Double check to make sure you don't download the same song twice. You don't need to waste money on songs that you already have. You can just find a history of your purchases on your download services. You can download free MP3 music files from certain archives on the Internet. These archives offer publicly released music that is both free and legal to download. The selection is vast, artist so who knows what you will come across in your search!
Always remember to backup new downloads. Building a library can go to ruin if you do not back it up. You don't want to lose all those files. Don't think that a client for downloading should allow your songs to get downloaded again. Back up your music library to online storage or external hard drive.
If you are looking for free, legal music downloads, consider using a free music archive. A couple popular ones are Free Music Archive and The Internet Archive. These are nonprofit sites that contain all kinds of free, legal music from many genres. These are great for securely and legally experiencing some new artists or getting some rare tracks from some of your favorites.
Stay away from any music downloads that require a peer to peer client, also known as p2p software. No matter how slickly designed such sites are, they are probably just an access point for music pirates and torrent users. Avoid these, as almost all torrent activity is a legal risk.
Do you love to check out new music from up-and-coming bands? If so, you are in luck! Many websites offer free music downloads because the bands and record companies want you to sample the music. In a way, it is like hearing the song on the radio. If you like it, buy the album to support your favorite new band.
Torrents are still around for sharing all sorts of files. If you are looking for songs which are hard to find but posted by their authors, that's a good place to look for legal MP3s. You can find a great deal of independent artists that way, exposing yourself to new music.
Peer to peer software may seem like a great way to get free music, but the fact is that it opens you up to viruses, malware and more. To keep your computer free from these problems, stick to downloading through iTunes or from online retailers like Amazon.com or HMV.com.