Shazam

Official Website

Market: Worldwide

Overview

Shazam is Apple’s music recognition app. It identifies a song from a short audio sample, even when the audio is noisy or partial, and connects listeners with the artists they hear around them.

Market / Platform Focus

Shazam publishes charts by country and city, and its data appears in Apple Music for Artists, where you can see where listeners are discovering your music.

Yes — when LabelGrid delivers your release to Apple Music, your recordings are added to the Shazam catalog so they can be identified. Shazam recognition comes with Apple Music delivery through LabelGrid, for record labels, distributors, and independent artists alike.

SHAZAM AT A GLANCE

  • What it does: Shazam identifies your recordings from a short audio sample using audio fingerprinting.
  • Reference: your delivered master is fingerprinted so listeners’ Shazams match to your release.
  • Discovery: a Shazam match links listeners to your release on Apple Music.
  • Territory: worldwide.
  • Typical go-live: processing times vary by platform — submit at least 2 weeks ahead; distribution is included on every distribution plan.

LABELGRID

LabelGrid Integration

LabelGrid delivers your release to Apple Music with accurate metadata and an ISRC for every track, which adds it to Shazam’s catalog so it can be matched when a listener uses the app.

Getting Started

To make your music recognizable on Shazam via LabelGrid, prepare your audio and metadata according to our specifications and select Apple Music when scheduling your release. Shazam builds the audio signature from your delivered master.

LabelGrid provides the tools you need beyond distribution: catalog management for your metadata and releases, royalty accounting with artist statements and automated royalty splits from the Basic plan up, and promotion tools including smart links and Spotify pre-saves.

Shazam delivery specifications

Spec Detail
What it does Audio fingerprinting and recognition — Shazam identifies your recording from a short audio sample
Reference Your delivered master is fingerprinted so listeners’ Shazams match to your release
Metadata required ISRC per track, a valid release barcode (UPC-A or EAN-13 — LabelGrid assigns one if you don’t have it), accurate title and artist credits
Discovery A Shazam match links listeners to your release on Apple Music
Territory / availability Worldwide
Typical go-live after submission Processing times vary by platform — submit at least 2 weeks ahead
Delivery method Added to Shazam with your Apple Music delivery from LabelGrid

Requirements can change — confirm current details with Shazam.

How long until my release is recognized on Shazam?

Processing times vary by platform, so submit at least 2 weeks ahead. LabelGrid reviews your release and delivers it to Apple Music, which adds your recording to the Shazam catalog so it can be identified. From then on, a Shazam match links listeners to your release on Apple Music. To check, use Shazam to identify your own track once the release is live.

Related: music distribution · royalty accounting · automated royalty splits · pricing · compare distributors · LabelGrid for labels · Apple Music help article

WHY SHAZAM

Artist Benefits

When your recordings are in the Shazam catalog, someone who hears your track in a shop, a restaurant or on the radio can identify it and go straight to your release.

Key Features

  • Instant music recognition from short audio samples

  • Matches even noisy or partial recordings

  • Matches link listeners to your release on Apple Music

  • Public charts by country and city: Top 200, Viral and Discovery

  • Shazam data in Apple Music for Artists

Ready to Try LabelGrid?

DEEP DIVE

What You Should Know About Shazam

The Discovery Bridge

Shazam is Apple's music identification app, a bridge between hearing a song and streaming it. When someone Shazams your track, the match links them to your release on Apple Music.

Shazam Charts

Shazam publishes public charts by country and region: Top 200, Viral and Discovery, plus city and genre charts. In Apple Music for Artists, a Shazam chart appears on your profile when you have a top Shazam track in a country, region or city. Apple does not publish how Shazam activity feeds Apple Music recommendations or playlists.

Analytics

Through Apple Music for Artists, you can see your Shazam Count, listener demographics in Trends, and the countries, regions and cities that Shazam you most in Places. This data shows where your music is being discovered.

Tips for Success

  • Shazam activity indicates organic discovery — high Shazam counts signal growing interest
  • Avoid duplicate masters: a Shazam counts toward the version judged the best match, so identical audio on several releases can split your count
  • Use Shazam data to identify geographic markets where your music is trending

RESOURCES

Shazam Resources

Official tools, portals, and documentation for Shazam.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

When LabelGrid delivers your release to Apple Music, your music is also added to the Shazam catalog. There's no separate submission.

Shazam is Apple's music identification app. It identifies a song from a short audio sample and links the listener to the release on Apple Music.

When someone Shazams your song, the match gives them a direct link to your release on Apple Music. Your Shazam data in Apple Music for Artists shows where listeners are finding your music, which helps you plan promotion and live shows.

Apple does not publish how Shazam activity feeds Apple Music playlists or recommendations. What you can see is your Shazam data and charts in Apple Music for Artists.

Yes. Through Apple Music for Artists, you can see your Shazam Count, listener demographics, and the countries, regions and cities where you are Shazamed most. This data helps you understand where your music is being discovered.

Ready to Try LabelGrid?

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