Here's how it works, in a nutshell: Go to Noisemakers, and download 25 free songs. These have been chosen and compiled by the site founders, and the mix is simply tremendous. You'll be blown away, and you might even discover something you've never heard of before and just absolutely love! A lot of these are songs from independent bands, without the clutter and baggage that comes from association with a major label.

The NoiseTrade site has a fascinating design model, and it's been succeeding for over two years already. 2,500 artists and over 170,000 fans are using the site already, and more are joining all the time. Although the site is free, there is a place where you can donate.

For two years now, the site has paid for itself entirely via these donations. They don't charge the musicians for their service, and they don't charge the fans. They don't rent an office or pay themselves- this is a site all about the love of the music and the free exchange of great sounds.

Yeah, it does sound a little Hipster, but in a good way.

It's the dawn of a new age in the music business – the mass distribution of corporation-engineered melodies is never going away... but the day when they were the only game in town is over. Step outside the box, try something new, and see what you've been missing.