Types

• There are two types of downloadable MP3 Christmas songs: free and paid songs. Free downloadable songs are usually open-licensed or public domain, while paid songs are the intellectual property of the artist. Both are readily available, though it may take some digging.
  
  

Paid Songs

• Most MP3 format songs require the payment of a nominal fee to use them, typically $1. Online services such as Napster and Rhapsody offer a wide variety of downloadable Christmas songs from popular contemporary artists like Diana Krall and Josh Grobin to classic Christmas songs by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney. For users of Apple iPod music, the iTunes store also has downloadable Christmas music. Though iTunes and iPods operate on a proprietary system different from MP3 formats, the process and selection are similar and can be played on a computer or from your iPod.
  
  

Free Songs

• Free songs are either songs to which a general use license has been granted the distributor or are public domain. General use license, also known as open use or "open" license, allows the music provider to freely distribute music via a subscription to their customers. The music is encoded with an expiration date which, if the license of a song on a user's computer or player is not renewed every month, will prevent the song from playing. The free music provider Spiral Frog (see Resources below) offers "free" songs for download with no limit or payment on the consumer's part, but the consumer must log in and download at least one song every 60 days to maintain their license. Public domain songs are songs for which copyright and other intellectual property laws have been allowed to lapse. Such songs as "O Tannenbaum" or "What Child is This?" are public domain, though the performer may receive royalties for playing a rendition of these songs on their album.
  
  

Warning

• Some Christmas songs can be downloaded from file sharing services. This is in violation of Recording Industry Association of America's policies and can be constituted a crime punishable by a $1,000 fine per illegal download. Before downloading a song, be sure that the source is legitimate and that you have the right to download the song (either for a fee or for free).
  
  

Time Frame

• Typically, downloadable MP3 Christmas songs are promoted during the month of December when advertisements for featured artists or genres are geared toward the season of Christmas. It is still possible, however, to find Christmas music at other times because the songs are never deleted from the server. Most MP3 music providers have a search function that allows a customer to find music of a certain genre, by a particular artist or a specific song. By knowing what song you want or at least what artist may have performed it, your chances of finding a Christmas song in the "off season" are very good.