[vox] Mp3 Music For Linux?

[Bob Scofield]

Please forgive the naivete that pervades this message.

While I listen to streaming radio on Linux I have not been interested in 
playing mp3's.  Recently I've had some discussions with my son, niece, and 
nephew about music.  And I've concluded that the present generation of 
college students only listens to music CD's when they are in cars.  From 
this, coupled with Tower going out of business, I've concluded that there 
will be no music CD's in the future; all non-radio music will require a 
computer to access.

Therefore, I'm trying to learn about playing mp3's.  Last night I learned how 
to make a play list for XMMS.  Some Dixie Chicks fans sent me two Dixie Chick 
mp3's, and so I made a two-song-playlist.  Now here's the problem.

I'm trying to learn how to use mp3's legally.  But it doesn't seem possible.  
All I'm trying to do is to download mp3's to play with and learn from.  I'm 
willing to pay for the files.  But I can't do it.  When I go to a legal 
website it seems like I cannot access music without a commercial software 
program, and these programs do not run on Linux.  Is there some place where 
someone can legally download mp3 music files straight onto a hard disk 
without using some program for Napster or Itunes?

(Of course I could use a program to download mp3 files in Windows, reboot and 
copy to the files to Linux, but I am trying to break my dependence on 
Microsoft.)

Thank you.

Bob