Grooveshark: Stream & Share Music Online
Discover and Stream Music with Grooveshark
For those seeking a platform to explore and stream an extensive library of music, upload personal tracks, and seamlessly share content across social media, Grooveshark presents a compelling option. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the service and its capabilities.
Initial Experience and Interface
Upon visiting Grooveshark, users are greeted with an intuitive interface. Immediate access is granted to search functionality, music uploading options, playlist creation tools, and theme customization settings. Helpful balloon tips guide new users through the platform’s features, though these can be disabled if preferred.
Even without creating an account, browsing and playing music from various bands and artists is possible. However, unlocking features like personal music uploads and advanced functionalities necessitates account registration.
Creating and Managing Playlists
The music player operates in a familiar manner. After establishing an account, users can construct playlists and curate their preferred songs.
To add a track to your queue, simply click the plus icon adjacent to it.
Songs within the queue can then be easily dragged and dropped into desired positions within a playlist.
Alternatively, the entire queue can be saved as a new playlist or used to overwrite an existing one.
Sharing Music with Others
From within your queue, you have the ability to email direct links to songs to friends. Integration with prominent social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, is also provided for broader sharing.
Uploading Your Own Music
Signing up for a free account unlocks the ability to upload personal music collections and access additional features. This allows access to your music from any internet-connected device.
The upload process requires a Java installation. First, select the music files you wish to upload.
Grooveshark will then scan the selected music to gather relevant information.
Review the scanned information for accuracy before initiating the upload.
Upon completion, a confirmation screen appears, noting that it may take up to 24 hours for the uploaded songs to become fully available.
Account Options: Free vs. VIP
The free account is supported by advertisements. Alternatively, a VIP membership is available for $3 per month, eliminating these ads.
A Grooveshark VIP subscription unlocks a range of additional benefits, including access to exclusive features, an expanded music library, dedicated support, customizable themes, and more.
Additional Features
Grooveshark Radio functions similarly to Pandora, offering personalized music recommendations based on user feedback. Songs can be rated with a "smiley" or "frown" to refine the recommendations.
A selection of themes allows for page customization, with VIP members enjoying access to a wider variety of options.
For songs you enjoy, options are provided to purchase them from Amazon or iTunes.
Musicians can leverage Grooveshark to promote their music through a paid promotional service, gaining access to analytics, a music catalogue, and other tools.
A convenient Google Chrome extension is available, adding simple playback controls directly to your browser.
Conclusion
Initial testing indicates that Grooveshark is a valuable service, although song selection may vary depending on individual tastes. The immediate playback and lack of loading times are notable advantages. The platform also incorporates numerous social features.
While the free version includes advertisements, the $3 monthly or $30 annual VIP subscription removes these and unlocks additional perks. As Grooveshark continues to develop, it has the potential to become a leading music sharing and streaming platform. A future review will delve deeper into the benefits of the VIP service. Feel free to share your thoughts on the service in the comments below.
Grooveshark Main Site
Grooveshark Google Chrome Extension