Grooveshark.com rocks! I have been using them regularly as a source of music since the fall of 2009. A couple months ago I even purchased a year subscription I liked them so much. Why? Unlike Xmradio and Last.fm, they give me what I want.
I have created a play list for when I run that I periodically update. I have a separate play list for when I workout, and another when I am in the office working. They do not limit play lists or music listening. They even have Grooveshark Radio which will pick songs for you based on your criteria selection and taste. Everything is available without a subscription as well. The difference between subscription and non subscription is advertisements. Non subscription users will see advertisements appear on the side of the screen while music was playing. Obviously these will go away when you purchase a subscription. But that is not why I purchased a subscription. I purchased a subscription because unlike others they gave me the customer what I want.
My wife has an Xmradio in her car and we have a subscription. The subscription permits you to log on via the web and listen sort of. They have a ‘better sounding’ version you can pay extra for to listen on the web. For basic subscribers that only have a car radio and do not wish to give them more money than we already do, there is a lower quality version if you choose to listen on the web. In order to run it, I had to use a windows machine (the only windows machine in the house is my work one). I had to run Internet Explorer as apparently Firefox isn’t supported. Aside from their obvious vehicle penetration, the service is really a subset of what Grooveshark offers at a higher price point and they are difficult to deploy in the home.
Last.Fm I have already written about here and here. My views on them have not changed.
If Grooveshark offered an ‘in vehicle’ version of their service I’d sign up. I’d gladly give the money we pay for our XMradio subscription to them. Based on my feelings about these online services, I found the latest Google Webtrends data interesting.
Grooveshark is a slow almost constant trend upwards. Xmradio.com is the reverse (of course this represents web access not vehicle access), and Last.fm, is heading downward in 2010.
If you use online music services, give Grooveshark a try. You won’t be disappointed.
