Apple Is Reportedly Buying Shazam For Nearly Half a Billion Dollars (phonedog.com)

Apple is close to acquiring Shazam, one of the most recognized services for music recognition. While the exact amount is unknown, the service may be purchased by Apple for around $400 million. PhoneDog reports: Apple is close to acquiring Shazam, say sources speaking to TechCrunch. The deal will reportedly be signed this week and could be announced as early as next Monday. A report from Recode echoes the news of Apple acquiring Shazam, adding that Shazam will likely be valued at around $400 million. Apple -- and other companies -- already offer a music recognition service, but Apple must see something in Shazam's services that it thinks can help improve its own music recognition if it's going to drop nearly half a billion dollars on this deal. Shazam is able to identify TV shows, films, and advertisements in addition to music, so perhaps Apple sees some benefit to these abilities, too.

Comments

I had no idea people still used Shazam

[Anonymous Coward]

Since the feature was baked into Google, I've seen 0 need for it. I guess iOS needs to eventually catch up to the Android game, though. Hopefully one day Mama Apple will allow you to treat your $1000 pocket computer like an actual fucking computer...

beginning of the end?

[nicolaiplum]

I have been a Shazam user since it was a shortcode (2580) to call with your mobile phone and you got back an SMS message either identifying the song (and costing you) or saying sorry (for free). That was before app stores, and almost before phone apps, just after Shazam launched. A music- and technology-obsessed friend told me about it, and I thought it was one of the coolest things ever. I still think it's pretty cool.

I don't have a lot of confidence Apple won't ruin it. Will the Android app get any love now? Will there be links to buy the music from anyone except the iTunes store?

Shazam made a genuinely innovative idea that is useful for many people and it still is. Apple used to do that, now all their ideas are just marketing and they buy other companies to wither in Cupertino.