Spotify has made a significant move by acquiring the popular community-run music database, WhoSampled. The announcement was made by the company on Wednesday, with Spotify also sharing the news in a blog post about new song credits features.
While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, Spotify confirmed that the acquisition includes both the WhoSampled team and database. WhoSampled, which was founded in 2008 and is based in London, offers a vast database of songs, samples, covers, remixes, artists, and more. With over 1.2 million songs and nearly 622,000 samples tracked, WhoSampled’s data will power Spotify’s latest features, including the upcoming music discovery tool, SongDNA.
Interestingly, Spotify had previously partnered with WhoSampled in 2016 to allow its users to access their Spotify playlists and saved tracks through the app. The acquisition of WhoSampled is seen as a strategic move by Spotify to enhance the user experience and provide more context around the music they love.
In a statement about the acquisition, WhoSampled mentioned that its stand-alone platform and brand will remain intact after the deal’s closure. The company also expects to make user-facing improvements as it integrates into Spotify’s larger business. Some of these improvements include faster moderation times for submissions, the removal of display ads in the near future, and offering free downloads and subscriptions for its mobile apps.
The WhoSampled team expressed their excitement about joining Spotify, highlighting the shared belief in the power of musical context and the vision for helping listeners delve deeper into their favorite songs. They believe that Spotify’s commitment to their mission makes it the perfect home for WhoSampled.
Overall, the acquisition of WhoSampled by Spotify signifies a new chapter in music discovery and curation for both platforms. Users can look forward to more seamless integration and enhanced features that will enrich their music listening experience.
