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Although many people automatically turn to iTunes when they want to download the latest track they've heard on the radio or hunt down an old album or two, cash-conscious music lovers may do well to check out some of the alternatives.

Whether you're in search of just the odd track or in constant need of new music, the web will be sure to accommodate, providing you know where to look.

How low can you go

Many people rely on iTunes and are thankful for the vast catalogue of music contained on its online music store. However, as lovemoney.com contributor John Fitzsimons has pointed out, there are times when click-happy music buying sprees can prove quite expensive when using Apple's flagship store.

Indeed, there are substantial savings to be made for those who venture out on the internet in search of songs selling below the standard iTunes price tag of 79p per track.

One of the most popular low-cost alternatives is Amazon's music store, which often offers songs for as little as 29p, while Woolies was a fond favourite among music fans prior to its demise as it offered up some of the latest tracks for 39p each.

And while Amazon holds a huge collection of tracks, with the added extra of allowing buyers to listen to a snippet of the song prior to purchasing, there are often large differences between the costs of individual tracks, with some older or less mainstream songs costing a heavy £1.89.

For music lovers who are intent on scouring the web for those golden oldies or are in search of less well-known independent tracks but are worried about the costs of their endeavour, it may be worth considering signing up to a subscription service.

A clean slate, a sweet price

Not too many years ago, Napster was often considered the bane of the music industry, providing a forum for users to swap music illegally with little care for reprisals.

However, since being held liable for contributory or vicarious copyright infringement in 2002, the site has cleaned up its act and is now acting as a legitimate online music subscription service enjoyed by more than 700,000 users.

Offering three different membership options, the site provides access to an online catalogue of more than eight million tracks, which can be downloaded and played via PC.

Meanwhile, for those who need to be able to listen to music on the go, the site's ultimate membership Napster to Go also offers the ability to download tracks onto mp3 players. However, at £14.95 per month, this may prove to be an uneconomical investment for those who do not keep adding to their collection regularly.

Heading underground

While there are plenty of online options available to music fans in search of the latest pop hits or a new copy of old classics, those with less mainstream tastes may find what they are looking for at eMusic.com.

A site promoting new and independent musical talent, emusic.com also offers access to a wide selection of tracks on a subscription basis, starting with the basic package, which offers 24 downloads for £9.99 a month.

For those with a more hearty appetite for hard-to-find tracks, the site also offers a connoisseur membership package, providing 75 downloads for £24.99 per month.

Meanwhile, music lovers keeping a keen eye on their outgoings may be particularly interested in Spotify, a fast-growing music programme offering access to a large selection of tracks for free.

The only drawbacks to using the software is that advertisements will play between tracks intermittently and music cannot be transferred to mp3 players.

Despite this, Spotify is enjoyed by many thousands of users and may prove an attractive option to those who are trying to keep tabs on the costs of their music habit in check during this period of economic constraint.

Back up, back up

Whatever your preferred method of getting hold of your tunes, it is important to remember that failing to keep your collection safe could end up proving costly.

Although many people are taking advantage of the digital revolution and are happily building up an impressive collection of tracks, it may be worth investing in backup storage to ensure that should a computer or mp3 player go on the blink, those precious singles and albums will not be lost forever.©

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