Imagine discovering your next favorite song by following the people who created it. Spotify is reportedly working on a new feature called SongDNA that puts song credits front and center, letting listeners explore music through the writers, producers, engineers, vocalists, lyricists, and other contributors behind each track and album.
The feature was uncovered by noted reverse engineer Jane Manchun Wong, who surfaced screenshots showing how SongDNA could look inside the app. Her findings suggest a dynamic, visual experience where you can dive into a track’s credits, see how contributors connect to each other, and jump into other projects they’ve worked on. One example highlighted how Rei Ami, known from the KPop Demon Hunters cast, had lent her voice to songs beyond the movie’s soundtrack.
Soon after those screenshots began circulating, Spotify pushed an app update that removed references to SongDNA. The company declined to share details when asked, but notably did not deny the feature’s existence. Adding to the evidence, technologist Chris Messina separately found code references indicating SongDNA could surface a network of collaborators tied to a song and guide users to more of their work.
If launched, SongDNA could compete with TIDAL’s interactive credits by turning the “who made this?” question into a powerful discovery tool. It would be particularly valuable for:
– Fans who want to explore more music by their favorite songwriters, producers, and vocalists
– Artists and industry professionals looking for collaborators and creative connections
– Curators, journalists, and educators seeking deeper context around how tracks come together
While some observers wondered if this might be Spotify’s answer to Pandora’s Music Genome Project, the two appear to serve different goals. The Genome Project classifies songs using hundreds of musical attributes to determine similarities. SongDNA, by contrast, seems focused on the people involved rather than the sonic traits—shining a light on the creative networks that shape the music you hear.
There’s no release date or official confirmation yet, and features discovered in code don’t always make it to public rollout. But if SongDNA reaches listeners, it could reframe music discovery around the individuals who bring songs to life—and help elevate the behind-the-scenes talent that often goes unnoticed.
