Alternatives To Pirating Music

 I know that pirating music has always been a big issue. In some places it’s even illegal. I thought I’d help out by sharing some cheap/fre alternatives I have found so you can stop feeling guilty. Feel free to add your own!

• Tons of bands have a bandcamp page and if they’re fairly unknown or generous they will have some of their songs as free downloads or at a “pay what you want” price
• Noisetrade is another website that has a “pay what you want” option
• Tweet For A Track offers a free download of a song in exchange for a tweet promoting their site
• Certain bands on Purevolume will put up some of their songs for free download
• Some record labels will release “samplers” of  some of the bands on their label. This includes several free songs and is a great way to discover some new music. They usually come out as seasonal releases. Examples have been released by Dine Alone Records and Top Shelf Records
• Some bands will also release a free sampler in promotion of an upcoming tour
• I help write for a music blog and I tend to get a lot of emails from band’s management with free downloads to albums for review purposes.
• Libraries (or at the least the one I go to) have CD’s you can borrow and sync to your iTunes
• You can also borrow some from your friends/family!
• You can usually find some cheap CD’s on eBay as well. There are certain accounts that start bidding off at 1 cent
• Some record stores also sell used CD’s for fairly cheap. Audiopile has a section in front of their store where they sell CD’s for as cheap at $3 and they’re also willing to barter
• You can also check out thrift stores and garage sales
• Bands will also sell their CD’s at concerts for a cheaper price than you would find at the store
• Absolutepunk.net has Free Music Fridays which has a list of a ton of free EP's + songs for download