What is difference between MP3 to disc burning program and creating a data disc?
 

Is MP3 burning programs (MP3 straight to CD-R) so they play in MP3 systems doing the same thing as simply making a data CD and copying file folders containing MP files to the disc?

Or is there some additional formatting going on? Is it something I can burn to the disc myself?

MP3 burning programs can burning mp3 files to CD which can play with your home CD player, Data CD/DVD burner can back your files to CD/DVDs,
You can goto CD-MP3.org ,here you can download gogo mp3 to cd burner it is free, and also you can find Audio/Data CD/DVD burner but it not free.