How Do I Get My Fans to Use Shazam—And Why Does It Help My Apple Music Exposure?

Apple Music : https://music.apple.com/us/artist/stephen-allen-music/1092692557

Why Shazam Activity Matters

  • Directly influences Apple Music editorial playlists, including “Shazam Discovery”
  • High Shazam numbers = strong fan interest and viral potential
  • Boosts your Apple Music For Artists metrics, increasing chances for feature
  • Helps Siri identify your music when fans ask “What song is this?”


 How to Get More Fans to Shazam Your Song

  1. Make Your Music Shazam-Compatible
    • Distribute your music through a verified distributor (like DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby)
    • Make sure “Shazam & Siri” is checked during submission (default on most platforms)
  2. Create Situations Where Fans Hear But Don’t Know the Song
    • Tease your music in the background of TikToks, Reels, IG stories, and YouTube Shorts
    • Perform live (IRL or virtual) without announcing the title
    • Encourage fans to “guess the song” or drop 🔍 emojis if they recognize it
  3. Ask Fans to Shazam It for You
    • Post a fun challenge: “Play this song and see if Shazam knows it 🔍”
    • Frame it as an inside mission: “Shazam this track if you’re part of the movement”
    • Use visuals: record a phone using Shazam on your song and post it
  4. Leverage Real-World Play
    • Submit your song to DJs, cafes, gyms, and local radio—fans may Shazam it on-site
    • Use music in ads or trailers (if possible) to trigger curiosity
  5. Track Shazam Trends
    • Apple Music for Artists shows where and how often your song is being Shazamed
    • Use this data to focus promo in hotspots (city or country-specific)


 Pro Tips

  • The more people Shazam, the more likely Apple will feature you
  • Songs with distinct intros or hooks tend to get Shazamed more
  • Use the phrase “Shazam this song now!” as a CTA on social posts


 Don’t Do This

  • Don’t skip Shazam registration—it’s crucial to Apple Music growth
  • Don’t only promote on platforms where the song title is already obvious
  • Don’t overlook how many offline or casual fans discover music by sound first


Another Pro Tip:

Shazam is the bridge between curiosity and fandom. Every time someone tags your track, Apple sees it as proof that your music has real-world pull.

Back to blog