Unfortunately, there isn't a way to recover the purchased music without buying it again.  This is why each time you purchase something, the option to back-up your purchases always pops up.  (At least in the newer versions.)

I would just say, let this be a learning lesson; be sure to back-up every week or so, or purchase a cyber "hard-drive" (a site that gives you a certain amount of Gigs, for a price) for storage. 

Wouldn't it be great if the ipod sync worked both ways? Seriously, Microsoft's Zune can do a 2-way sync, why can't Apple? I mean, there's only one way to get music on the ipod - Itunes. Why not let us transfer the ipod back to the hard drive? Ugh..

I should try that. I know the old ipods could just be used as data storage, but I've got a Touch now and thought it didn't work that way anymore..

Do you need itunes to load music into your ipod, I though that an ipod is like a flash drive if which you just plug it in and it will just copy and paste your files into it, why not just copy and paste the files from your ipod in to the music folder, however, getting a backup drive is always a good idea

btw, i don't have an ipod, and i definetly don't like itunes and I don't use it (eat ram like mad), wmp ftw

You can get music off your iPod using SharePod, it's a great app.

http://www.getsharepod.com/

This is one reason Ive not bought an Ipod or used Itunes. I have a Zune for reasons like these.

i think the extention is .aac
 

You can always do the ORIGINAL form of backup....by the fk'n CD and rip it, regardless of what happens to your computer, itunes or ipod you still have your music.

What's up with the DRM BULLSHIT??? I paid for the downloaded song I'll do with it what I want, including transferring it to whatever device I want in whatever manner I want.

itunes...one of the many reason I hate ipods, have never owned and never will. can't for the life of me see what my sister or anybody else likes about them.

the BIGGEST laugh of all...the suckers that paid $600 for the first iphone LMFAO...

Yes, buy the cd, at almost twice the price of the digital version.  You still have to take precautions with the cd, for example, putting it inside a plastic sleeve so that it doesn't scratch, keeping track of it, etc. 

Backing up your purchases is similar to taking care not to scratch the cd, both are necessary precautions, so that you don't lose your music.

This is also possible with iTunes.

No one is forcing anyone to buy through iTunes... there are other services online that allow you to purchase digital music, audiobooks, movies, etc. and they come in the normal windows format.  This allows someone to copy it to their iTunes, while still having a version that isn't iTunes dependent.

Heaven forbid someone thinks outside the box, right?

Frostwire is better.

You always have one.