The technology of Shazam Entertainment has been bought out by BMI for an undisclosed sum. Shazam’s recognition technology, called BlueArrows, uses pattern recognition to identify music titles from any source containing audio.

Shazam had implemented the technology into a service that allows cellphone users to call a number when listening to a song to identify the title, track and album, in as little as 2 seconds.

BMI also announced the formation of a wholly owned subsidiary, Landmark Digital Service, which will own, deploy and exploit this new technology. Landmark will integrate the pattern recognition technology into BMI’s royalty distribution systems. BMI/Landmark’s immediate usage will be to improve BMI’s radio airplay measurement system that monitors what music is played on stations.

From the press release, “As part of the agreement, Shazam will continue to pursue business activities aimed at the mobile consumer use of the BlueArrow technology under a worldwide exclusive license to be provided by Landmark..”