# What's your favorite site to download music (legally please!!!) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218 "2005-03-18T22:24:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![susie426](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@susie426](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susie426)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/1 "2005-03-18T22:24:06Z")
Hi!!! I currently use ITunes for my downloading of albums and single tracks, but just bought a Dell and Musicmatch/Jukebox came with it. I’m wondering what the straight dopers out there like for downloading music. What are the pros and cons of the different sites out there…or do some of you use more than one place? Enlighten me 🙂 Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/2 "2005-03-18T22:29:12Z")
[Allofmp3.com](http://Allofmp3.com) You cannot beat the price. You cannot beat the quality. You choose format, bitrate, etc. And a Russian court just ruled that it was legal last week or so. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/3 "2005-03-18T22:55:13Z")
Itunes is not available in the IOM ☹ so I have to make do with the likes of [mycokemusic.com](http://mycokemusic.com) and virgin digital downloads. Both of which are very lacking in the type of music I like (old and new) So I tend to buy music the old-fashioned way if I really want it. Currently my music collection is stagnant. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/4 "2005-03-18T22:57:28Z")
I’ve bought some music from [puretracks.com](http://puretracks.com)… that’s a canadian site though. Oh well. 🙂 They’re pretty good though. A few technical issues and holes in their selection, but the quality is good and I love being able to mix and match tracks. (May try itunes canada one of these days.) ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/5 "2005-03-18T23:23:35Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > I’ve bought some music from [puretracks.com](http://puretracks.com)… that’s a canadian site though. Oh well. 🙂 > > They’re pretty good though. A few technical issues and holes in their selection, but the quality is good and I love being able to mix and match tracks. (May try itunes canada one of these days.) Hmm, when I looked into puretracks, most of the songs said you were purchasing the right to burn or transfer to an MP3 player a maximum of three times. I don’t even know if they have a way of tracking that, but that seems like a raw deal to me. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2005, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/6 "2005-03-18T23:57:58Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > [Allofmp3.com](http://Allofmp3.com) > You cannot beat the price. > > You cannot beat the quality. You choose format, bitrate, etc. > > And a Russian court just ruled that it was legal last week or so. While it’s ongoing legality is still up for question, I’ll second [allofmp3.com](http://allofmp3.com). While I don’t believe the artists are getting any real kind of compensation from the Russians, I believe ultimate muic prices will eventually stabilise somewhere between the $2.50 an album from Allofmp3, and $10 from iTunes. ---
**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/7 "2005-03-19T00:18:01Z")
iTunes user here. I just wish they would flush out their Canadian catalogue a bit, and I wish they could allow me to buy from other international sites if the product isn’t available in my store. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/8 "2005-03-19T05:40:52Z")
Does iTunes have classical and old standards? ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/9 "2005-03-19T06:05:31Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > [Allofmp3.com](http://Allofmp3.com) > You cannot beat the price. > > You cannot beat the quality. You choose format, bitrate, etc. > > And a Russian court just ruled that it was legal last week or so. Just checked it out. Seems pretty cool. My only hesitation would be using my credit card for a russian website. Not to be xenophobic or anything, but if there was a case of credit card fraud, it seems like it’d be harder to fight it over seas. How do you guys pay for music there? ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2005, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/10 "2005-03-19T13:08:26Z")
> [@seriousart](#): > > Just checked it out. Seems pretty cool. My only hesitation would be using my credit card for a russian website. Not to be xenophobic or anything, but if there was a case of credit card fraud, it seems like it’d be harder to fight it over seas. > > How do you guys pay for music there? Paypal works okay, but honestly, they use the LARGEST credit card handling company in Europe. AllofMp3 doesn’t even SEE your credit card number. I’ve done both with no ill effects. If it bothers you that much, check and see if your bank issues ‘one use only’ credit card numbers on thier website. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/11 "2005-03-20T01:46:48Z")
[http://music.download.com/2001-1\_32-0.html?tag=dir](http://music.download.com/2001-1_32-0.html?tag=dir) Some great music here. ---
**Author:** ![susie426](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@susie426](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susie426)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/12 "2005-03-20T05:58:26Z")
THanks for all the ideas!!! Has anyone tried Napster? Is that legal now?-what are the fees like? Thanks! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/13 "2005-03-20T07:11:36Z")
> [@susie426](#): > > THanks for all the ideas!!! > > Has anyone tried Napster? Is that legal now?-what are the fees like? > > Thanks! 🆒 I’ve never used Napster, but there have been a few threads about it recently. Check 'em out. [1](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=302934) [2](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=305745) [3](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=306281) [4](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=306985) ---
**Author:** ![Furry\_Mongoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Furry\_Mongoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furry_Mongoose)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/14 "2005-03-20T13:02:16Z")
I’m using Napster currently and would recommend it - their choice is good and they regularly put new music on. Not too expensive either. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/15 "2005-03-20T23:38:32Z")
For choral sheet music, I always go to the [Choral Public Domain Library.](http://www.cpdl.org) It’s excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favorite-site-to-download-music-legally-please/295218/16 "2005-03-21T00:02:01Z")
I use Napster, and I have no complaints. They have a big selection, although of course no download service has everything.