After Jane Manchun Wong, a noted app reverse engineer, discovered and publicly exposed Spotify‘s hidden “SongDNA” feature through screenshots posted on social media last week, the streaming giant rapidly scrubbed all traces of the unreleased tool from its application code.
The feature, which Wong uncovered during her routine exploration of popular applications, represented what appeared to be a considerable new direction for Spotify’s music discovery capabilities.
SongDNA was designed to transform how users explore music by visualizing the complex networks of contributors behind songs. Unlike traditional static credit lists, the feature presented an interactive web-like interface connecting producers, engineers, writers, and vocalists across the music industry.
Spotify’s SongDNA reimagines music exploration through visual webs of collaboration rather than flat credit lists.
Users could tap on individual contributors to discover their broader portfolio of work, effectively creating a LinkedIn-style network for music professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Technologist Chris Messina independently verified Wong’s findings, confirming SongDNA’s presence in Spotify’s code before its hasty removal. The code findings suggested the feature would reveal extensive networks of contributors behind music creation. The company has declined to provide detailed comments on the matter, neither confirming nor denying the feature’s existence or planned implementation.
The discovered feature bears similarities to TIDAL’s interactive credits but distinguishes itself by emphasizing relationship networks between collaborators rather than simply listing contributors.
While Pandora’s Music Genome Project analyzes sonic attributes of songs, SongDNA focuses exclusively on the people behind the music, potentially offering a new dimension of discovery for curious listeners.
If eventually released, SongDNA could considerably alter how fans discover music by highlighting lesser-known creative forces in the industry. The feature would allow users to follow production trails beyond primary artists, potentially increasing visibility for traditionally under-credited contributors.
The tool could create valuable exposure opportunities for session musicians seeking to build sync licensing deals for additional income streams beyond their studio work.
The feature would complement other platforms’ approaches to artist promotion, such as playlist pitching opportunities that help independent musicians gain visibility on streaming services.
Spotify’s rapid elimination of all SongDNA code references after Wong’s leak suggests the feature was not yet ready for public announcement. The company has been taking a cautious approach to feature rollouts across its platform.
The streaming service continues to maintain silence regarding both the feature’s development status and when—or if—users might expect to see the network-visualization tool in a future update.
