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How a Simple Idea Revolutionized Music Discovery
In the late 1990s, the concept of instantly identifying a song playing in a café or on the radio seemed like something out of a science fiction movie. Fast forward to today, and Shazam has turned this once far-fetched idea into a daily reality for millions. It’s become one of the most iconic apps in the music industry, enabling users worldwide to discover the music around them with just a tap. But how did Shazam transform from a simple idea into a revolutionary tool that changed the way we interact with music?
The Humble Beginnings (1999-2002)
Shazam’s journey began in 1999 when Chris Barton, Philip Inghelbrecht, Avery Wang, and Dhiraj Mukherjee founded the company in London. Their vision was both ambitious and groundbreaking: to create a technology capable of “listening” to music and identifying the song and artist. At the time, this was no small feat because smartphones hadn’t yet entered the scene, and digital music databases were in their infancy. Avery Wang, a Ph.D. in audio recognition from Stanford, crafted a pioneering algorithm that could capture a song’s unique “fingerprint” and match it to a growing database. Initially, Shazam wasn’t even an app—it operated as an SMS service where users in the UK dialed 2580, held their phones to the music, and received a text message with the song’s details.
The Smartphone Revolution (2008-2012)
The launch of the Apple App Store in 2008 marked a turning point for Shazam. It was among the first apps available on iOS, and its popularity soared almost overnight. Gone were the days of SMS; users could now simply tap a button to instantly recognize songs. Key milestones during this era include Apple highlighting Shazam as one of the best iPhone apps in 2009, reaching 100 million downloads worldwide by 2011, and expanding beyond music to identify TV shows, ads, and movie soundtracks by 2012. This period was pivotal in establishing Shazam as a must-have app for music lovers everywhere.
Going Viral and Expanding (2013-2017)
By the mid-2010s, Shazam was not just an app; it was a cultural phenomenon. The company formed strategic partnerships with major platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music, allowing users to seamlessly listen to discovered songs. Shazam also ventured into augmented reality (AR) and image recognition, offering brands creative ways to engage with audiences. Despite its massive user base—boasting over 1 billion downloads—Shazam faced challenges in monetization. Its revenue came from partnerships and ads, but scaling this proved difficult, highlighting an area that needed attention.
Apple’s $400 Million Buyout (2018)
Recognizing Shazam’s immense potential, Apple acquired the company for a staggering $400 million in 2018. This acquisition was a strategic move for Apple, as Shazam’s music identification technology perfectly complemented Siri and Apple Music. Post-acquisition, Apple removed all ads from the app, making it free for users and enhancing their experience. Shazam’s AI-powered music recognition became an integral feature of iOS and Mac devices, further solidifying its role in the Apple ecosystem. The acquisition marked a new chapter for Shazam, aligning it with one of the world’s leading tech giants.
Shazam Today: A Music Powerhouse
Today, Shazam stands as a powerhouse in the music discovery domain. With over 2 billion downloads and counting, it is tightly integrated with Apple Music and Siri, offering users a seamless experience. Despite the plethora of music apps available, Shazam continues to be one of the most downloaded music apps globally. From a visionary startup to an Apple-owned giant, Shazam has redefined how we discover music. Whether it’s a catchy tune playing in a club or a jingle from a commercial, Shazam ensures that the question “What’s that song?” is never left unanswered. What’s the last song you Shazamed?
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.
