Shazam can now identify vinyl-only tracks

Originally published on FACT.

Shazam has historically been of fairly limited use to the committed clubber – but that’s about to change.

The music identification app has long been stymied by the fact that vinyl-only releases haven’t featured on its track databases – meaning the reams of new or limited-circulation dance records which haven’t had an official digital release have fallen under its radar.

Not for long. As Billboard report, Shazam have just signed a deal with online dance music retailer Juno. The deal means that all vinyl releases logged on the site will now be identifiable using the software. The deal also brings Juno’s online archive, which runs to four million tracks, under the ambit of the service.

The arrangement follows a similar team-up with digital download service Beatport back in 2013. Juno’s Richard Atherton claims that “many of the releases we stock and sell are often not available on commercial download stores for weeks after their release on Juno.”

According to Will Mills, Shazam’s VP of Music and Content, “vinyl music is seeing a resurgence in the industry, with sales at their highest for 15 years. Crucially some of the most important and exciting new music is released on vinyl first before later hitting digital.”

Shazam recently announced their AutoShazam feature, which lets the app “background listen” to music and store up ID information to be accessed at a later date. They also recently partnered with Warner Music Group to develop a Shazam-branded record label.