Grooveshark is in court with several major music companies, banned from Facebook and kicked off Apple and Google's app stores, principally because of how the company pays (or doesn't pay) for music. But that hasn't stopped the controversial free music streamer from evolving; and today Grooveshark soft-launched a more social version including a tip jar that ironically encourages fans to do something that many believe the site doesn't - adequately compensate music creators.
Through an integration with micropayments site
Flattr, fans can now make donations directly to artists on Grooveshark, as well as "follow" them to stay on top of tour dates via Songkick and news. Artists can now also claim their own profile to add or remove tracks, and other content. An expanded artist dashboard offers analytics and direct-to-fan communications.
The site overhaul also includes a new design and recommendation engine, more social sharing options and a drag-and-drop interface that allows users to curate an online music collection without cost or restrictions.
The new Grooveshark will roll out to all users by November 1st. Until then, you can try the new site here.
