Q: I just got a new MP3 player and was wondering what are some of the alternatives to iTunes that will help me organize my digital MP3 music collection and allow me to purchase song tracks?

A: There are many FREE online programs that let you play, organize and burn your digital MP3 music collection. Here is a look at some of our faves…

• iTunes - Apple’s overwhelmingly popular music download store is a service that requires little in the way of introduction.
• Amie Street – music market where music starts free, with the price increasing as a track becomes more popular
• (the price never goes above 1 dollar).
• Emusic – one of the most successful “indie” music stores
• Bleep – high-quality MP3s with prices that are a bit high, but still offers a great assortment of quality music
• MP3 Tunes – an online music store offering 30,000 albums and some 360,000 songs
• Amazon – offers a huge assortment of music from big and indie labels alike
• PayPlay FM – choose from over 1.4 million indie music tracks and buy them in either MP3 or WMA format
• Beatport – a flash-based music store with an embeddable player
• Audio Lunchbox – choose between two million DRM-free songs in MP3 or OGG formats
• Indiepad – buy music from indie artists; if you’re an artist, sell music to people directly on the site
• Indistr – another audio marketplace that connects
• indie artists with the listeners
• Mtraks – an indie music marketplace with a very interesting and strong music collection
• MagnaTune – here you’ll find
• an assortment of music from various genres, ranging from electronica, rock and chillout to metal & punk
• Jamendo – an online music repository offering thousands of albums for free while still protecting the artists’
• intellectual rights
• Musicane – buy and sell audio, video and ringtones
• Musiclovr – music search, recommendations and store
• MySpace Music / Snocap – through Snocap’s embedded music stores, bands on MySpace sell tunes to the social network’s huge audience.