Shazam unveils Predictions 2021 playlist

The playlist is available worldwide on Apple Music and features 50 songs from emerging artists who the platform says are poised to make a breakthrough this year.

Predictions 2021 is based on Shazam’s predictive data and algorithms as well as Apple Music’s global editorial team. The featured songs show early indicators of future growth, early and consistent momentum in Shazam activity, and discovery in more than one country.

The playlist is global and diverse, with emerging artists hailing from 20 countries, including the DRC, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Australia, Belgium and Puerto Rico, among others, and represents about 16 genres. Some of the artists who appear on the playlist include Zandimaz, Dr MaVibes, Taba Chake, Matilda Mann, Berwyn and PawPaw Rod.

Additionally, Apple Music spotlighted five artists on the list to watch out for in 2021 and beyond. They include Serena Isioma, Masked Wolf, Tai Verdes, LB Spiffy, Biig Piig and Blackstarkids.

The move adds to Shazam’s growing focus on emerging artists. In Africa, the platform launched the Mzansi Risers and Naija Risers playlists, which feature upcoming artists in their respective regions.

Launched in 2002, Shazam allows users to discover, interact with and share video or audio content on various devices by capturing short segments of music, movies, ads and television shows. In 2018, the app was acquired by Apple for $400m. The platform’s app has been downloaded more than 1.5 billion times globally, with over 25 million Shazams daily.

More than 200 million fans worldwide use Shazam to discover new music every month, allowing Shazam to predict music trends and hits earlier than most other services offering similar functionalities.