Google has pulled the popular Grooveshark music app from the Android Market, following accusations from the record labels that the service facilitates piracy.
When asked for comment, Google only said that it “removes apps from Android Market that violate [its] terms of service.”
Apple removed the app from the iOS store last August after it received a complaint from the Universal Music Group.
Google is currently in the midst of speaking before the House Judiciary Committee, which is investigating whether the search giant aids piracy by offering AdSense to all sites, including those that offer pirated movies, music and more.
Grooveshark hosts over 6 million tracks.
Result for: universal music group
Spotify has announced today that they have reached their first major milestone, one million paying customers.
Says the streaming music company:
It seems like only yesterday we were hatching ideas for a new music service in a tiny office-cum-apartment with a broken coffee machine, and the party we threw having reached one million users almost two years ago today was one to remember.
So it’s with a sense of real pride and excitement that we can announce a new milestone today, having welcomed our millionth paying subscriber to the service. It’s a testament to our fantastic users who continue to support us and spread the Spotify word, either by telling friends or sharing some of the 200 million playlists that you’ve put together so far.
From everyone at Spotify, we’d like to give you all massive thanks. We’ll continue to focus on providing you with the best music service possible, and look forward to adding even more cool new features over the coming months. What’s really exciting is that this is only the beginning.
Overall, the company has 7 million active users and over 10 million registered users.
Spotify is aiming for a U.S. launch soon, and has reportedly signed deals with EMI and Sony Music. The service is allegedly close to signing a licensing deal with Universal Music Group, the largest label in the world.
Result for: universal music group
The music video website VEVO has launched a native iPhone app today, giving users a way to access the service’s millions of music videos on the go.
Vevo, launched last year as a joint venture by YouTube, UMG and Sony Music, has reached over 1.1 billion streams, with almost 60 million unique visitors in the U.S. and Canada, monthly.
The service has licensing deals with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Music, ABKCO, Beggars Group, Big Machine Records, CBS Interactive Music Group, Concord Music Group, Hollywood Records, Lyric Street Records, Razor & Tie Entertainment, Ultra Records, Walt Disney Records, Wind-up Records, Caroline Distribution, Fontana Distribution, INgrooves, IODA, RED, SAAVN and The Orchard.
Vevo’s app is pretty straightforward, giving users the option to search for music videos, as well as filter through top video, premieres, new artists, artists on tour, and “nearby” videos that are hot in your city.
Any video debuting on Vevo.com will be available simultaneously via the app.
Unfortunately for users with iOS 4.0 installed on their iPhone/Touch, the app cannot multitask, yet.
