iFund invests in music discovery app Shazam

Mobile music discovery solutions provider Shazam announced an unspecified strategic investment from Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers' iFund. The funding announcement coincides with news that more than 50 million users in 150 worldwide markets have now used the Shazam service, an increase of 15 million since February of 2009--the app identifies music from any audio playback source and enables users to purchase and share content.

While Shazam is best known for its iPhone application--downloaded more than 10 million times since its mid-2008 launch--the service is also available via BlackBerry App World, Nokia's Ovi Store and Google's Android Market. Shazam adds the KPCB investment will enable the firm to develop applications for additional mobile platforms and in multiple languages.

Shazam is the seventh mobile firm targeted for investment by KPCB's iFund, a $100 million initiative first introduced last year. Previous recipients include Booyah, GOGII, iControl, MOBshop, ngmoco and Pelago. In late September, fund manager Matt Murphy told Bloomberg.com that KPCB plans to add money to the fund, citing the iPhone's "stunning" popularity.

For more on the Shazam funding:
- read this release

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