Tarun Nagar 
“Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.” – Pablo Casals
Have you ever found yourself tapping your foot to an incredible song but struggling to put a name to the catchy tune? Or perhaps you’ve marveled at the magical simplicity of Shazam, the app that effortlessly identifies songs with a quick listen? Well, if you’ve ever wondered how to build an app like Shazam and dive into the world of music recognition, you’ve come to the right place!
In this digital age, where music is an integral part of our lives, the technology behind apps like Shazam is nothing short of fascinating. Whether you’re a music enthusiast, an aspiring app developer, or simply curious about the mysticism that powers such applications, this blog post is your gateway to uncovering the secrets behind Shazam’s success.
So, let’s begin.
Table of Contents
What is a Shazam App?
Shazam, a song-finding app launched in 2002, has 2580 services. Users can receive all the details about the song via SMS. You can use Shazam to identify a song that you’re listening to in the street or wherever you are. It is possible to identify a song in a noisy environment, even when there are other sounds.
Shazam is also very good in offline mode. If the internet connection fails, your search will be saved. The app is also available on iOS, Android, Apple Watch, Android Wear and MacOS. A lite version of the app is available for Android devices that weigh under 1MB.
So, if you are planning to build an app like Shazam to boost your business, then you must get assistance from Android or iPhone app developers.
Market Overview of the Shazam App
- In Great Britain, Shazam was downloaded to Android smartphones about 79.2 thousand times in February 2020.
- Shazam had the most downloads on the Google Play Store in June 2020, with over 204 thousand downloads, according to an Airnow survey done between June 2019 and June 2020.
- Statista reports that Shazam has 478 million active users worldwide.
- CNBC reports that Apple purchased Shazam for 400 million USD in 2018.
- Statista reports that 42% of Shazam Android users resided in the United States as of March 2021.
- According to the BBC, Shazam’s database contained over 35 million songs as of 2014.
- According to Spotify, by 2014, 500 million people used Shazam worldwide.
- Statista data revealed that Shazam had been downloaded more than 1 billion times in 2020.
- Statista states that Shazam had 150,000,000 active monthly users by May 2020.
- According to Box Office Mojo, the movie “Shazam” grossed more than $364 million worldwide in 2019.
- Statista reports that Shazam application penetration among US phone users was 3.1% as of 2019.
Steps to Build an App like Shazam
Making a music recognition and discovery app like Shazam is a challenging endeavor. You’ll need to do a few steps to build a successful app. So, to build an app like Shazam, you must follow the essential steps that a mobile app development company advises.
Step 1: Conduct Thorough Market Research
It is important to do thorough market research before building an app similar to Shazam. It is important to do market research before building an app similar to Shazam, as we are all aware of the fierce competition in the mobile app development market.
This step will help you create a successful app for your mobile device. You should learn more about music recognition applications before you build them.
Step 2: Create a Business Plan and Model
You must also follow this step to build an app like Shazam. You must create a plan of action that will help you achieve success. It is also important to build a model of business that generates high revenue and profit. When deciding on Android app development like Shazam, it is important to take this step.
Step 3: Start the Development Process
It is now time to start the process to build an app like Shazam. This is an essential step in the whole process. It is now better to hire a dedicated team of Android app developers or an experienced in-house developer.
Step 4: Test and Maintain the Application
Testing and maintenance are essential to the success of mobile app development. Testing is crucial to the launch and maintenance of any app, whether it’s for iOS or Android. If you hire dedicated developers for your app testing, the user experience and efficiency of your app will improve over time.
Step 5: Launch the Application
It is now time to launch your application in the Apple Store or Google Play Store. You must promote your application on social media once you have launched it in the Google Play Store. This will help you gain more exposure and profit.
Following these steps will allow you to build an app like Shazam easily. It isn’t easy to build a functioning app without technical knowledge. You will need to hire an iOS app development company that develops music streaming apps in such cases.
Essential Features to Build an App like Shazam
Each form of music streaming app development needs to have amazing features to be eye-catching. You should keep in mind these features when developing a Shazam app. Some of the features you should consider including in your platform are:
1. Audio Recognition Technology
At the core of your application is audio recognition technology. The app will identify the song by recording a brief audio clip. You can develop your recognition algorithm, or you can integrate existing audio recognition services such as ACRCloud and Gracenote.
2. User-friendly Interface
An intuitive and simple user interface is essential. Make sure users can navigate easily through the app and record audio. Create an intuitive and attractive interface to encourage engagement and make the identification of music effortless.
3. Music Database
A vast music database is required to identify songs accurately. This database contains audio fingerprints and metadata for millions of songs. Update and expand the database regularly to include a variety of musical genres, regions, and languages. Access catalogs from record labels and publishers.
4. Real-time Recognition
Apps should be able to recognize songs in real time. Your app should be able to recognize songs quickly. Users expect this when they try to identify a particular song. Make sure that audio fingerprinting is optimized to provide accurate and fast results.
5. Display Song Lyrics
Improve the user’s experience by displaying lyrics for a song when it is recognized. Integrating a lyrics feature into your app can increase engagement. Many users like to sing along with the lyrics or learn them. You can either crowdsource lyrics or source them from licensed providers.
6. Music Playback
Let users listen to identified songs within your app. Integrate a player that plays the song or provides links to streaming music platforms such as Spotify or Apple Music. This feature encourages the user to explore and listen to the music.
7. Playlist creation
Allow users to create playlists based on their favorite songs. This feature increases user engagement and offers a personalized experience. Users can create playlists and share songs with their friends. Your app can be more interactive by adding social features such as sharing and following users.
8. Favorites and History
Implement a history feature to allow users to see their previous song identifications. Moreover, users can mark songs favorites to have quick access. These features improve user retention and make it easier for users to revisit identified songs.
9. Social integration
Integrate social sharing and integration functions. Users can share identified songs via social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram. This will promote your Music Discovery App Development and encourage user engagement as friends and followers can also discover and download the app.
Top 5 Music Identification Apps
If you are planning to build an app like Shazam, then you must know its competitors and other popular apps to know its USP. We have listed down the top music streaming applications for your reference.
| Music Identification Apps | Available Platform | Downloads | Ratings |
| SoundHound | Android | iOS | 100M+ | 4.5 |
| Chord AI | Android | iOS | 1M+ | 4.8 |
| Genius | Android | iOS | 5M+ | 4.0 |
| Quick Lyrics AI | Android | iOS | 100K+ | 3.9 |
| MusixMatch | Android | iOS | 50M+ | 4.4 |
1. SoundHound
SoundHound is among the best mobile apps available for identifying music and Shazam alternatives. Its biggest advantage is that it offers many ways to find a song. Users can sing or hum to identify a song. The application also allows you to type the lyrics of the song or the artist’s name in order to find a match. SoundHound can be downloaded for iOS and Android.
2. Chord AI
Chord AI is a revolutionary music app that simplifies the process of learning and playing musical instruments. Using advanced machine learning and audio recognition technology, Chord AI can identify and display the chords being played in real time, making it an invaluable tool for musicians of all skill levels.
3. Genius
Genius is another popular app like Shazam that helps identify the song. Once the song is identified, you can choose to share the track via other apps and play it using Apple Music or Spotify on your smartphone. This is more than just a simple music recognition tool. It’s also a huge collection of song lyrics and crowdsourced musical knowledge.
4. Quick Lyrics AI
Quick Lyrics AI is a free app that works just like Shazam on Android. It has automatic song recognition and top songs displayed, as well as a large collection of songs in different genres. Quick Lyrics AI IS not only recognizes unknown tracks but also provides a wealth of information, including the title, album, cover, singer, and more. You can also create your own playlists or browse other people’s playlists by genre.
5. MusixMatch
MusixMatch also ranks among the top music-finding apps similar to Shazam. You can find songs, lyrics, and more in just seconds. Similar to Shazam, it lets you recognize a tune from a brief sample, access lyrics, or play a whole song on your favorite streaming services.
How to Monetize a Music Identification App like Shazam?
Monetizing a music identification app like Shazam can be a rewarding endeavor, but it requires a well-thought-out strategy to generate revenue while keeping users engaged. In this section, we’ll explore various monetization avenues to help you maximize the potential of your app.
1. In-App Advertising
In-app advertising is one of the main revenue streams for music recognition apps. Within the app, you can display both video and banner ads. Advertisers pay to place ads, and you get paid based on impressions and clicks. To maximize revenue and engagement, make sure that your ads are relevant to the interests of your users when you build music streaming apps.
2. Freemium
Use a model whereby you provide a free app with the basic features and then a premium version, without ads, with more functionalities. Subscribers who wish to have an ad-free experience or exclusive features may do so on a monthly basis or annually. Subscriptions provide a regular income stream and encourage user retention.
3. Affiliate marketing
Partner up with online music stores and streaming services. You can provide links for users to buy or stream music when they identify a track through your app. You can earn commissions for each song or album purchased through your referral links. It not only helps monetize the app, but it also improves the user’s experience by providing seamless access to the music that they love.
4. Data Licenses
Apps for music identification collect valuable information about the listening habits and preferences of users. This data can be licensed to other music industry players, such as record labels, musicians, and marketers. These data can be used to create more personalized music and better understand the target audience.
5. Sponsored content
Work with brands and artists in the music industry to promote their content on your app. You can feature sponsored playlists, promotions for artists, or exclusive content. These promotions are engaging for users, and they generate revenue through sponsored partnerships. To maintain engagement and trust, ensure that your content is aligned with the app’s goal and user interests.
6. White Label Solutions
Provide your music recognition technology to other platforms or apps as a white-label solution. It can be lucrative to license your technology to other applications that want to integrate music recognition. These can be fitness apps, social networking platforms, etc. You can license your technology by providing seamless music recognition services to a wider audience.
Conclusion
The creation of an app similar to Shazam requires extensive knowledge of audio recognition, a user-friendly design, and database management. Although it is possible to undertake this journey on your own, it can be more cost-effective to hire an on-demand app development company.
Their expertise can help you navigate through the complexities of an app development project and let you know the exact music streaming app development cost. This will ensure that it runs smoothly and successfully.
FAQ
1. How Much Does it Cost to Build an App Like Shazam?
The cost to build an app like Shazam can vary widely, depending on factors like features, platform, and development team. A basic mobile app development cost will be around $8,000, while a more advanced one could exceed $25,000. Hiring an experienced development company can help you get a more accurate cost estimate.
2. How Much Time Does it Take to Build an App Like Shazam?
Building an app like Shazam typically takes 2-6 months to a year. The development time depends on the app’s complexity, features, and team size. A basic version may be quicker, while a full-featured music recognition app could take longer due to intricate audio processing and database integration.
3. What are the Advanced Features to Build an App Like Shazam?
To build an app like Shazam, consider advanced features like real-time lyrics display, social integration for sharing music discoveries, personalized playlists, artist information, and concert notifications. Implementing AI-driven music recommendations and an option for offline music identification can further enhance the user experience, making your app stand out in the market.
4. What Are the Benefits of Creating an App Like Shazam?
Developing an app like Shazam offers various benefits, including revenue generation through ads and partnerships, brand recognition, and access to vast user data for personalized content. Additionally, it opens opportunities for expanding into music-related services, creating a loyal user base, and establishing a strong presence in the tech industry.
