Spotify have acquired WhoSampled – but why?
WhoSampled is the internet’s top source of discovering music samples and interpolations, so what will Spotify be doing with it?
Spotify has soft announced their acquisition of WhoSampled in a post celebrating the new features that will bring. In an announcement post, Spotify stated that WhoSampled “is now part of Spotify”.
Spotify announced that they will be expanding Song Credits “to highlight all of the contributors who make each song possible”. They state that Song Credits will now feature extra roles, including producers, engineers, songwriters, and featured artists.
Manny Marroquin, a mix engineer, said: “So many incredible creatives contribute to a track, and recognizing them publicly can be life-changing.
“Accurate credits open doors, whether it’s new work, new relationships, or simply being seen. Spotlighting the full team behind each song makes our industry stronger and more inclusive.”
Originally, the credits were limited to the topline credits of a song but Spotify are looking to ensure more creators are recognised for their input. Credits come directly from labels and distributors (so be sure to include all personnel when uploading to RouteNote).
Spotify’s new WhoSampled-powered feature
Spotify announced the upcoming launch of a brand new feature titled ‘SongDNA’. It will provide an interactive view that connects songs by influence and connections.
The interactive SongDNA will allow listeners to easily explore collaborators, samples, and covers by connecting to the linked songs and artists. Samples and covers data will be powered by WhoSampled to direct listeners to the roots of the songs they love.
It’s a fairly fascinating feature that will help listeners to easily identify where the sounds and samples within songs come from. Sampling and interpolation is a huge part of music and influence, and bringing it directly into Spotify will connect listeners more than ever with the world of music.
Spotify’s About the Song takes listeners behind the making of music
Spotify announced another upcoming feature in ‘About the song’. The feature will be a Premium-exclusive that allows listeners to learn more about the creative process of tracks.
About the song will be availabl;e as a swipeable card in the Now Playing view. The feature will share what inspired the song, stories behind the making of it, and the impact the song has had for them.
Spotify say that the stories will be ‘sourced from third parties to highlight interesting details and behind-the-scenes moments’. It feels as though they missed a chance to offer the feature up as a Spotify for Artists feature, allowing unique fan connections and artist control over their song stories.
What’s next for Spotify features?
SongDNA is set to launch as a Spotify for Artists Preview early next year alongside About the song. This allows artists to check out the features and alter their credits in case the roles are inaccurate.
Spotify proudly announce: “We believe the people who make the music should get the first chance to preview new tools and share feedback. It’s how we make sure what we’re building works for you.”
Spotify’s Head of Songwriter & Publisher Partnerships, Jacqueline Ankner writes: “Every song is a collaboration, and every contributor should be seen. With expanded Song Credits, SongDNA, and About the song, we’re giving fans a deeper look at the people and creative threads behind the music they love and giving creators the recognition they deserve.
“It’s another step in Spotify’s work to champion the people, connections, and stories that bring every track to life.”