Using Peer to Peer MP3 Software

Peer-to-peer (P2P) is a simple idea. It works on the basis that anyone running a particular peer-to-peer software creates a 'shared folder'. When these users connect to the Internet and run the software package everything in their shared folder is available to everyone else running the same software and vice-versa.

This means that there can potentially be millions of files available to the users of P2P networks. However, it's important to remember that you are legally required to have the appropriate permission to share any music files you have with other people before you can make them available.

Many up-and-coming musicians use peer-to-peer networks to freely distribute MP3 files in order to get their music known to as many people as possible, and as such, allow people to exchange their music. There are also some well-known artists who make their music available in MP3 form via their official websites though, and some have even chosen to release entire albums solely as MP3-encoded files.

However, the music industry take a dim view of sharing music files that have not been freely distributed, and there are many legal actions pending against various websites, producers of peer-to-peer software, and P2P users.

For more advice on downloading files using peer-to-peer software, check out InterDownloads, which contains an extensive guide to downloading files.