Shazam Brings Back Unlimited Song Tagging In Free App

[Akshay Masand]

Shazam, a popular music identification service that can tell you song information just by hearing a sample of the music made a big announcement earlier today. The company will finally be bringing back unlimited tagging to the free Shazam app.

The music identifying service has followed the iPhone’s rise to popularity with multiple successful mobile apps. Shazam was in fact the first song identifying app that many people ended up downloading when Apple launched the App Store in 2008. At the time, the app worked very well and more importantly it was free. You were able to tag as many songs as you wanted without having to worry about paying anything extra. The days when unlimited tagging were free were shortlived though when the company shifted its business model in 2009. It launched a new paid app, Shazam Encore, and then enforced a 5 song tags per month limit on the free version. Although previous users were able to keep the unlimited feature, it ended up hurting many.

Today however, the company announced that it was finally bringing back unlimited tagging to the free Shazam app. This move puts the software into the same category as other song identifying apps with unlimited tagging such as SoundHound and MusicDNA ID. Shazam’s CEO, Andrew Fisher mentioned the following in his announcement:

Shazamers already identify over 1 billion songs each year and go on to purchase over $100 million in digital music via our service. Now, with no limits, people can Shazam even more songs they don’t know – or they already know - to conveniently purchase them, see the lyrics, watch the official music video, share on Facebook, Twitter or email, get recommendations and purchase concert tickets instantly. Unlimited free access means people can use Shazam even more as part of their daily lives.

Shazam has been on a number of Top 10 lists across the web and many of us use it as well. With unlimited song tagging back in the mix for the free version, it is definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already. If you are interested in trying it out head on over to the App Store.

For those of you who paid for Shazam Encore, don’t worry! You still get features that those with the free version do not, including an ad-free experience and features such as LyricPlay, which allows users to view song lyrics as the tracks play.

Source: Shazam

[Cody Overcash]

sonofa, just bought the premium shazam for unlimited tagging a couple weeks ago

[Akshay Masand]

sonofa, just bought the premium shazam for unlimited tagging a couple weeks ago

LOL! Well on the bright side, you still get some additional features.

Just wait... next time you go out to karaoke with your friends, the premium Shazam's LyricPlay will save you.

[thetoothfairy]

In app purchases however....

[ChSchuldiner]

I like the paid icon more... lol

[Anthony Bouchard]

Does the free version have ads? I bought the paid version a while back.

[BenderRodriguez]

*Edit

[Akshay Masand]

The free version does have ads. I went ahead and installed it on one of my spare iPhones. The ads aren't as obtrusive as some of the other apps I have seen in the App Store though. All in all - for those who used the tagging features, this news is great! Many people were complaining that they purchased the app and won't be getting the money for it back though.

[santaf]

Hah I never got my unlimited tagging taken away on the free version I was always confused because I thought it was supposed to bel limited but oh well glad it's back to unlimited for those who were effected by the limitation before

[iPod]

sonofa, just bought the premium shazam for unlimited tagging a couple weeks ago

Thanks to Starbucks, I got it free

[spooneditr]

Hell yea!! I'm glad I waited!!

[Breezy215]

Just DL'd the app, it does has Capital One ads, but I'm not complaining... They're the reason why unlimited tagging is once again free!