Controversial music service Grooveshark has launched a new HTML5 web app, making its all-encompassing music platform available on any mobile device that has an HTML5-compatible browser.
The company announced its new super-secret beta on its official blog, stating that its new mobile website supports iOS, Android 2.3 and above, the BlackBerry PlayBook and HP TouchPad, and goes as far as offering a “bonus surprise” to beta testers that access the site using a device that it has not listed.
The web app is basic but it allows users to search Grooveshark’s comprehensive catalog of music, select specific music “Stations” and browse the most popular tracks on the service:
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Last week, we reported that Grooveshark was being sued again, this time by major record label EMI.
Less than two months ago, Universal Music Group was going after Grooveshark for illegally uploaded tracks to its music sharing service. While Grooveshark denied the claims, we haven’t heard much of it since, meaning it hasn’t been settled or dismissed as of yet.
EMI’s lawsuit claims that Grooveshark is in breach of contract, since it hasn’t paid music royalties that it agreed to pay since signing a deal in 2009. It is claimed that these royalties total somewhere around $150,000.
In addition to this new claim by EMI, Grooveshark has now infuriated all four major record labels with Sony Music and Warner Music Group joining the original Universal claim.
Grooveshark originally launched on the App Store but was later pulled when it came under fire from record labels and later the Android Market, as the app creators battled with record labels over concerns it was facilitating music piracy. Grooveshark did appear on Cydia, a third-party marketplace for Jailbroken apps.
The company’s new service circumvents Apple and Google’s marketplaces, providing music playback on the move — something that will likely see it draw more criticism from music labels and anti-piracy advocates.
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