Spotify is developing a new feature called “SongDNA” that allows users to discover music by exploring the credits of a track or album, as discovered by reverse engineer Jane Manchun Wong within the app’s code.
The SongDNA feature is designed to enable users to browse through the writers, collaborators, vocalists, engineers, lyricists, producers, and composers who contributed to a piece of music. According to screenshots generated by Wong, SongDNA would present a visual interface for navigating through credits, seeing how individuals are connected, and exploring their other projects. For instance, Wong provided an example showing how artist Rei Ami, part of the “KPop Demon Hunters” cast, has also lent her voice to tracks unrelated to the movie.
If released, SongDNA would offer a direct alternative to TIDAL’s interactive credits, which also allow users to explore music through the contributors. The feature could serve as a tool for music industry professionals looking for collaborators, as well as for general listeners interested in the people working behind the scenes on their favorite songs.
Following Wong’s post of screenshots to social media, Spotify updated its app to remove references to SongDNA. When contacted for a statement, Spotify declined to share details but did not deny the feature’s existence. The presence of SongDNA was later confirmed by another reverse engineer and technologist, Chris Messina, who found related references within the app’s code. Messina stated that the lines of code suggest the feature could be used to reveal the network of contributors behind songs, allowing users to explore more of their work.
The current implementation of SongDNA appears to focus specifically on the people involved in music creation, not the attributes of the music itself, as indicated by the code and screenshots discovered by Wong and Messina.
