Add another "ginormous record labels sues small beleaguered music startup" story to the list: this time it's EMI going after Grooveshark, one of the services we profiled in our Mega list of iTunes alternatives feature. A ton of web music startups are essentially caught in the same vise these days, between the rock of prohibitively expensive major label licensing deals and the hard place of being sued by those same labels for not having a prohibitively expensive licensing deal in place yet. 

Meanwhile the consumer is caught in the grip too, between a suite of major labels unwilling or unable to produce innovative online music experiences to match demand in the digital age, and a rising tide of useful and creative online music solutions from startups who typically lack the cash to keep up with what the major labels expect them to pay. We hope something gives to loosen up the playing field soon.

This story around the web: