What is iCatalog?

iCatalog is a free, community-maintained music catalog — a database of artists, albums and tracks with an open API — plus tools to create, import and keep playlists in sync across the music services you already use. Parts of the catalog are maintained by its users, so anyone can help keep it accurate.

Is iCatalog free? Are there ads?

Yes, it's completely free, and there are no ads. The catalog is maintained by the community and the API is open for anyone to use. If you build something with it, a mention is appreciated but never required.

How is iCatalog different from MusicBrainz, Discogs and similar sites?

There's some overlap, but iCatalog isn't meant to replace them. It focuses on a simple, unrestricted API and easy playlist tools — think of it as a lightweight, developer-friendly complement to the larger databases rather than a substitute.

Who manages the content, and can I contribute?

The catalog is community-managed — a lot of the data is edited by users like you. If you spot something missing or wrong, you can help fix it.

Can I use iCatalog's data in my own app or website?

Absolutely — that's a core purpose of the site. You can query the GraphQL API for an artist (and other catalog data) and integrate it directly. The API is free and has no usage restrictions.

Do I need an account or an API key to read the data?

No key is required to read the public catalog. You only need a (free) account for personal features like creating playlists or linking a music service.

Can I create and manage my own playlists?

Yes. Once you're signed in you can build playlists, reorder and edit them, and organise them all from Playlist Studio.

Can I import a playlist from Spotify, Apple Music or another service?

Yes. Paste a playlist link from a supported service (or upload an .m3u/.m3u8 file) and iCatalog matches the tracks to its catalog. You can review each match — pick from suggestions or skip tracks you don't want — before creating the playlist.

Which music services does iCatalog work with?

Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Deezer and TIDAL. (Which ones are available depends on each service being configured for the site.)

How do I connect a music service?

Open Settings → Linked Music Services and switch on the service you want to connect. You'll be sent to that service to authorise, then returned to iCatalog. You can disconnect again from the same place at any time.

How does syncing a playlist to a service work?

When you sync one of your iCatalog playlists to a service, iCatalog creates a new playlist on that service and mirrors your tracks into it. You can choose Push (iCatalog → service) or Two-way. Syncs run automatically about once an hour, and you can start one right away with Sync now.

I imported a playlist and kept it in sync — why can't I edit its tracks?

A playlist that syncs from an external source is read-only: its tracks are managed by the sync so it stays a faithful copy of the source. You can still rename it and change its visibility. To edit tracks freely, unlink the sync.

Why didn't all my tracks come across when importing or syncing?

Tracks are matched between the service and iCatalog's catalog. Most match automatically, but a track that isn't in the catalog — or has no confident match on the other side — may be left out. During an import you can choose from suggested matches or skip tracks yourself.