Before we start, let’s recap Grooveshark’s recent stories of note. First, Apple deleted Grooveshark’s app from the iTunes store, then Google followed suit in the Android Marketplace. Next, Grooveshark was sued by all of the major labels except for EMI, the only group that it had an actual licensing agreement with. Finally, EMI decided to sue as well, claiming Grooveshark owed them $150,000 in royalties. Grooveshark chalked the complaint up as a minor contract dispute, downplaying the ordeal, as it has done with with all of its current setbacks.
With all of that on its plate, what does Grooveshark do? They serve up a big FUCK YOU sandwich to all of the above by releasing what essentially boils down to a mobile app that will work across all phone platforms that include a web browser, but circumvents the need to house the app in an App Store. Previously, you could navigate to grooveshark.com using your phone’s browser and see the HTML-built site, but because the actual streaming service used Flash, you couldn’t access and listen to content. The new mobile site, html5.grooveshark.com, is built completely using HTML5, meaning that it will work on the iPhone’s native browser, Safari, as well as in Google’s Chrome.
Who knew sharks had balls? The site should have been long gone by now, but they keep on plowing ahead with nary a care as to what some of the largest players in the music biz throw at them. Their ultimate extinction is still most likely on the horizon, but good for Grooveshark for not giving a shit. Enjoy free streaming on your phone while it lasts!
• Grooveshark Mobile: http://html5.grooveshark.com
