My company[1] is a similar service for the artisan/premium beverage industry (focusing on coffee, beer, and spirits). We use machine learning and data science to understand what individuals and populations taste in a product, what attributes they're selecting for, and what they like and dislike in the product.

We then use that data to monitor their products in real time for quality control problems (flaws, taints, contamination, and batch variations), and create production and flavor profile optimizations.

I think Shazam (and my company) are offering a valuable service to artists and creators, who never had access to these types of optimizing and feedback tools before. At some level, music and cooking is an art - but its also a business, and the art is based on appreciation and consumption; and thus feedback, assessment, and optimization are critical.

I believe in the future, both music and high end drinks will be created on a near individual level - that they will be targeted and modified and optimized for very small groups and demographics. I believe that is a good thing for everyone; better products, higher quality, made for me, and that its tools like [1] and Shazam that are making this possible.

[1] www.Gastrograph.com