Shazam thinks it knows what songs you’ll be asking about this year. MacRumors says the Apple-owned music recognition service has shared its Shazam Predictions 2022 playlist - surprisingly (not really) on Apple Music. The report says the playlist “offers songs from 50 artists ‘poised to have a breakthrough year.’” According to MacRumors:
Data was calculated through Shazam's predictive algorithms, and the tracks included were hand-selected by the Apple Music global editorial team. The songs show indicators of future growth, including early and consistent Shazam activity and discovery in more than one country.
I know I’m a cynical so-and-so, but can it really be called a “prediction” if you’re putting your thumb on the scale?
In addition to the 50 tracks, MacRumors says Apple has “highlighted the top five musicians that are considered ‘artists to watch.’” They include Nigeria’s Ayra Starr, Mexican American singer DannyLux, Lyn Lapid out of Maryland in the U.S, Sad Night Dynamite out of Somerset, England, and the K-pop girl group STAYC out of South Korea.