In an incredible milestone for music lovers everywhere, the music identification app Shazam has announced that it has surpassed a staggering 100 billion song recognitions since its inception 21 years ago in the U.K.

The Journey of Shazam

Shazam first debuted on August 19, 2002, initially as an SMS service. Users would dial a specific number, hold their phones up to the music, and receive a text message with the name and artist of the song playing. The app's popularity surged, and in 2006, Shazam transitioned to a full-fledged app, hitting both Apple and Android platforms by 2008.

Milestones Achieved

Fast forward to 2011, and Shazam recognized its billionth song—a figure that jumped to five billion by 2012 and soared to 15 billion by 2014. The journey took a major turn in 2017 when Apple acquired Shazam for a whopping $400 million, cementing its position in the world of music technology.

A Remarkable Achievement

This recent announcement of surpassing 100 billion recognitions is remarkable—it comes just five years after Shazam celebrated reaching 70 billion recognitions. Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President of Apple Music and Beats, stated, 'This monumental milestone not only reflects how much people enjoy using Shazam, but also their appetite for new music.' He emphasized that music discovery is central to their mission, assuring listeners that the Shazam button would remain accessible no matter where they hear music.

Statistical Significance

To illustrate the magnitude of this achievement, Apple revealed that 100 billion recognitions equate to about 12 songs identified per person on the planet. If one individual were to use Shazam to identify songs continuously, it would take over 3,168 years to achieve this monumental figure!

Celebrating the Milestone

In celebration of this milestone, Apple Music has also curated a playlist of the 100 most-Shazamed songs in the app’s history. At the top of this coveted list is Tones and I’s explosive hit 'Dance Monkey,' with an astounding 45 million recognitions. Close behind is Gotye’s 'Somebody That I Used to Know,' a track loaded with nostalgia from 2012. The top five also includes Passenger’s 'Let Her Go,' Ed Sheeran’s romantic classic 'Perfect,' and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s anthem 'Can’t Hold Us.' Other popular artists such as Lewis Capaldi, Hozier, The Weeknd, KALEO, and Sia have also made it into the top ten, showcasing the broad spectrum of music embraced by Shazam users.

Looking Ahead

As Shazam continues to evolve, its staggering achievement of 100 billion recognitions marks not just a number, but a testament to the evolving landscape of music consumption and discovery in an increasingly digital world. Stay tuned, as this iconic app seems poised to redefine the way we connect with music in the years to come!