What is Free Music Archive?
The Free Music Archive (FMA) is an online library and resource for high-quality, legal audio downloads. Directed by renowned freeform radio station WFMU along with other contributing partners, the FMA aims to provide an alternative to the restrictive mainstream music industry and commercial mp3 aggregators.
The driving force behind the creation of FMA was the desire to expand public access to curated music that artists choose to distribute for legal sharing or download. The collection features works spanning genres from classical, jazz, avant-garde, and international music to blues, bluegrass, folk, country, hip hop, experimental, and rock.
All music on FMA has been legally cleared for free distribution or donated for download by artists and labels who wish to share their creations more widely. Contributors retain copyright ownership of their works. Downloaders must properly attribute works and cannot use downloads for commercial purposes without permission.
In keeping with principles of fairness, accessibility, and personal connection with creative works, the FMA provides convenient access alongside context about artists and releases. The website allows users to download high-quality MP3 files and also to donate directly to artists and labels as desired.
As an interactive community, the Free Music Archive welcomes commentary from listeners providing feedback to artists and serving as a platform for shared musical experiences outside mainstream boundaries. With now hundreds of thousands of tracks available, FMA intends to continue expanding its mission with more music, tools for artists, and accessibility for many years.