Robin Good: The FMA is a large curated archive of free, downloadable music of different kinds and genres.
From the official site I have picked up these interesting bits:"Are you a podcaster looking for pod-safe audio? A radio or video producer searching for instrumental bed music that won't put your audience to sleep? A remix artist looking for pre-cleared samples? Or are you simply looking for some new sounds to add to your next playlist?"
"The Free Music Archive is an interactive library of high-quality, legal audio downloads. The Free Music Archive is directed by WFMU, the most renowned freeform radio station in America.
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Every mp3 you discover on The Free Music Archive is pre-cleared for certain types of uses that would otherwise be prohibited by copyright laws that were not designed for the digital era.
...all of the audio has been hand-picked by established audio curators.
The site combines the curatorial approach that these organizations have played for the last few decades, with the community generated approach of many current online music sites.
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Inspired by Creative Commons and the open source software movement, the FMA provides a legal and technological framework for curators, artists, and listeners to harness the potential of music sharing.
From the FAQ Page: "The Archive revolves around our Curators, who select and upload all the music you'll find here. Curators come from all over the world and have a wide range of experience with good music. They include freeform radio stations, netlabels, artist collectives, performance spaces, and concert organizers. If FMA were a radio station, the curators would be our awesomely obsessive DJs."
FAQ: http://freemusicarchive.org/faq
Find out more: http://freemusicarchive.org/