Shazam launches news feed, broadens focus, narrows targeting

By Rosie Baker | 26 February 2014
 

Shazam wants users to spend more time on its platform. It has overhauled its design, added features, music and TV content to keep people hooked.  The changes, unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, are part of the music discovery app's efforts to become a full content platform and get users to spend more time on it.

Shazam poached BBC iPlayer user experience designer Daniel Danker last year, and he's the brains behind the overhaul.

That entails new features like a news feed, based on previous user searches, and targeted recommendations to entice users to preview, share and buy tracks. In the US it will offer detailed information about TV programmes from 160 channels.

It will role out globally in the coming weeks. Shazam has also added lyrics searches, biographies, content and easy access to video content connected with tracks.

Shazam also introduced its auto-listening function in December and claims users have spent 2.6 million hours identifying music and TV content since. Almost 40% of auto-Shazam matches have been for TV content, said the firm.

Last week Shazam partnered with Warner Music Group to launch its own record label and singe up any upcoming acts. It will also leverage Warner Music's marketing. No Australian acts have yet signed up to the label.

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