Apple Music launches Shazam Predictions playlist containing 50 songs from artists who are poised to have a breakthrough year. Shazam’s predictions have uncovered talent from every corner of the globe earlier than any other service, with artists like Ayra Starr, who was one of Shazam’s five featured predictions in 2022, making Shazam’s Global Top 10 last autumn.
2022 was also a milestone year for Shazam, marking the service’s 20th anniversary with 70 Bn all-time Shazams. Last year, Shazam launched 17 new national charts and 58 new city charts, expanding coverage of the world’s most discovered music to more parts of the world, as users discovered over 40 million different songs and more than 1 million artists received their very first Shazam. Last year, the songs on Shazam’s Global Top 200 were more diverse than ever before, illustrating that a new generation of fans increasingly connected with older songs, with “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush (1985) being the oldest song to reach No. 1.
Shazam also introduced a suite of new features, including a brand-new library sync using iCloud, enhanced Siri integration, and the ability to find concert details, making it easy for users to explore upcoming live shows while increasing exposure for artists.
Spatial Audio takes off
Since its launch, the number of monthly Spatial Audio listeners has more than tripled, with more than 80% of worldwide subscribers enjoying the experience, while monthly plays in Spatial Audio have grown by over 1,000%. Additionally, this year Apple Music partnered with Mercedes-Benz to bring Spatial Audio to drivers worldwide for the first time. Apple Music Live gives fans access to exclusive live performances by some of the biggest global stars in music, including Harry Styles, Lil Durk, Mary J. Blige, Billie Eilish, Luke Combs, Wizkid, and Alicia Keys. Following each broadcast, listeners can enjoy each show anytime on demand in immersive Spatial Audio.
