While MySpace itself offers few options for downloading content to your personal or business computer, many artists offer MySpace downloads through their profile pages. Take great care to follow copyright and intellectual property laws with your MySpace downloads and, if you're ever in doubt as to whether it's appropriate to make a download, ask the artist first.

What's popular in MySpace, as well as the most popular MySpace downloads as gauged by MySpace itself and independent sites, are both good barometers of what a slice of the American public is watching and listening to. You can turn this public exchange of information to your business advantage in a number of ways, including the following:

1. Use popular MySpace downloads and content to gauge what is popular and gear your own advertising accordingly.

2. Secure the appropriate permissions to use "viral" music and videos to promote your own business.

3. Bring some of the unorthodox minds behind unique MySpace pages into collaboration on your projects.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Sign up with basic MySpace downloads information

While you don't need a MySpace account to start browsing general content, there is a lot of MySpace content that will only be visible--and thus available for download--to registered users.

I recommend: Visit the MySpace sign-up page to create a MySpace account and make sure that you're signed in every time you start browsing. The MySpace find people function will help you track down music and videos that you may be interested in downloading.

Find a MySpace downloads site that suits you

A variety of software is available to help you download music and videos from MySpace, but to keep your nose clean, you should go directly through MySpace when possible.

I recommend: The MySpace records group gives you a chance to purchase and download "viral" music from MySpace. The term viral has nothing to do with computer viruses--instead it refers to something that has proliferated across the Internet with unexpected and uncontrollable popularity. MySpace Music will help you track down artists whose work you may be interested in downloading; many of these artists offer sale or download links directly through their MySpace pages.

Find MySpace downloads with third-party software

There's a variety of software available to help you download images, videos and music from MySpace. Remember to pay careful attention to copyright and intellectual property laws; don't take anything that isn't in the open domain, and above all don't use inappropriate material from MySpace in your marketing.

I recommend: Orbit Downloader is a free music and video downloader for MySpace; you can also download some of the most popular music files directly from Orbit's site. Free Download Manager lets you grab flash videos from MySpace and download them to your computer. Keep in mind that usually the best MySpace downloads advice is to contact the artist directly through MySpace and get your MySpace downloads help directly through them.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Turn the frequently illegal MySpace downloads scene to your advantage by publicly posting only those business videos and audio clips that you're willing to have distributed freely across the Internet--then hope they catch on.