Free (Legal) Christian Music

One of the things I have come to enjoy a lot is listening to new music. My preference is Christian alternative/worship music. Although a thin vein of all of the available music being produced nationally/globally, I appreciate the lyrics' affirmation of my beliefs and enjoy the growth in creativity in about the past 10 years.

I wanted to share with you some ways that I get free (and legal) new Christian music every week. I usually download about 10-20 new songs each week if I have time and as a college student, it's nice when your music budget ends up close to $0.00.

Just to give you a heads up, most of the sites listed below require you to create an account with their website, but as long as you're okay with giving out an e-mail address you may or may not use too much, you'll be good to go. I love music and since there is a lot of diversity with the content of this blog, I wanted to share the methods I use for free, safe, and legal downloads online:

1. New Release Tuesday aka NRT (http://newreleasetuesday.com/): I love this site. It has grown so much just since I joined the site in 2009. The administrators of the site always have least 3 new downloads each week as well as previews of new albums. For example, I previously listened to the new Planetshakers album on NRT before it was released. If you don't read anything further, just visit this site.
2. Noisetrade (http://noisetrade.com/): This site is for Christian and secular music, but for a diverse site, they have some really good selection of Christian musicians. Go ahead and go to genres and select "Christian/Gospel" and you'll see 10 potential albums or partial albums you can download. Try not to be overwhelmed. And don't worry about "tipping" unless you want to support the artist financially. You're only required to give out your email in order to get the download link.
3. iTickets (http://www.itickets.com/): this site gives you two Christian music downloads a week. Sometimes it overlaps with NRT, but still is consistent is giving out free music.
4. Hear It First (http://www.hearitfirst.com/downloads): just give your e-mail address and pick the Christian song you want. Doesn't get much easier than that. Usually has one download a week.
5. Free CCM (http://freeccm.com/): This site usually gives out one song a week, usually an older song. Nonetheless, they are consistent in updating and every once in a while I get something that I really like.
6. Rapzilla (http://www.rapzilla.com/rz/): It's not really my style (unless Lecrae or Andy Mineo releases a new mixtape), but for Christian hip hop and rap, this is the place to get your free music.
7. Freegal Music (http://freegalmusic.com ): This is something I get with my membership with the Tempe Library. I'm assuming if you have a library card, most public libraries offers something similar if not this exact same service. I get to choose 5 various songs from any artists under the Sony Record label and affiliates each week just for having a library card. My local sales tax is coming back to me with wonderful music!
8. Integrity Music (http://integritymusic.com/): Once or twice a year they have a sampler that they give out. Looks like they have a 5 song sampler from major artists that's offered right now.
9. Jesus Freak Hideout (http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com): This is a fairly new discovery for me in Christian music sites. It seems to have a pretty lengthy list of music downloads that do not expire, but there is not as many downloads available weekly as seen in sites such as Noisetrade or NRT.

That pretty much sums up the major places. Hopefully this is helpful. If you go to any other sites where you get free music, let me know! To be honest it can be a little time consuming, but if you enjoy the music at very little cost, it's worth it.