Grooveshark – Enjoy it while it lasts.

If you are still reading this post after reading the title, then you are indeed a patient person. Why ? because Grooveshark is wicked and free, something this world hates. So go on and annoy the music authority further !

Most of you will remember Deezer, the Frenchie one ! It was cool, had its own clunkiness but it was revolutionary. Something new. It brought music to everyone and play-lists could be saved to listen to them again and again.  It broke the money-tary hold of itunes. Then came some more and then came in Spotify. It was fantastic, but then it grew too big to fail and too popular to be free. So now, its in-between offering listening to a new tack albeit with restriction of listening only 5 times. And those annoying adverts, they still remain. Now I come across Grooveshark, exactly the place that will take tourists away from Spotify.

Our goals: To improve the connection between people and music. To change the music industry in ways they seem so unwilling to consider. To have fun.  - Grooveshark

What is Grooveshark ?

Grooveshark is a new music site. The working is similar to other music sites i.e. you search for music, play it, you can add it to your list and save it. It has an option of listening to radio stations with different genres. The initial search has been positive and I have enjoyed the quality and sound of music from the songs. I searched for songs in English, Hindi, German and French, result ? Bang-on all my favourite songs were right there. Pretty cool eh ? It gets better !

You can become a free member of the service and save play-list. Just keep going, no care in the world about the limit. There are advertisements on the site, but these are visual, so no pause or “I am Jonathan from a stupid site” kind of interruptions. You can then upgrade to $6/month to remove advertisements or $9/month to remove advertisements and listen to music on the go (mobile), although you can only download app either by sideloading (on android) or on jailbroken devices (apple). You also have an option of facebook or google login authenticated through those services.

Another beauty in the closet is taking surveys on the service. It gives you points, which can be redeemed for accessories or even upgrading your membership. For e.g. for 600 points you can upgrade to ‘without advertisement’ membership. I have completed one survey accumulating 200 points. At 500 points you definitely can redeem something from the site. That is pretty cool. There are other customisation features that I am sure you will play around with.

User Interface ?

As is the case with new web, the website is on matt finish background with large letters and sexy boxes. The landing page is pretty simple and good. With your I.Q. it should be easy to search and listen to music. Automatically you know you want to log in and save your songs. Simple buttons to add songs to play list, which is similar to You tube play list, i.e. the songs queue up at the bottom of the site. (Technically they ditched the flash and moved onto HTML 5, so it’s pretty slick)

Technology ?

Simple and probably illegal. Users upload songs, you listen to them. So Grooveshark is allowing for streaming of content, they do not hold a licence to . They have a deal with EMI (one of big four) i.e. out for 7 million tracks, 5 million can still be called illegal. But the issue is, it is a very sweet product. Something you won’t even think for a slight that it’s illegal.

The world of music startups includes one oft-overlooked gem, Grooveshark. Enjoy it while it lasts, I have a sincere feeling that it won’t have twelve more months online – TNW, 2009.

Or it’s not, as once the companies bring illegal content to the notice of Grooveshark, they remove it. Sooner or later they will be followed with law-suits and fined more heavily than BP got for the oil spill.

Bottomline ?

Play with it. Not many services bother taking on the mighty corporations officially and yet producing a top service to keep their 1million + registered members happy. You won’t be disappointed.

 (Click on image to go to service)

Related articles

• Grooveshark: Is It Illegal? (computer-realm.net)
• Five Best Streaming Music Services [Hive Five] (lifehacker.com)
• Spotify: Is it worth all of the fuss? (zdnet.com)
• Grooveshark for Windows : Grooveshark Windows App with WinGrooves (madrasgeek.com)
• Music publishers file copyright suit against Grooveshark (news.cnet.com)