All iPod owners are probably aware of the iTunes Store. Apple’s iTunes Store is still the best (in my opinion) for buying content and even getting some free stuff for your iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, or computer. But it is not the only place.

There are some alternatives that may not match the iTunes Store in convenience or selection, but several options exist that may offer better prices, more DRM-free tracks, or content that is not carried at the iTunes Store. While I do not consider any of these replacements for Apple’s iTunes, some of these suggestions may be worth a look for some.

1) eMusic – Offers all DRM-free MP3 tracks that are compatible with the iPod. Requires an on-going subscription to download tracks you buy, not rent. The amount of downloads is dependent of the plan you pick. Additional downloads are available at a price per track. They offer a lot of independent artists and some mainstream artists in their 2.8 million tracks from 13,000 independent labels. You get 25 free downloads plus 1 audiobook just for trying it out.

For each 30 day period you receive a fixed number of downloads for one low price. Every 30 days your account is refreshed with the appropriate number of downloads. Downloads do not rollover from one period to the next.

eMusic Basic Plan:

• 30 Song Downloads per month
• $9.99 per month

eMusic Plus:

• 50 Song Downloads per month
• $14.99 per month

eMusic Premium:

• 75 Song Downloads per month
• $19.99 per month

eMusic has just started offering subscriptions for audiobooks at:

• 1 audiobook credit per month
• $9.99 per month

• 2 audiobook credits per month
• $19.99 per month

The average bit rate used for on eMusic is 192 kbps VBR using LAME version 3.92. The tracks sound nice and their website is easy to navigate. Album Art comes embedded in MP3 file.

Once you sign up you will need to download and install the eMusic Download Manager. This easy to use app, will download your purchased tracks and can put them into your iTunes Library for you. Now, just sync your iPod. eMusic works with Windows, OS X, and Linux.

2) Amazon MP3 Store – This is the new kid on the block, as far as selling MP3s that is. Amazon’s MP3 store offers about 2 million DRM-free tracks. They are said to be encoded at 256 kbps, although some of the ones I purchased were not, but sounded fine. Album Art comes embedded in MP3 file.

Amazon does not require a subscription like eMusic does. This is a better business model I think. Like eMusic, you will need to download an install a download manager app. But this is easy and work well. Amazon has one advantage over iTunes, price.

Amazon sells songs for 89 to 99 cents and albums vary with many selling for $8.99 to $9.99. This is cheaper than what iTunes currently sells DRM-free tracks for. One other advantage is that Amazon does feature some selections, like Radiohead, a band that only wants to sell complete albums, that you will not find on iTunes. I also found plenty of songs at Amazon that were only available from the iTunes Store with DRM. Amazon provides a direct link to the artist’s CD catalog for tracks NOT available as an MP3.

3) ConcertVault – offers live concert recordings for free online streaming. You pick a concert to listen to and ConcertVault will allow you to listen for free like Internet Radio. They also offer some of these live concerts to download for about $5.98 to no more than $9.98, depending on length, in DRM-free MP3 encoded at 256 kbps.

I purchased three live shows from ConcertVault. This required me to download and install the free download manager and whip out my credit card. They provide a like to copy Album Art and you have to add it your self in iTunes, but this is easy enough.

ConcertVault offers live shows mostly from the 70s and 80s from a decent selection of artists. It is nice to hear some of these bands live.

4) PandoraJam – is a $15 US OS X ONLY application, not a online store. It allows you to play and record Pandora, the personal Internet Radio Station to your iTunes Library plus stream it around your house using Apple’s AirPort Express. PandoraJam records individual tracks as high quality AAC (iPod compatible) and add them automatically to iTunes with album art.

You simply create a “station” in Pandora by choosing an artist you like. Pandora helps you find new music based on your old and current favorites. Launching PandoraJam allows you to play your created stations without tying up your web browser and record the stream. Great way to load up your iPod with Music you like.

5) Griffin’s iFill or RadioRecorder – iFill streams mp3 files from thousands of free radio stations directly to your iPod. Recently discontinued, it still may be available at some retailers. iFill may not work beyond iTunes version 7.4.2. Was $20. This still may work for you, if you can find it.

If iFill is not for you try RadioRecorder a free open source solution that lets you record a selection of your favorite Internet radio stations and take them along with you on your iPod.

6) Guba – offers some free videos that can be downloaded in iPod format. Unfortunately for them and you, their Premium content is NOT compatible with iPods.

7) TubeSock – downloads YouTube videos from the web and saves them to your video iPod, Mac, or PlayStation Portable. TubeSock knows how to convert the video using the codecs and bitrates best for each device. It can even add the video to iTunes for you. Of course if you are lucky enough to own an iPhone or iPod touch you can just watch YouTube in the included app.

Wal-Mart – is now selling some DRM-free music from Universal and EMI (like Apple iTunes Plus) that is iPod compatible, encoded at 256Kbps are 94 cents a track or $9.22 per album. Unfortunately, you are required to USE Windows just to buy anything. As odd as this sound, seems Wal-Mart is stuck with Microsoft Windows. But it gets more odd yet, the DRM burdened tracks will not work at all on the iPod or the Zune!

9) Napster or Rhapsody – Napster is not compatible with the iPod and you must be using Windows XP or 2000 to download anything. No wonder why they are not doing so well. I only mention it all as they do allow to “listen” online for free.

Rhapsody is also not compatible with the iPod or Macs. But they have a service where you pay to listen to their large catalog of tracks and commercial free Internet Radio. This does not seem too compelling, but I mention it as they have tried for years to position themselves as an alternate to iTunes.

As long as iPod remain so popular, these stores may end up remaining niche players. Same for Yahoo! Music and AOL Music.

10) MP3.com – offers some free iPod compatible MP3 downloads and allows you to listen online.

11) MP3tunes – offers iPod compatible downloads for 88 cents for singles and $8.88 for most albums encoded at 192 kbps VBR (Variable Bit Rate). MP3tunes offers about 30,000 albums and some 360,000 songs in its catalog. Mostly independent artists. Nice way to discover new music. Like iTunes you can sample the song clips before purchase.

12) PodShow – Find free podcasts, podsafe music, indie music, videos on the PodShow Network.

13) ODEO – offers free MP3s and 1000′s of audio channels—podcasts, music, and more.

14) Podcast.net and Podcast.com – Find podcasts from around the world. Sample, search, subscribe and listen to any podcast feed. Loads of free and entertaining content for your computer or iPod.

15) EyeTV – is certainly not a cheap alternative. But if you are addicted to watching TV shows and movies on your iPod, EyeTV may end up looking like a viable option to buying videos for your favorite shows. Since iTunes does not offer TV shows until after they air and charge about $1.99 per show, it is merely a convenience to buy TV shows from iTunes.

EyeTV can record your antenna feed or cable feed directly to your Mac and allow you to add the content in formats for your iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV. It even now allows for you to stream content you recorded to your iPhone or iPod touch without syncing.

And yes you can edit out the commercials if you want.

If you have an interest in exploring more options see the list at Mashable titled Online Music: 90+ Essential Music and Audio Websites. They have compiled a nice list of interesting for musicians, fans, and everyone who enjoys music. Some of which I have tried out.

If you have a favorite not on this list, let us know your secret.

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