The song identifying technology behind Shazam is an algorithm built by Avery Wang. He launched Shazam in 2002, before smartphone apps had even been invented. In those early days, users would dial a number, play the song into their phones, and then Shazam would text back the title and artist’s name. To date, Shazam has been downloaded more than 500 million times. Along the way, it also became a tool for executives in the music industry. By studying data from the 20 million searches done daily, the app gives them an early idea of what songs will become hits. By looking at where their songs are most searched, around the country or world, they can decide where to concentrate their tours. Shazam announced in February that it will launch a new imprint under Warner Music Group for artists discovered through the app.
Shazam! Discovering the Hits
