Is Grooveshark Shut Down? Why and How to Deal With It?
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In the world of online music streaming, Grooveshark was once a prominent name. Known for its vast music library and user-friendly interface, Grooveshark provided music enthusiasts with a platform to stream their favorite tunes. However, the question that looms large today is, "Is Grooveshark shut down?" This article explores the rise and fall of Grooveshark, its legal controversies, and presents five recommended alternative services for music lovers seeking new avenues to discover and enjoy music.
What is Grooveshark?
Grooveshark was an online music streaming service that offered a vast catalog of songs from various genres. Founded in 2006 by Sam Tarantino, Josh Greenberg, and Andres Barreto, Grooveshark quickly gained popularity due to its user-generated content model. Unlike traditional music streaming platforms, Grooveshark allows users to upload their own music to the platform, enabling a wide range of songs to be available.
The platform's appeal lay in its simplicity. Users could create playlists, share their favorite tracks, and explore music from a diverse array of artists. Grooveshark also offered a free version supported by advertisements, making it accessible to a broad audience.
Is Grooveshark Shut Down?
Yes. Grooveshark is shut down. Grooveshark faced multiple lawsuits from major record labels due to copyright infringement. The platform allowed users to upload music without proper licensing agreements, which resulted in copyrighted marterial being shared without permission. Despite attempts to settle these legal issues, Grooveshark ultimately couldn't resolve the copyright violations, leading to its shutdown in 2015. The lawsuits and legal challenges became unsustainable for the platform, leading to its closure.
Top Alternatives After Grooveshark Shut Down
The demise of Grooveshark left a void in the online music streaming landscape. Users who had grown accustomed to its features and catalog were left searching for alternatives. Fortunately, several music streaming services have emerged to fill this void. Here are five recommended alternative services to Grooveshark:
1. MusicFab Music Converter
Integrated with a built-in web browser, MusicFab allows users to stream music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, and other popular streaming music platforms, regardless of their subscription plans. Moreover, MusicFab also acts as a music converter converting streaming music from multiple platforms to popular audio formats, such as MP3, FLAC, WAV, M4A, and more, and saving converted music to your own computer. Here are some key features of MusicFab:
(1) Vast Compatibility: MusicFab supports a wide range of audio formats, ensuring that users can convert their downloaded music into a format that suits their preferences and devices.
(2) High Quality: Users can download music in high quality, allowing for an exceptional listening experience.
(3) Batch Download: MusicFab allows batch downloads, enabling users to download entire playlists or albums with ease.
(4) ID3 Tags: The software automatically retrieves and includes metadata like artist, album, and genre, ensuring organized and well-labeled music collections.
(5) Simple User Interface: MusicFab is known for its user-friendly interface, making it easy for both beginners and experienced users to navigate.
MusicFab Music Converter provides a legal and convenient way to build a music collection, similar to what Grooveshark users enjoyed. It offers a practical solution for those who want to download their favorite tracks and albums for offline listening without violating copyright laws.
2. Leawo Music Recorder
Leawo Music Recorder is an audio recording software that allows users to capture audio from various sources, including online streaming platforms, microphones, and other external sources. Here are some of its notable features:
(1) Record Streaming Music: Leawo Music Recorder is capable of recording music from streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and more. Users can create their playlists and listen to music offline.
(2) Automatic Tagging: The software automatically adds music tags, including artist, album, and genre, to ensure organized and well-labeled recordings.
(3) Scheduled Recording: Users can schedule recording sessions to capture live broadcasts, radio shows, and more.
(4) Built-in Editor: Leawo Music Recorder features an audio editor that allows users to trim, cut, and edit their recordings.
Leawo Music Recorder provides an alternative for users who want to create their music collections by recording audio from their favorite streaming services. It's a legal and efficient way to enjoy music offline.
3. SoundCloud
SoundCloud is a well-known platform that allows artists to upload and share their music. It also offers a diverse range of tracks and genres for listeners to discover. SoundCloud's features include:
(1) User-Generated Content: SoundCloud is renowned for its vast library of user-generated content, including tracks from emerging and independent artists.
(2) Playlists and Reposts: Users can create playlists, like and repost tracks, and engage with the artist community.
(3) Discover and Explore: SoundCloud offers a discovery feature, allowing users to find new music and artists.
(4) Mobile Apps: SoundCloud has mobile apps for easy access on the go.
SoundCloud's user-generated content model offers a unique and legal way to explore and enjoy music. While it may not have the same extensive catalog as Grooveshark, it's a platform that emphasizes emerging talent and fresh sounds.
4. Funkwhale
Funkwhale is an open-source and community-driven music streaming platform that provides users with a more decentralized and customizable music experience. Key features of Funkwhale include:
(1) Self-Hosted Option: Users can self-host Funkwhale, allowing for full control over their music library and sharing options.
(2) Decentralized Network: Funkwhale is part of a federated network, meaning that users can connect with and share music with others on different instances.
(3) Community Support: Funkwhale has an active community that supports and contributes to its development.
(4) Playlists and Library: Users can create playlists, organize their music library, and share their favorite tracks.
Funkwhale offers a unique alternative to traditional music streaming platforms by giving users more control and enabling them to be part of a decentralized community of music enthusiasts.
5. Spotify
Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming platforms globally, offering a vast catalog of songs, albums, and playlists. Some of its notable features include:
(1) Extensive Catalog: Spotify provides access to millions of tracks from various genres and artists.
(2) Personalized Playlists: Users can enjoy curated playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar, as well as create their own playlists.
(3) Offline Listening: Spotify Premium subscribers can download music for offline listening.
(4) Podcasts: Spotify offers a wide range of podcasts on various topics.
Spotify is a widely recognized and legal alternative to Grooveshark, offering a diverse music library and various features for music lovers. It has both free and premium subscription options.
How to Stream Music with Grooveshark?
Streaming music with Grooveshark was a straightforward process:
It was these user-friendly features that made Grooveshark a go-to platform for many music enthusiasts. However, its rise to fame was accompanied by legal troubles.
Summary
Ultimately, the question "Is Grooveshark shut down?" can be answered with a resounding yes. However, the spirit of music discovery and enjoyment continues to thrive on these alternative platforms, ensuring that music enthusiasts can continue to explore and listen to their favorite tunes legally and conveniently.
This article has explored the top alternatives to Grooveshark. From music converters like MusicFab to audio recording software like Leawo Music Recorder, decentralized platforms like Funkwhale, and established platforms like SoundCloud and Spotify, there are numerous options available to cater to diverse music preferences. But MusicFab is highly recommended by us. Not only its great features but also because it is safe and legal.