View source for Buying Media to Play with VLC

Buying music online which can play with [[VLC media player]] is tricky. Most online stores and record companies use [[DRM]], which disables the ability to play files in all [[media player]]s other than a few [[proprietary]] players which support the DRM they use. 

However, there are solutions. Defective by Design has [https://www.defectivebydesign.org/guide/audio a listing for DRM-free music sites]. Others are suggested below:

== Buy music from sources that don't use DRM ==
These stores usually encode their music in the VLC-compatible [[MP3]] format
* [http://www.emusic.com eMusic]
* [http://www.amiestreet.com Amie Street]
* [http://www.fonogenic.com/ Fonogenic]
* [http://audiolunchbox.com/ Audio Lunchbox]
* [http://www.amazon.com/ Amazon]

== Buy from Open Record Labels ==
{{wikipedia|Open source record label}}
There are several record companies who do not use [[DRM]] on their music.  This means that it can be played in any media player, including VLC. Some of these are listed below, (see also [[wikipedia:Open source record label|wikipedia]]):
* [http://www.magnatune.com Magnatune]
* [http://calabashmusic.com/ Calabash Music]
* [http://www.locarecords.com/ Loca Records]
* [http://www.lecridelaharpe.com/krayola/ Krayola Records]
* [http://www.onclassical.com/ Onclassical]
* [http://www.comfortstand.com/ Comfort Stand Recordings]

== Creative Commons ==

Some people release media files under [[creative commons]] licenses, which are normally free and allow you to copy the files to your friends. These files are also DRM-free. Some creative commons sites are listed below:
* [http://www.creativecommons.org Creative Commons]
* [http://www.ccmixter.org ccMixter]
* [http://www.archive.org Internet Archive]
* [http://opsound.org/ Opsound]
* [http://theslip.nin.com/ Nine Inch Nails: The Slip (under CC)]
* [http://www.bradsucks.net/ Brad Sucks, one-man band and all CC releases]

== Play from a CD ==

VLC can play from CDs. To make sure your CD can be played anywhere, make sure it carries the [[wikipedia:Image:Cdda.png|CDDA logo]].

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[[Category:Knowledge Base]]