CNET, the online technology news, download and review company announced a new FREE Mp3 download service today. Did I mention IT'S FREE? We like free. Check em out right here <link>







Read more for the press release.

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Online technology company CNET Networks on Monday launched a free digital music service, allowing people to search and download what it said were thousands of songs contributed by independent and unsigned artists.

The service, based on CNET's Download.com Web site, has been collecting music for the past few weeks, encouraging musicians to register on the site and upload their songs.

The music download service will be separate from the MP3.com Web site, which CNET has said it will relaunch soon as a music information site. CNET also is the publisher of News.com.

The former MP3.com, which CNET acquired late last year, offered similar functions to those in the new music download platform. Many artists and fans of the site complained when it was closed down, fearing that hundreds of thousands of songs would be lost permanently.

CNET said it plans to add new technology and community features to its download service, which it intends to be the largest free-music download platform, over the course of the year.

Pay-for-download services have become the hottest trend in digital music, with one, Apple Computer's iTunes music store, having sold 50 million downloads in less than a year.

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