Digital Songstream

June 1, 2003
Even in the world of the post-Napster Internet, it has never been easier--thanks to the MP3 format and peer-to-peer file-sharing networks--for music fans to hear their favorite artists and discover new music: anyone with a computer and a high-speed connection can have access to a seemingly endless catalog of material from around the globe. This guide offers an excellent starting point for those new to the world of MP3s: it provides thorough overviews of a number of the services available online, rates the desktop players available for download, and demystifies the vast selection of Internet radio stations. Taking a neutral stance, Hill surveys the present legal gray areas of digital music trading--RIAA and record-company lawsuits, adware and spyware, and the ethics of peer-to-peer file sharing. Unfortunately, it's possible that the information here, however current at the moment, could be outdated within a year. Even so, this is an essential reference for anyone eager to take advantage of the digital-music revolution.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)