Grooveshark is all set to take on popular internet radio service Pandora with its new digital music station dubbed Broadcasts that will let users create their own customized radio stations.
The digital radio service, Broadcasts, will enable users to create and share streaming radio stations. It also features a texting ability, which allows users and disc jockeys to chat with one another using the apps. The service is scheduled to launch in January 2015 for iOS and Android users for just 99 cents per month.
With subscription, users will be able to listen to their uploaded music as well as tunes provided by other Grooveshark members without any advertisements.
The company said it will pay royalties for every song it plays to music companies and will take all possible steps to prove to everyone that the company is trying to be a “legitimate player.”
“We’re trying to show that we’re doing everything we possibly can to be a legitimate player here,” said Grooveshark Chief Executive Sam Tarantino.
The app, he added, could “change the ballgame” in digital radio.
Earlier this year, Grooveshark lost a US court case over allegations of copyright infringement brought by record labels Arista Music, Arista Records, Atlantic Recording, Elektra Entertainment Group, LaFace Records, Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recording, Warner Brothers Records and Zomba Recording. The company was found guilty of personally uploading 6,000 unlicensed tracks to the site.
Broadcasts is expected to be available in the App Store and Google Play when it goes live in January next year.
