Josh Greenberg, cofounder of the music streaming site Grooveshark, was found dead in bed at his Florida residence Sunday, and authorities are working to determine a cause of death. He was 28.
Gainesville police issued a Twitter post on Monday, stating that the early investigation did not show signs of a crime or evidence that Greenberg took his own life.
The Gainesville Sun described Greenberg as "a pioneer in the Gainesville student startup movement." The newspaper said he shared his residence with his girlfriend Abby Mayer while his mother, Lori Greenberg, added that he had never been sick or took medication.
Rolling Stone magazine wrote that Greenberg and Sam Tarantino founded Grooveshark in 2006 while both were 19-year-old freshmen at the University of Florida and at the height of its success had 40 million users, 145 employees with offices in Gainesville and New York City.
Grooveshark shutdown in April after the streaming service was hit with copyright lawsuits by Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group, alleging a reported $17 billion infringement.
"Despite the best of intentions, we made very serious mistakes,"
Grooveshark wrote in a statement announcing the closure. "We failed to secure licenses from rights holders for the vast amount of music on the service. That was wrong. We apologize. Without reservation."
Escape Media, Grooveshark's parent company, agreed it would pay $75 million to Universal, Sony, and Warner Music if it
violate the terms of the settlement, reported Variety. Grooveshark had to turn over its mobile apps and other intellectual property, stated the celebrity publication.
"For too long, Grooveshark built its business without properly compensating the artists, songwriters, and everyone else who makes great music possible," the Recording Industry Association of America said in a statement, Variety reported in April. "This settlement ends a major source of infringing activity."
The Gainesville Sun wrote that Greenberg mentored other entrepreneurs and programmers in helping get their startups off the ground.
"His contributions, which helped to lay our region's innovative technology foundation, will not be forgotten," Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce board chair John Carlson and interim president and CEO Susan Davenport said in a statement.
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