With Napster’s fate up in the air, music afficionados around the world are pondering where downloadable music still exists.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, have no fear: here is a guide to all the Napster alternatives where you can share to your heart’s content.

The music site starting the most buzz is Hotline. Hotline allows you to easily build a personal interactive community, where you can not only transfer files, but includes data warehousing, messaging and conferencing.

Hotline’s Web site states, “Share your media, your content, your ideas. There are no limits.”

“I never really cared for Napster,” said Michael Skyba, De Anza student. “On Hotline you could find everything. Its really cool.” For more information on Hotline software, which is free, go to www.bigredh.com.

Since Napster’s near demise last year, many have flocked to the file-sharing service Gnutella. Originally developed by Nullsoft, it was later pulled by

AOL because of the AOL/Time Warner merger.

What makes Gnutella unique is it’s not centralized, meaning no single computer is responsible for the whole network. Unlike Napster, Gnutella doesn’t need a central server to communicate with other people running the shared files. Access Gnutella at http://daugava.com/gnutella.htm.

Here is a list of other music swapping sites which are not as well known:

n Kazaa: Based from the Netherlands, Kazaa is a file-

sharing site with great potential. It features multiple files grouped together within search results, the ability to download files from multiple sources, and an integrated media player and file organizer.

Kazaa is located at http://www.kazaa.com.

n Rapigator: This service is very easy to use and

very similar to Napster. Self described as “Napster Plus,” Rapigator gives more choices and better control to the user. Rapigator is located at http://www.geocities.com/rapigator/index.html.

n AudioGalaxy: Besides file swapping, AudioGalaxy offers excellent information on all variations of music. Searching is conducted through a website search,

and the application runs in the background of your computer while you work. AudioGalaxy is located at http://www.audiogalaxy.com.

n Aimster: According to the main page on their website, “you can share files only with your instant messaging buddies. Aimster lets you share your

computer only with those you know and trust on your buddy list.” Aimster is located at http://www.aimster.-com.

Between all the lawsuits, angry musicians, and that hefty billion dollars that Napster expects its users to pay in the future, it will be gone before you know it.

You need a back-up plan. Log on and download before you may have to *gasp* actually pay for your music. God help us all.