Rihanna, Gotye named Shazam’s most tagged artists

PanARMENIAN.Net - The popular audio detection service Shazam, which allows users to “tag” or identify a snippet of music, is increasingly becoming a predictor of hit songs that break nationally. According to the company’s own data, 85 percent of songs that get to No. 1 on Shazam's tag charts go on to become bonafide smashes, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Among the 2012 examples cited is Gotye’s “Somebody I Used to Know,” the top tagged song of the year in the U.S., U.K. and the world, with 14.9 million tags. It’s followed by fun.’s “We Are Young,” with 8.1 million tags. Both landed the top spot on the Billboard 100 chart. Other songs appearing in Shazam’s top 10 include Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” and Alex Clare’s “Too Close.”

As for the most tagged artist of year? It’s Rihanna, whose “We Found Love” along with other hits like “Talk That Talk” have registered well over 15 million tags in the last 12 months.

Television also proved to be a big driver of single sales. Among the most tagged songs on commercials and network shows were Beach House’s “Take Care,” used on New Girl, and Phillip Phillips’ “Home,” which saw heavy rotation during the Summer Olympic Games.

Shazam predicts 2013’s rising stars will include American-Moroccan rapper French Montana, whose “Pop That,” a collaboration with Rick Ross and Lil Wayne, was among the breakthrough singles of 2012, along with Bei Maejor, a writer and producer who’s worked with Trey Songz and Justin Bieber, new Dr. Luke protégé Becky G., and LA-based band Haim.