While there are other popular download sites, these three are my favorites. They offer a wide variety of genres and can be used for music discovery, as well as downloading free songs. They’re also both very easy to navigate and provide a wealth of information. The search bar is easy to use and offers a wide range of options. There are separate sections for free tracks, royalty-free audio, and paid content, which you can choose to subscribe to or skip.
The Free Music Archive specializes in classical music, which is not available on many other sites. This is a great resource for discovering new music and curating your own playlist. The Internet Archive has a collection of just about everything you could ever want, and it includes tons of music as well. Browse by composer, performer, or instrument and you’ll find a wide variety of classic and contemporary music to download.
ReverbNation specializes in undiscovered artists. Artists like Imagine Dragons and The Civil Wars got their start on ReverbNation. Songs are streamable through your web browser and have a download button next to them. It’s a good place to find new music or download a full album. This site has an excellent search function, and allows you to browse by genre. You can even download albums in one go.