download.
  • 📈 Following artists on Facebook can lead to free music downloads, sometimes requiring a like or share to access.
  • 🚀 Supporting upcoming artists by downloading their music for free can help them gain exposure.
  • ⚖️ Legal free music download sites respect artists' rights and contribute to a fair music ecosystem.
  • 🔑 Trading a like or share on social media for a free music download is a common practice to support the artists.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic discussed in the transcript?

    -The main topic discussed in the transcript is the best free music download sites that are legal.

  • Why are popular artists like Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift not available on legal free music download sites?

    -Popular artists like Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift are not available on legal free music download sites because they are signed to major labels that want to collect royalties from every stream and download.

  • What kind of artists can be found on Jamendo?

    -On Jamendo, you can find upcoming artists, a lot of new artists, and many European artists who are just starting out, including singer-songwriters and bands.

  • Why do artists upload their music for free on sites like Jamendo?

    -Artists upload their music for free on sites like Jamendo to gain exposure and to be discovered by a wider audience.

  • How is Soundcloud similar to YouTube for musicians?

    -Soundcloud is similar to YouTube for musicians because it is a platform where most artists have all their songs available, many of which are free to download.

  • What kind of music is typically available for free download on Amazon.com?

    -On Amazon.com, you can find thousands of free songs, including classical music and tracks from upcoming bands who want to list their music as free downloads.

  • What is unique about the Free Music Archive?

    -The Free Music Archive has a unique collection of live takes of music downloads, including sessions with famous artists that are often available for free.

  • How can one find free music downloads on Facebook pages?

    -You can find free music downloads on Facebook pages by following your favorite artists, who often post links to free remixes or live takes, sometimes requiring a like or share to access the download.

  • What is a common requirement on Facebook to get a free music download?

    -A common requirement to get a free music download from Facebook pages is to like or share the post, which is a form of trading engagement for access to the free content.

  • Why might you not find certain popular songs for free download legally on the internet?

    -You might not find certain popular songs for free download legally on the internet because they are protected by copyright laws and the artists or labels have not made them available for free.

  • What is the benefit of using legal free music download sites?

    -The benefit of using legal free music download sites is that you can discover new and upcoming artists legally, without violating copyright laws or supporting piracy.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Best Free and Legal Music Download Sites 🎵

The video discusses the reality of finding free music downloads online, emphasizing the distinction between legal and illegal sites. It clarifies that while it's challenging to find popular artists' tracks for free due to major label restrictions, there are several legal platforms that offer free music from upcoming and independent artists. The speaker shares personal experiences with copyright issues when posting covers of popular songs and introduces five legal sites for free music downloads: Jamendo, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Free Music Archive, and Facebook pages of artists. Each site is briefly described, highlighting their unique offerings, such as new artists, live takes, and the opportunity to discover music that isn't widely known yet.

Mindmap

Keywords

Free Music Download Sites

Free music download sites are platforms on the internet that allow users to download music tracks without incurring any cost. These sites are legal and typically host music from independent artists or songs that are in the public domain. In the context of the video, these sites are contrasted with illegal download sites and are presented as a way to discover new and upcoming artists legally.

Legal vs. Illegal

Legal refers to actions or services that are authorized and permitted by law, while illegal indicates the opposite. In the video, the distinction is made between legal music download sites that respect copyright laws and illegal sites that do not. The importance of using legal sites is emphasized to avoid copyright infringement and support artists.

Major Labels

Major labels are large, well-established record companies that have significant influence over the music industry. They often control the distribution and rights to music from popular artists. The video mentions that artists signed to major labels are less likely to have their music available for free download due to the labels' focus on royalty collection.

Royalty Rights

Royalty rights refer to the financial benefit that copyright holders, such as musicians and songwriters, receive from the use of their copyrighted work. The video discusses how major labels are protective of these rights and how they enforce them, even for cover songs posted on social media platforms like Facebook.

Upcoming Artists

Upcoming artists are musicians who are new to the music scene and are in the process of gaining recognition. The video suggests that free music download sites are a platform for these artists to gain exposure. They may offer their music for free to attract listeners and build a fan base.

Jamendo

Jamendo is a specific free music download site mentioned in the video that is known for hosting a variety of independent and upcoming artists, particularly from Europe. It is presented as a platform where users can discover new music that is not widely known and is available for free download.

SoundCloud

SoundCloud is a popular online audio distribution platform that allows artists to upload their music and users to stream or download tracks. The video highlights SoundCloud as a source for free music downloads, particularly for underground and emerging artists.

Amazon.com

Amazon.com, while primarily known as an e-commerce platform, also offers a selection of free music downloads. The video points out that Amazon hosts thousands of free songs, often from classical musicians or upcoming bands looking to increase their exposure, making it a surprising source for free music.

Free Music Archive

Free Music Archive is a site that offers a collection of free music downloads, including live performances. It is mentioned in the video as a place where users can find live takes of songs from well-known artists, which are often not available elsewhere for free.

Facebook Pages

Facebook pages are public profiles created for individuals, businesses, or entities to share information and connect with an audience. The video suggests that following artists' Facebook pages can lead to opportunities for free music downloads, often in exchange for likes or shares, which help promote the artist.

Live Takes

Live takes refer to recordings of live performances by artists. These can include concerts, sessions, or other live events. The video notes that live takes are a unique offering on some free music sites, providing fans with a different experience of the music compared to studio recordings.

Highlights

There are thousands of sites available for music downloads, with a distinction between legal and illegal options.

The five best free music download sites are all legal, offering a wide range of music from upcoming artists.

Major label artists like Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift are unlikely to be found on free, legal download sites due to royalty collection practices.

Jamendo is a platform for discovering new and upcoming artists, particularly from Europe, offering free music downloads for exposure.

SoundCloud functions as a music-focused alternative to YouTube, with many artists offering free downloads of their songs.

Amazon.com, surprisingly, hosts thousands of free songs, including classical music and tracks from emerging bands.

Free Music Archive provides live takes and sessions from well-known artists, often available for free download.

Facebook pages of artists sometimes offer free music downloads, often requiring a like or share to access them.

Downloading popular songs for free is unlikely and potentially illegal if offered.

Artists on legal free music sites aim to gain exposure and are often not signed to major labels.

SoundCloud is a popular source for vlog and background music, featuring a variety of underground artists.

Amazon's music selection includes free downloads, making it a useful discovery tool for new music.

The Free Music Archive is a repository for live music sessions, offering a unique listening experience.

Following artists on social media can lead to opportunities for free music downloads in exchange for engagement.

Illegal downloads of copyrighted music can result in takedown notices from major labels.

The legal free music download sites provide a platform for artists to share their work and gain a following.

Amazon's filters help users navigate through the vast selection of free music available on their platform.

Social media engagement is often a requirement for accessing free music downloads on platforms like Facebook.