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EMI Sues Music Streaming Site Grooveshark

By Daniel Kreps
June 18, 2009 2:03 PM ET

In our new issue, Rolling Stone calls music streaming site Grooveshark the "audio version of YouTube," adding that it's "the best service for now because of its great selection, but it operates in a legal gray area. Enjoy it while it lasts." Well, we hoped you enjoyed it: EMI is suing the Florida-based Grooveshark, which has gained a popular following since launching in November 2008, for copyright violation, AllThingsD reports. Grooveshark was reportedly in the midst of a licensing deal with the major label, but instead EMI — as it has with streaming sites SeeqPod and Sideload — turned around and instead sued Grooveshark.

"We hope that EMI Records eventually follows the lead of the many forward-thinking labels we are already working with, who would rather get their artists exposure and a fair share of our revenue than block content access and force customers to illegal networks," Grooveshark's operators said in a statement following the lawsuit. The music streaming site insists they do have deals worked out with publishers, labels and artists, but don't get into specifics.

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