How to Download Free Music Legally
How to Download Free Music Legally – Best Websites and Apps
Why Download Music Legally?
Downloading free music legally ensures that you respect artists and their creative work while avoiding legal troubles. Unauthorized downloads, often referred to as piracy, deprive artists of their deserved revenue. In contrast, legal downloads offer a win-win scenario where you can enjoy music, and the artists are properly compensated, either through licensing, ad revenue, or by giving away their work under free use agreements.
Top Platforms to Download Free Music Legally
There are several websites and platforms that provide legal options for downloading music for free. Below are some of the most popular ones:
SoundCloud:
SoundCloud is a well-known platform for both mainstream and independent artists. Some tracks are available for free download directly from the artist’s page, although this depends on the artist’s settings.
Jamendo:
Jamendo offers free music downloads for personal use, especially if you’re a fan of independent and unsigned artists. The platform boasts over 500,000 tracks that can be legally downloaded.
Amazon’s Free Music Section:
Amazon has a vast collection of free music that is legally available for download. Though limited compared to their paid library, the free section often includes a variety of tracks from different genres.
Bandcamp:
Bandcamp allows artists to distribute their music directly to fans. Many artists offer free downloads, although they often request a donation. Downloading music from Bandcamp is legal and directly supports independent creators.
Free Music Archive (FMA):
Free Music Archive offers free downloads from thousands of artists and hosts music under Creative Commons licenses. You can legally download music and use it for personal projects, depending on the license type.
Internet Archive’s Audio Archive:
The Internet Archive has millions of audio files, including live music concerts and public domain songs. Much of this content can be legally downloaded.
NoiseTrade:
NoiseTrade allows artists to share their music in exchange for fans’ email addresses. You can find free downloads from up-and-coming artists, as well as established names in indie music.
DatPiff:
If you’re a fan of hip-hop, DatPiff is a treasure trove of free mixtapes and singles from major and independent artists. The platform is well known in the hip-hop community and offers legal downloads.
How to Download Music from YouTube (Legally)
Downloading music directly from YouTube using unauthorized tools is against the platform’s terms of service and can result in penalties. However, YouTube has its own legal options for downloading music:
- YouTube Music: Subscribers to YouTube Music can download songs for offline listening.
- Creative Commons Videos: Some YouTube creators license their work under Creative Commons, allowing legal downloads.
Royalty-Free Music for Creators
For creators, it’s essential to use royalty-free music for videos, podcasts, and other multimedia projects. Websites like Bensound, Incompetech, and Epidemic Sound offer a wide range of royalty-free music that can be downloaded and used legally for various purposes, including commercial use in some cases.
Free Music Download Apps
Several apps are available for mobile devices that allow for legal music downloads. Some top choices include:
- Audiomack: A popular app for hip-hop, electronic, and reggae music, offering free legal downloads.
- Spotify: Although primarily a streaming app, Spotify Premium users can download songs for offline listening.
- Deezer: Similar to Spotify, Deezer offers offline downloads with its premium subscription.
Creative Commons Licensing and What it Means
Music under Creative Commons licenses allows for legal downloading and redistribution. These licenses may impose some restrictions, such as requiring attribution to the artist or forbidding commercial use. Make sure you understand the terms of the license before using or distributing Creative Commons music.
FAQ: Is it Legal to Download Music from Streaming Platforms?
Downloading music from streaming platforms without authorization is typically against the platform’s terms of service. Legal downloads are usually reserved for premium subscribers of services like Spotify and Apple Music. Free users are generally limited to streaming-only options.