Spotify acquires music database WhoSampled

In a significant move, Spotify has announced its acquisition of WhoSampled, a community-driven database dedicated to tracking sampled music. This news was revealed on Wednesday as part of Spotify’s blog update regarding new features aimed at enhancing song credits. While the financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, Spotify confirmed to TechCrunch that the acquisition involves both the WhoSampled team and its extensive database. WhoSampled, which originated in London in 2008, boasts a rich repository of over 1.2 million songs and nearly 622,000 samples, covering an array of music including samples, covers, and remixes. This acquisition is set to bolster Spotify's forthcoming features, including a new music discovery tool named SongDNA, also announced on the same day. Interestingly, WhoSampled has had a collaborative relationship with Spotify since 2016, allowing users to access their Spotify playlists and saved tracks through its platform. In a statement regarding the acquisition, WhoSampled assured its users that the platform and brand would continue to operate independently after the deal is finalized. The company plans to implement several enhancements, such as quicker moderation times for user submissions, the removal of display ads in the near future, and offering its mobile applications as free downloads with complimentary subscriptions. The WhoSampled team expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "Through our recent discussions with Spotify, we recognized a shared vision for exploring the deeper context of music. Spotify has demonstrated a genuine commitment to our mission, making it the ideal partner for WhoSampled."