Music Access & Law

Seven Legal Places to Find Music When a Converter Is Not the Right Tool

A short list of services that let you download or stream music with clear permissions, from Bandcamp to the Internet Archive.

7 min read · Published 1 August 2026 · Updated 1 August 2026

MP3Juice
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Collection of music apps and album covers on a screen

A browser converter is convenient when you need one file from a public source. It is a poor fit when you want a clean library, a lossless copy or a way to support the artist. These seven services cover those cases without asking you to install anything strange.

When a converter is the wrong tool

Stream ripping adds another encode to audio that is already compressed. Tags are often missing, filenames are messy and the file quality depends on the source stream. If the music matters to you, start from a platform that offers a download or a purchase option. The result is cleaner and the permissions are clear.

1. Bandcamp

Bandcamp is the first stop for independent music. Many artists set a name your price option, so you can pay what you can or download for free when the artist allows it. Purchases include a choice of formats, often FLAC, WAV, ALAC and MP3. The money goes to the artist, and the files come with proper tags and artwork.

2. Free Music Archive

The Free Music Archive started as a project of the radio station WFMU. It collects tracks under Creative Commons licences, which makes it useful for podcasts, videos and background music. Read the licence on each track before you use it. Some allow commercial use and some do not.

3. Internet Archive

Archive.org hosts live concert recordings, public domain audio and old broadcasts. The Live Music Archive section contains thousands of shows uploaded with the permission of the artists. The audio quality varies because the recordings come from different sources, but the catalogue is hard to match.

4. SoundCloud

Many independent producers enable a free download on their tracks. The button appears under the track options and usually offers the original file. It is a useful way to follow a scene, especially for electronic music and remixes. Not every track has it, and some downloads require a follow or a repost.

5. Musopen

Musopen is a non profit library of public domain classical recordings. You can find orchestral works, piano pieces and study music without licensing fees. The site also offers sheet music and educational material. It is a good source when you need instrumental background audio for a project.

6. Audiomack

Audiomack is a licensed streaming service with a strong catalogue in hip hop, Afrobeats and reggae. Its mobile app allows offline listening on the free tier for some content. The app is the download, not a separate file, so it suits people who want a library inside a player rather than a folder of MP3s.

7. yt-dlp

yt-dlp is an open source command line tool used by archivists and developers. It runs on your own computer, has no ads and can save the original stream without a third party website in the middle. It still does not change the copyright rules. Use it for material you own or have permission to keep, and be prepared for a command line interface.

How to judge an alternative

Licence. A free download is not automatically free to reuse. Check whether the licence covers personal, educational or commercial use.
Format. Lossless files are useful for archiving. A 128kbps MP3 is fine for a podcast and a poor choice for a master copy.
Metadata. A service that delivers proper tags and cover art saves hours of cleanup later.
Payment. A clear price and a real artist payout are better than a site that Monetises attention with ads.
Account requirements. Some services need an account for downloads. That is normal. A request for card details on a free converter is not.

A note on copyright

Rules differ by country, and a platform's terms can be stricter than the law. Downloading a track for personal listening is not the same as uploading it again or using it in a video. When in doubt, use the licence attached to the track or ask the rights holder.

The short version

Use Bandcamp when you want to support an artist, the Free Music Archive and Musopen for licensed free audio, the Internet Archive for live and historical recordings, and yt-dlp if you are comfortable with a terminal. A converter is a quick tool. A proper source is a better library.