Apple to integrate Shazam into iOS 8

Apple will integrate London-based Shazam into iOS to allow users to discover the artist and song name of any piece of music they hear.

Shazam has long been a popular, independent smartphone app. It allows users to hold their phones up to a speaker, then takes a sample of the music and analyses it to provide an artist and song name. Until now it has monetised its 90 million users by offering them a chance to download the song they have just identified from iTunes, taking a small cut from Apple.

Now the service will be built-in to Apple’s mobile operating system, according to two anonymous sources who spoke to Bloomberg. It is expected that the update will come in version 8 of the software which is due to be released at the company’s annual developer conference in San Francisco on June 2.

Sources suggested that the feature would be built-in to the virtual assistant Siri, so users could just ask “what song is playing?”

Late last year Shazam launched a new version of its iPhone app that could automatically identify songs, TV shows and advertisements, even when running in the background. Auto Shazam works even when the screen is locked. Whenever it identifies a new song, show or ad, the user gets a notification on their smartphone.

All matches are automatically listed by date so users can browse them and open any tracks that interest them. This history reflects the playlist of a user’s commute, road trip, favorite TV show or evening out.