Music

Seeqpod asks you to enter a song or an artist, and then creates of lists of all the sites where you can stream that song for free. But you don't have to visit the site. Rather, create a playlist on Seeqpod and listen to all the music you've found uninterupted from one source.

Musicovery.com has a "matrix" on the homepage that lets you select the type of music you're interested in based on the calm/energetic and dark/positive axes. Musicovery plays a song that is connected to bubbles containing other, similar songs. Listen to each song once or only for a few seconds. If you see another bubble that interests you, click on it. If you like the song you're listening to, each bubble has a link to the iTunes and Amazon music stores.

Pandora.com is called a radio station but unlike a regular station with a DJ, your Pandora “stations” are catered specifically to your interests. You create your station based on a song or artist you like, and Pandora creates a playlist of similar music. Unlike other services, Pandora bases its picks not on genre or what other users liked but on musical characteristics. You help Pandora improve your station by clicking "I like this song" or "I don't like this song." With a free membership, you can save your radio stations, and continue hearing the type of music you like. Pandora also has links to buy the songs (and albums) that it plays.

Elbo.ws searches for blogs that have posted MP3s for your listening pleasure. On the homepage, check out what the most popular posts of the day are, read a list of recent posts, or do a search for a song that you've been dying to hear. Elbo.ws searches all listed blog entries, old and new, to find what you're looking for.

Critical Metrics is a site where music industry professionals such as artists, DJs, and members of the media recommend their favorite songs. Select a publication or critic and listen to songs it's recommended.

The Hype Machine searches music blogs to find the most blogged about songs on the Internet and then posts them on the site for you to stream. Search for your favorite artists or review the "What's Hot" list under the “Popular” link, which includes the most blogged about artists, the most popular searches from the past three days, and the most popular blogs on the Web. If you're feeling really open-minded, try out Hype Machine radio. The radio continuously streams the current most blogged about songs, so you get your dose of the zeitgeist updated every day.

iTunes , listed earlier in this guide for buying music, is also an excellent source for free podcasts and radio. You don't need to have an iPod to use the service; you only need to download the software. Choose from several free radio stations right on your iTunes screen, or visit the iTunes store to subscribe to podcasts, most of which are free.

AOL Radio has a list of 200 online radio stations you can stream for free. Browse through genres, check out the “Editor’s Station Picks,” or just scroll through all the offerings. AOL also offers a help section if you're having trouble with the program.