I wonder if the message is really about a bar code. Ive never been asked for one.

It sounds like you're having a technical issue, not a legal one. When you make a wav or CDAudio file into an mp3, there are a variety of different parameters you can choose in terms of sampling rate, but MP3.COM ONLY ACCEPTS MP3'S WITH THESE CHARACTERISTICS:

128 KBPS 44MHZ stereo

Some mp3 encoders use these as the default settings (the one I use is a nice simple freeware program called Bladeenc which does use these defaults) but some do not. (Notably Realjukebox, so I don't use that piece of crap anymore.) Result is you get mp3's which work fine on your computer, but mp3.com rejects them.

After you do a technically successful download, mp3.com puts your file on hold until it has been allegedly listened to by their "staff musicologists" to verify that it is what you say it is and that you have the legal right to it--either because you wrote it, or it is definitely public domain, or you have provided them with written proof of permission to use the song, from the copyright holder. This can be a bigger holdup than the simple technical matters.

Good luck.
Willie-O (one of many Bill Camerons)