Almost-free music downloads all day Mayday (May 5) using your mobile

What's the deal?

There's a loophole so you can download free music tracks on 5 May. Quite simply if you hear it played on any one of five radio stations, you can get it for nowt. The download works like any other in that once you've got it, its yours, you can play use it for as long as you like.

What type of music?

Any played on these mainstream regional radio stations on that day (don't worry if you're not in a region, you can listen online). That means a mix of 'feel-good' music and a range of chart releases. If that's your bag, read on...

How does it work?

For one day only, Monday 5 May, music download service Cliq Radio will let you download any music played on 5 selected radio stations over 24 hours for free (usual cost £1.25 per song). So grab any songs you like during the promotional period, then disappear.

Will it cost me anything?

Very little, the music is free provided you download it on 5 May, the only costs you'll incur are small mobile GPRS data charges (varied rates but likely to be low pence), and the cost of the text you send to register. You do however, need a Java-capable phone for it to work.

How to get it/how it works

It's a relatively easy system, though there are a number of steps. You first need to download the software for selecting songs on your mobile, then download the selected songs from the web. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Register by texting MAYDAY to 78901. You'll get two messages back, one with your customer PIN number, and another with the Cliq application that you need to install.

• Install the 'track selecting' application (you need a Java capable phone). This application allows you to select the tracks as you're listening to them on the radio. Your phone needs to be 'Java enabled' almost all modern mobiles have this ability, but most older ones don't, so check yours first to save yourself the wasted text. Once you've downloaded the software be sure to allow it 'web access' if it asks.

• Now choose songs. On the main screen you should see a list of all the radio stations currently signed up to Cliq. When you pick one, you'll see the last song it played, and the 4 before that. Just click and confirm to 'buy' (though on 5 May buying is free of course).
  
  The tracks you buy get aren't downloaded to your handset; this would cost too much in data for most people. Instead, you then go to its website to download them there.

• Go to its website to download the songs. Go to the Cliq Radio site. Log in with your mobile and PIN number and you'll get to a page with all your downloads on. Now you can download them to your PC/Mac and do with them what you like. Phew!

What stations are involved?

You can only download songs played on the following stations between midnight Sunday 4 May and midnight Monday 5 for free, otherwise the usual costs apply (see below). The stations are all on FM & DAB and all-but-one are online, so you can hear the songs regardless of your location.

Century North East (Listen Online)
Century North West
Real Radio Scotland (Listen Online)
Real Radio Yorkshire (Listen Online)
Real Radio Wales (Listen Online)

What does it usually cost?

Currently, each song costs £1.25 outside of this promotional period, so it doesn't compete on price with iTunes' 79p or other online music retailers.

Chances are as this service develops the costs will fall, but at the moment you pay for the convenience (after getting started, anyway!) of buying the song you just heard on t' radio.

Lawrence

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