Next Big Sound (a/o May 24th):
Updated: 10:30 am PCT, Friday. Google confirms the takedown to Digital Music News. No comment yet from the RIAA.
Politics is a bitch! Just days after reinstating Grooveshark's controversial app within their Play environment, Google has now yanked the app once again. A quick check on Google Play on Friday showed plenty of Grooveshark clones and fakes, but not the real thing. Indeed, Google later confirmed to Digital Music News that Grooveshark's app has been removed, while strongly alluding to copyright infringement concerns.
We can only suspect that major label pressure - particularly from the likes of Universal Music Group and the RIAA - are at work on this one.
Grooveshark appears to be getting tossed around in a political rugby match, and cut out of the loop. Earlier this week, Grooveshark CEO and founder Sam Tarantino praised Google's reinstatement, telling Digital Music News that "big hearts are capable of change." By Friday morning, the mood seemed reset to a general state of confusion.
The others aren't talking - as usual - which means we'll be relying on leaks and hints to connect the dots. The RIAA has been totally silent in all of this, and outside of the small response above, Google has refused to comment on the matter.
The move by Google is partly symbolic. The reason is that the Grooveshark Android app still works, even the version downloaded from Play just days ago. It can also be found outside of Google Play in good working order, thanks to the open Android app ecosystem. The only problem is that a large chunk of Android app searchers go to Play, making it a lifeline for companies like Grooveshark.
More as it develops.
QSDC Friday, August 31, 2012
Good for Google. Grooveshark has demonstrated that they have zero respect for artists.
1000Cutz Friday, August 31, 2012
Karma is bitching out on Grooveshark right now. This is even worse than if Google never reinstated to begin with.
John Blaze, Esq. Friday, August 31, 2012
Make sure those bills are PAID, Grooveshark lawyers
@DroMUSIC90 Saturday, September 01, 2012
Just kidding Grooveshark.
Visitor Tuesday, September 04, 2012
LOL
Sponsors Sunday, September 02, 2012
Grooveshark shouldn't be surprised by this.
They keep claiming to be like YouTube except YouTube now has rev-share deals with labels, artists, and individuals who generate a certain amount of traffic.
They claim to be better than Spotify, but Spotify has slowly and steadily gained the trust of the masses and has begun to get a bit of respect from the artists (by actually paying them) rather than relying on the age-old mantra of 'traffic to your songs will boost your revenue and noteriety'. This could be true, but their site wouldn't exist without music.
How would they feel if a similar site copied their code line for line, made deals with the labels, then said to Grooveshark "our site will boost your revenue and notoriety" without paying a penny?
Grooveshark site traffic is used to bring in sponsors who pay the bills. They will never share their traffic data to show which artists bring the most listeners similar to the current YouTube model.
Tarantino is delusional.
His employees laugh at him behind his back. His friends have left the company. His lawyers are laughing even harder. The site is easy to hack and download. Recording industry goons know the exact location of his offices and want to harm him and staff.
Users have been exporting their song collections to Spotify en masse.
Paul you should right an article about the many ways to save playlists from Grooveshark to Spotify.
Easy way to shut down the Shar Sunday, September 02, 2012
Follow the money
1. Shark needs advertisers money.
2. Have some famous artists tweet that the Shark is stealing their music and these sponsors (................) are helping.
3. Fans send emails to the sponsors saying they will boycott.
4. Advertisers pull out.
Exactly Sunday, September 02, 2012
The comment above sounds like a great idea.
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