Marking two decades of magic: Key figures, achievements, and additional trivia for Shazam
In August 2002, Shazam, a pioneering music recognition service, was launched. Initially, users could identify songs by sending audio snippets via text message, a groundbreaking use of SMS technology. As smartphones gained popularity, Shazam evolved into a mobile app, offering instant music recognition through audio fingerprinting technology.
The app's growth was significant, with millions of users worldwide by the early 2010s. It integrated with music streaming services, making it a popular choice for music enthusiasts. This progression from a text message service to a sophisticated mobile app mirrors the broader technological advancements from feature phones relying on SMS to smartphones capable of advanced audio processing and internet connectivity.
Key milestones in Shazam's evolution include the transition from an SMS service to an app, which enabled faster, real-time identification, and the integration with music streaming services.
Shazam has recently hit a significant milestone, reaching 70 billion all-time Shazams, a testament to its enduring popularity. Tones and I's 'Dance Monkey' recently set the Shazam record for the most Shazamed track of all time, while BTS holds the record for the fastest track to reach 1 million Shazams, with 'Butter' achieving this feat in just 9 days.
Drake is the most Shazamed artist of all time, and 'One Dance' is his most popular track on the app. David Guetta was the first artist to hit 100 million Shazams, in May 2015. The app has reportedly been downloaded more than a billion times since its launch in 2002.
Apple Music has celebrated Shazam's 20th anniversary by creating a '20 Years of Shazam Hits' playlist, available for streaming. Marshmello, a renowned electronic music producer, took to Twitter to congratulate Shazam on its anniversary, expressing gratitude for the app's role in helping millions of fans discover great music over the years.
As Shazam looks forward to the next 20 years, it continues to serve millions of users monthly, with upwards of 225 million users worldwide. The app's future promises to be as vibrant and exciting as its past, offering continued opportunities for music discovery.
[Image credit: Tones and I - Bruce Baker via Flickr, under Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)] [Image credit: David Guetta - Eva Rinaldi via Flickr, under Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)]
- Shazam's evolution from an SMS service to a mobile app has allowed for faster music recognition and integration with streaming services, making it a popular choice for music enthusiasts using smartphones and gadgets.
- The '20 Years of Shazam Hits' playlist, created by Apple Music, showcases the app's impact on music discovery by featuring popular tracks from artists like Drake, who is the most Shazamed artist of all time.
- With over 225 million users worldwide, Shazam continues to serve as a essential tool for music discovery on streaming platforms, leveraging technology to help listeners discover new tracks on their smartphones.
