Grooveshark Shuts Down

Six years of fighting and Grooveshark has been forced to shutdown. The music streaming service that once had upwards of 35 million users has agreed to stop operating, “wiping its servers of all the record companies’ music, and surrendering ownership of its website, mobile apps and intellectual property” according to Recording Industry Association of America. The six-year legal battle was between Grooveshark’s parent company and the three major labels, Universal Music Group, Sony Entertainment and Warner Music Group disputing copyright infringement. Because Grooveshark did not obtain proper permissions to music owned by the labels, when a motion was granted to EMI (owned by Universal) for summary judgment, the end of the streaming service was imminent. Had they not come to a settlement, Grooveshark stood to face up to $736 million in statutory damages.

Written by Rae Witte