Music HistoryTech

Shazam, the magical music identifying app, has turned 20. Here are some Shazam facts

At some point, you’ve probably used the (and as of September 2015, Apple-owned) Shazam app to identify a song. It’s remarkably quick and accurate. It was officially launched to the public 20 years ago this month. Now that Shazam passed that milestone, here are some facts (via Cult of Mac)

  • First song ever Shazamed: “Jeepster” by T-Rex on April 19, 2002 (a test Shazam)
  • Shazam started as a text service in the UK. Users dialed 2580 on their phones, held it up to listen to the song, and then got a text message answer. The most popular song Shazamed this way was “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley.
  • The first version of the Shazam app as we know it appeared in the Apple App Store on July 10, 2008. The first iOS-Shazamed song was “How Am I Different” by Aimee Mann.
  • Fastest song to reach one million Shazams: “Butter” by BTS.
  • Most-Shazamed artist: Drake with 350 million times and counting.
  • As it passes the two-decade milestone, the app has identified 70 billion songs.
  • The most-Shazamed alt-rock song: “Dance Monkey” by Tones and I. (Shazams’s definition of alt-rock may differ from ours.)

There’s plenty more at Cult of Mac.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 39178 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

One thought on “Shazam, the magical music identifying app, has turned 20. Here are some Shazam facts

  • This week, for the first time, I experienced being the first person to Shazam a specific song. A tune from from fanclubwallet.

    Love this app and the quick access to details like year of release and the album the song can be found on, etc.

    Reply

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