MP3, a digital music technology, is sweeping the Internet.
Web surfers can download thousands of songs, many for free.
MP3 software squeezes songs that are normally too big to move around the Internet into files that are just one-tenth their original size. Using MP3 is legal if the song's copyright holder has granted permission to download and play the song. It still sounds great. The file format MP3 stores audio files on a computer For bands without record labels, MP3 is also an invaluable promotion tool that allows them to bypass doors often closed by record companies. Although the Fire Ants enjoy the promotional benefits of MP3 free of charge, illegal music trading, or bootlegging, also flourishes on the Web.