Shazam Predicts Major Hits of the Summer

Shazam Tag Charts foresee huge airplay for Gotye, Usher and Maroon 5 as well as rising artists Alabama Shakes, Rudamental and Gusttavo Lima

London – 31 May 2012 - Shazam®, the world’s leading media discovery company, today announces its predictions for the songs everyone will be listening to at the beach, around the pool and in the clubs this summer.

The list includes songs that are currently at the top of the chart and are expected to remain there over the coming months as well as newly released singles.  It also includes a few surprise acts that are making a name for themselves globally and are expecting to break in the US and UK.  The list is ranked based on the number of tags that the single is currently receiving and other factors.

• Gotye, “Somebody That I Used to Know” is currently receiving 1.5 million tags each week, worldwide.
• Usher “Scream” is the most-tagged song from Usher’s forthcoming album, “Looking 4 Myself” and is likely to be one of the biggest releases of the summer.
• Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa “Payphone.”  The track was number one in the Shazam New Release Tag Chart and is the follow-up to “Moves Like Jagger” which received more than two million tags in the last year.
• Calvin Harris featuring Ne-Yo “Let’s Go.” Calvin’s tracks and productions for other artists have been huge at Shazam.  Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” produced by Harris, scored more than 3.5 million tags in the last year.  “Let’s Go” looks to continue the producer’s run of hits.
• Rick Ross featuring Usher, “Touch ‘N You.”  Rick Ross’s “Stay Schemin’” has been the most-tagged track from a hip-hop mix tape in the past year.
• Gusttavo Lima “Balada Boa.”  This Brazilian artist has been a hit in 21 countries.
• Rudamental featuring John Newman “Feel the Love” has been number one in the Shazam New Release Chart UK for several weeks.
• DJ Fresh featuring Dizzee Rascal “The Power.”  DJ Fresh holds the title for longest time spent at the top of the Shazam New Release Chart UK with ‘Louder’, which spent eight weeks at number one in 2011.
• Nicki Minaj “Pound the Alarm”.  Minaj has been one of Shazam’s most popular artists in the last year with more than five million tags in the last 12 months
• Alabama Shakes “Hold On” has been one of the most-tagged indie/alt tracks in the UK this year.  It’s now starting to make movement in our US Tag Chart and could be the single that breaks this hotly tipped band into a mainstream audience.

“Music has always had the power to evoke a feeling of time and place when you hear a particular song, especially during the summer.  Everyone has a particular soundtrack to their favourite vacations or when they were just hanging out with friends,” said Shazam Director of Music and Content, Will Mills. “Shazam’s Tag Charts are recognized as one of the most accurate predictive measures for the industry to see which songs and artists are resonating with people.  In fact, up to 85% of the songs that get to number one in Shazam’s charts go on to break into national top 10 charts, as well.”

Shazam tag charts provide reliable data that lets the industry see which acts and tracks are popular with consumers.  For complete US, UK and world charts, visit the Shazamers.com blog.  Additional information includes Shazam’s New Release Charts for the US and UK.

Shazam recently announced the industry’s fastest unlimited tagging for iOS and Android devices.  The Shazam App also includes other unique features such as LyricPlay streaming lyrics in time with the music as well as Shazam Friends social sharing and artist information.