Whether you're looking for music hits or movie moments, sports clips or news reports, more and more people are turning to the Internet. This is due in part because it is so readily available 24/7 - and because there's a growing bank of rich, multimedia content on the Web.

In fact, according to a January 2005 Arbitron/Edison Media Research survey, the monthly Internet video audience is estimated to be approximately 35 million, with a weekly online video audience of nearly 20 million.

Not only does the Internet give the MTV generation a whole new way to access their videos, it also allows them to surf for their favorite songs and stations.

The same survey reveals that 37 million Americans have listened to Internet radio in the past month.

But with so much audio and video content available on the Web that's not always organized, how can people efficiently find the songs or movie clips they're looking for? And, are there quality MP3 files of songs that are still free and legal?

The answer is yes; there are specialty search engines on the Web,

like Singingfish.com, that

are designed to "crawl" the World Wide Web and deliver only search results with audio and video content.

For those looking to take a sentimental journey of sorts, audio/video search sites can be quite useful for consumers looking to reel in those music and movie memories:

Miss those love songs that put you head over heels? From Barbra to Beyonce, your favorites are quick-click accessible. Consider downloading a song or a collection of favorites and surprise someone with musical mail during the day.

Or, send a trailer of your favorite romantic movie. Excerpts from classics such as "Casablanca" or a more recent flick, "Shakespeare in Love," can give you a nice break in the day. Once you start searching, you'll find yourself discovering all sorts of film clips that you had forgotten about over the years.

Looking for a fresh idea for your dad this year on Father's Day? Instead of ties and cologne, how about a compilation of his favorite tunes that show you took the time to think about his taste in music? Surprise him instead with a download of Styx or Stones that will transport him back in time.

So the next time you have a few minutes to kill in between classes, chores or meetings, let the Net be your personal fishing pond for catching the best in music, movies and more. You just might uncover some special memories or make a new discovery.

Courtesy of ARA Content