Used to be, Grooveshark was one of the best free streaming services on the net -- perhaps not the best at supporting artists, but it was a decent way to get your name out there, one of the most frequent I used, at least until the big four labels shut them down. I never made any money off of Grooveshark, and I didn't have a huge following either, but upon reading the text wall from the now desolate domain, I knew for sure the labels had won. The transparent-background image I've attached below is all that remains of Grooveshark.
My only question is, what does this mean for the little guy being crammed down the next ad-infested music streaming tube, or for the one forced to submit his audio and information to sites like Reverbnation in order to get his work to services like Spotify? What about artists who do covers? Those lyrics and chords aren't originally theirs. Will the big four come after their work for copyright too, just like they did Grooveshark?
Now I'm aware making and uploading covers is not the same as uploading and hosting copyrighted songs from your favorite Skrillex album, but the reason I draw the similarity is this. If there are lawsuits going on between the Gaye family and Robin Thicke, over two different songs that sound similar, who's to say covers aren't going to go down the toilet for being the same. What websites are going to be next on the big four's list of takedowns for their profit? What about Newgrounds? We host covers here, and it's not a big leap to say that, since Grooveshark also hosted a large quantity of independent artists freely submitting their own work, that they wouldn't come here to NG, where we do the same. Am I the only one who thinks this?
Here's what Grooveshark staff had to say. Clicking the image should take you to the dead site.
Fantastick
IT'S A CONSPIRACY, FOR SURE.
ADR3-N
Check my latest post for my continued conspiracy theory, bro. Interesting stuff.