With the emergence of the MP3 format, free music, unlike before, is no longer hard to come by. The web is practically teeming with free MP3 music downloads for all kinds of music enthusiasts. Although there has been some questions raised on the legal issues involved with online peer-to-peer file sharing, continued patronage of free MP3 music downloads has never quite died down. The truth is, it's safe to claim that it seemed to have acquired new life and vigor.

Free MP3 Music Download: What is MP3?

MP3 is a shortcut for MPEG - ˝ Audio Layer 3. It really is sometimes generally known as MPG3, MPG-3, MPG Level 3, MPG Level III, MPEG 3, et cetera. In essence, MP3 is a compressed and formatted copy of an original audio file.

The equations and algorithms utilized in the MP3 format are much like that employed in JPG when compressing photographs. If you notice, a JPG photo isn't quite the exact same as that of the original. You notice some blurred or darkened parts, blotches, and some minor flaws that can be too small to be noticed through the casual observer. This really is the effect of file compression.

And because MP3 uses the exact same fractal-based algorithms as JPG, it should be noted that MP3 isn't going to necessarily sound exactly the same as the original audio file. Conversely, the real difference within the sound of both file formats is too subtle and not enough to discount the benefits of MP3.

Free MP3 Music Download: Why is it free?

There are actually two reasons why free MP3 music downloads are widely available. First will be the fact that some musicians with real talent find it difficult to break into the music business. Most artists who actually made it are groomed by recording industry moguls to look and sound that way in order to cater to the wants and music preference of the masses. It's true that this is not very nice but it's a idea that all struggling musicians have to grapple with. In case you are going to be successful, comprises have to be made. Folks that are unwilling to compromise or change only to please find themselves frustrated for they have no outlet for their many talents. This is where free MP3 music downloads come in.

Several sites, for example MP3.com, MP3Songs.org, MP3Unsigned.com, and others, offer opportunities for unsigned artists to publish their works. Online users will find free MP3 music downloads by these artists, listen to it, and judge it by its sound. Many artists have been discovered this way through free mp3 download sites music downloads that serve as a portal to let the open public realize that they too exist.

Another explanation why free MP3 music downloads are offered is the theory that people use it in product sampling. With free MP3 music downloads, you can sample the work of new artist, listen to a number of tracks in an album, or listen to bits of a whole new single, before going out to the record store to buy the CD.

Informal polls happen to be conducted to test this theory on free MP3 music downloads and it's been found that many people do go out and buy the record after listening to it online.