# Apple Music Album Search API

Apple Music

Searches Apple Music albums, singles and EPs by keyword in any country's store and returns them a page at a time, with label, UPC and track count. Each has the credited artists with their IDs, full-size cover, release date, copyright, genres, explicit rating, audio formats, Apple's notes and its Mastered for iTunes badge. The Apple Music Album API returns the tracks.

GET `/v1/applemusic/search_albums`

## Example

cURL:

```shell
curl 'https://socialtap.dev/v1/applemusic/search_albums?query=lover' \
  -H "x-api-key: $SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"
```

TypeScript SDK:

```typescript
import { SocialTap } from "socialtap";

const client = new SocialTap(); // apiKey defaults to process.env.SOCIALTAP_API_KEY

const res = await client.applemusic.searchAlbums.list({ query: "lover" });
console.log(res.data);
console.log(res.credits.charged, res.meta.request_id);
```

Node.js (fetch):

```javascript
const params = new URLSearchParams({
  query: "lover",
});
const res = await fetch(`https://socialtap.dev/v1/applemusic/search_albums?${params}`, {
  headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.SOCIALTAP_API_KEY ?? "" },
});
const body = await res.json();
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${body.error.code}: ${body.error.message}`);
const { data, page, meta } = body;
console.log(data, meta.credits_charged);
```

Python (requests):

```python
import os

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://socialtap.dev/v1/applemusic/search_albums",
    params={"query": "lover"},
    headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"]},
)
body = res.json()
if not res.ok:
    raise RuntimeError(f"{body['error']['code']}: {body['error']['message']}")
data, page, meta = body["data"], body["page"], body["meta"]
print(data, meta["credits_charged"])
```

Go (net/http):

```go
package main

import (
	"encoding/json"
	"fmt"
	"log"
	"net/http"
	"net/url"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	q := url.Values{}
	q.Set("query", "lover")
	req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://socialtap.dev/v1/applemusic/search_albums?"+q.Encode(), nil)
	if err != nil {
		log.Fatal(err)
	}
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", os.Getenv("SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"))
	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		log.Fatal(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()
	var body struct {
		Data  json.RawMessage `json:"data"`
		Page  json.RawMessage `json:"page"`
		Meta  map[string]any  `json:"meta"`
		Error *struct {
			Code    string `json:"code"`
			Message string `json:"message"`
		} `json:"error"`
	}
	if err := json.NewDecoder(res.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
		log.Fatal(err)
	}
	if body.Error != nil {
		log.Fatalf("%s: %s", body.Error.Code, body.Error.Message)
	}
	fmt.Println(string(body.Data), body.Meta["credits_charged"])
}
```

200 OK:

```json
{
  "data": [
    {
      "approximate_fields": [
        "released_at"
      ],
      "artist_name": "Taylor Swift",
      "artists": [
        {
          "avatar_url": "https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/AMCArtistImages221/v4/6d/67/88/6d67888b-9e7f-53af-7853-0f91d6fd2332/ami_U003aidentity_U003a994af5c375f4c3aa96cd6ced4a700799-2026-09-25T04-00-05.358Z_cropped.png/1640x1640bb.jpg",
          "display_name": "Taylor Swift",
          "id": "159260351",
          "is_verified": null,
          "url": "https://music.apple.com/us/artist/taylor-swift/159260351",
          "username": null
        }
      ],
      "copyrights": [
        {
          "text": "℗ 2019 Taylor Swift",
          "type": "p"
        }
      ],
      "cover_url": "https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music125/v4/49/3d/ab/493dab54-f920-9043-6181-80993b8116c9/19UMGIM53909.rgb.jpg/3900x3900bb.jpg",
      "description": "There’s a reason Taylor Swift sounds so confident and cool on Lover, her seventh album and the most free-spirited yet. She’s in love—pure, steady, starry-eyed, shout-it-from-the-rooftops love. Arriving 13 years after her eponymous debut album—and following a string of songs that …",
      "duration_ms": null,
      "genres": [
        "Pop"
      ],
      "id": "1468058165",
      "is_explicit": false,
      "label": "Taylor Swift",
      "metrics": {
        "track_count": 18
      },
      "platform": "applemusic",
      "platform_specific": {
        "applemusic": {
          "audio_traits": [
            "atmos",
            "lossless",
            "lossy-stereo"
          ],
          "content_rating": null,
          "editorial_summary": "A love letter to love itself.",
          "is_complete": true,
          "is_mastered_for_itunes": true,
          "is_prerelease": false,
          "more_by_artist": [],
          "other_versions": [],
          "rank": null,
          "storefront": "us"
        }
      },
      "released_at": "2019-08-23T00:00:00Z",
      "title": "Lover",
      "tracks": [],
      "type": "album",
      "unknown_fields": [
        "tracks",
        "tracks[].artists",
        "platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist"
      ],
      "upc": "00602508005275",
      "url": "https://music.apple.com/us/album/lover/1468058165"
    },
    {
      "approximate_fields": [
        "released_at"
      ],
      "artist_name": "vaultboy",
      "artists": [
        {
          "avatar_url": "https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/AMCArtistImages221/v4/7d/2d/2d/7d2d2da3-ca61-3cea-6478-fddbc1a92f6d/49a6d979-37fe-4612-9ce0-4dbd71b4bd43_file_cropped.png/2000x2000bb.jpg",
          "display_name": "vaultboy",
          "id": "1542387120",
          "is_verified": null,
          "url": "https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vaultboy/1542387120",
          "username": null
        }
      ],
      "copyrights": [
        {
          "text": "℗ 2026 broke",
          "type": "p"
        }
      ],
      "cover_url": "https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music221/v4/8a/fc/30/8afc3056-fd3b-3ba4-18b0-042e28b12576/612891173772.jpg/1400x1400bb.jpg",
      "description": null,
      "duration_ms": null,
      "genres": [
        "Pop"
      ],
      "id": "6798022501",
      "is_explicit": true,
      "label": "broke",
      "metrics": {
        "track_count": 1
      },
      "platform": "applemusic",
      "platform_specific": {
        "applemusic": {
          "audio_traits": [
            "lossless",
            "lossy-stereo"
          ],
          "content_rating": "explicit",
          "editorial_summary": null,
          "is_complete": true,
          "is_mastered_for_itunes": false,
          "is_prerelease": false,
          "more_by_artist": [],
          "other_versions": [],
          "rank": null,
          "storefront": "us"
        }
      },
      "released_at": "2026-08-14T00:00:00Z",
      "title": "LOVER - Single",
      "tracks": [],
      "type": "single",
      "unknown_fields": [
        "tracks",
        "tracks[].artists",
        "platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist"
      ],
      "upc": "612891173772",
      "url": "https://music.apple.com/us/album/lover-single/6798022501"
    },
    {
      "approximate_fields": [
        "released_at"
      ],
      "artist_name": "Park Hyo Shin",
      "artists": [
        {
          "avatar_url": "https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Features211/v4/58/01/5f/58015f0a-bc1f-5814-080b-8edc678e95ea/mzl.aktvsodt.jpg/4000x4000bb.jpg",
          "display_name": "Park Hyo Shin",
          "id": "292946954",
          "is_verified": null,
          "url": "https://music.apple.com/us/artist/park-hyo-shin/292946954",
          "username": null
        }
      ],
      "copyrights": [
        {
          "text": "℗ 2019 (주)글러브엔터테인먼트, under license to Dreamus",
          "type": "p"
        }
      ],
      "cover_url": "https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Music116/v4/17/c9/8e/17c98e9b-8a8b-1dcd-c0b1-bf3f1208f1d8/8809829710020.jpg/3000x3000bb.jpg",
      "description": null,
      "duration_ms": null,
      "genres": [
        "Rock",
        "Pop",
        "K-Pop"
      ],
      "id": "1698506754",
      "is_explicit": false,
      "label": "(주)글러브엔터테인먼트",
      "metrics": {
        "track_count": 1
      },
      "platform": "applemusic",
      "platform_specific": {
        "applemusic": {
          "audio_traits": [
            "lossless",
            "lossy-stereo"
          ],
          "content_rating": null,
          "editorial_summary": null,
          "is_complete": true,
          "is_mastered_for_itunes": false,
          "is_prerelease": false,
          "more_by_artist": [],
          "other_versions": [],
          "rank": null,
          "storefront": "us"
        }
      },
      "released_at": "2019-06-29T00:00:00Z",
      "title": "LOVER - Single",
      "tracks": [],
      "type": "single",
      "unknown_fields": [
        "tracks",
        "tracks[].artists",
        "platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist"
      ],
      "upc": "8809829710020",
      "url": "https://music.apple.com/us/album/lover-single/1698506754"
    }
  ],
  "page": {
    "has_more": true,
    "next_cursor": "c1.EXAMPLE_CURSOR",
    "next_cursor_expires_at": "2026-10-26T12:00:00Z",
    "end_reason": null
  },
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "req_3f9c2a7d1e8b4c6a9f0e2d4b6a8c0e1f",
    "platform": "applemusic",
    "source": "api",
    "is_cached": false,
    "credits_charged": 1,
    "latency_ms": 400,
    "fetched_at": "2026-10-25T12:00:00Z",
    "input": null,
    "credits_remaining": 9999,
    "client_request_id": null,
    "warnings": []
  }
}
```

Long arrays and strings are shortened for display; real responses are complete.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Good to know**
>
> - Results are albums only. Songs, artists, playlists and stations have search endpoints of their own that take the same query.
> - tracks, more_by_artist and other_versions are \[\] and listed in unknown_fields, because a search names no tracks. metrics.track_count says how many there are, and the Apple Music Album API lists them.
> - Results are in Apple Music's order for the query. Apple serves about 200 results per search, however many match, and the walk then ends with page.end_reason platform_limit.
> - Results differ by store: a release can be missing from one or have another language's title. platform_specific.applemusic.storefront says which store answered.
> - When Apple's catalog API fails, the first page comes from its public search API and ends the walk with platform_limit: label, upc and description are null, the audio formats \[\] and listed in unknown_fields, type comes from the title alone (null where it doesn't say), genres holds the main one, and only the first artist is named. That API answers in the store's language, so a request with lang fails rather than answer in another.
> - A language the store doesn't offer isn't refused: Apple answers in the store's own language.
> - An empty query or an Apple Music link returns invalid_input. A link to a platform we don't cover is searched as words.

## Authorizations

`x-api-key`stringheaderrequired

Your API key. [Authentication](https://socialtap.dev/docs/authentication/index.md)

## Query parameters

| Name | Type | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `query` required | `string`<br>max 500 chars | What to search for: an album's title, an artist's name, or both together, in any language. Apple matches it as its web player's search box does. | `lover` |
| `country` optional | `string`<br>iso3166-1-alpha-2 | Region: an ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code such as US or BR (case-insensitive). The Apple Music store to search: the results, their titles and their links differ by store. A country with no Apple Music store returns invalid_input. Default: US. UK is read as GB. | `JP` |
| `lang` optional | `string`<br>bcp47 | Preferred language: a BCP-47 tag such as en or pt-BR (case-insensitive; _ is read as -). The language of the answer's text, when Apple offers it beside the store's own. Default: the store's own language. | `en-US` |
| `limit` optional | `integer`<br>min 1<br>max 50 | Items per page, 1 to the endpoint's page size (its default and maximum; larger values are reduced to it). Omit it: every page costs the same, so a smaller limit means more pages to pay for. | `50` |
| `cursor` optional | `string` | page.next_cursor from the previous response. Send the same other parameters; omit to start from the first page. | — |

Unknown parameters are rejected with a suggestion, never ignored ([Requests](https://socialtap.dev/docs/requests/index.md)). `limit` and `cursor` page through the list: see Pagination.

**Parameters every endpoint accepts**

| Name | Type | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `max_age` optional | `integer`<br>min 0 | Accept a cached response up to this many seconds old. Cache hits cost 0 credits. Omit to always fetch fresh. The Cache-Control: max-age=N request header is equivalent; max_age wins when both are sent. | — |
| `fields` optional | `string` | Return only these fields of each item: comma-separated paths in the schema's notation (id,text,metrics.view_count,segments\[\].text; a parent path keeps the whole object). Unknown paths are rejected. Applied after the cache, so it changes neither the price nor cache hits; page and meta are always returned whole. | — |

## Response

### 200

`{data, page, meta}`. `data` is an array of up to 50 [album](https://socialtap.dev/resources/album/index.md) objects, Apple Music's own relevance order for the query; `page` says how to get the next page; `meta` describes the request ([meta](https://socialtap.dev/docs/reference/index.md#meta)). Fields only Apple Music has are under `platform_specific.applemusic`.

| Field | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `data[].platform` | `string` | Platform ID (applemusic, spotify, soundcloud, …). |
| `data[].id` | `string` | Platform-native album ID (string), the one in its page's URL. |
| `data[].url` | `string` (uri) | Canonical album page URL. |
| `data[].type` | `string` or `null` | What kind of release it is, as the platform says: album, single, ep or compilation; null when the platform does not say. New values may be added; treat unknown values as album.<br>One of `album`, `single`, `ep`, `compilation` |
| `data[].title` | `string` | The release's title as the platform shows it (with an edition or a suffix like "- Single" where it writes one). |
| `data[].description` | `string` or `null` | About the release, as plain text (the service's editorial notes, or what its uploader wrote); null when it has none or the platform shows none. |
| `data[].artist_name` | `string` or `null` | Who the platform credits for the release, as one display string (it can name more people than have an account linked: artists holds the linked ones); null when the source does not name them. |
| `data[].artists` | `object[]` | The platform accounts of the artists credited on the release, main artist first, in the platform's order; \[\] when none is linked, as on a Various Artists compilation (listed in unknown_fields when the source cannot see them). |
| `data[].artists[].id` | `string` or `null` | Platform-native account ID; null when only the handle is known. |
| `data[].artists[].username` | `string` or `null` | Handle without the @; null when the account has none. |
| `data[].artists[].display_name` | `string` or `null` | Display name shown on the profile. |
| `data[].artists[].url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Canonical profile URL. |
| `data[].artists[].avatar_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Profile picture URL. Platform CDN URLs can expire within hours. |
| `data[].artists[].is_verified` | `boolean` or `null` | Platform verification badge; null where the platform has no badge. |
| `data[].cover_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Cover art URL at the largest size the platform serves; null when it has none. |
| `data[].released_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | When it was released, RFC 3339 UTC. A release date with no time (nearly all) is midnight UTC of that date, listed in approximate_fields, and so is a year or month alone (its first day). Null when the platform states none. |
| `data[].label` | `string` or `null` | The record label as the platform names it; null when none is shown. |
| `data[].upc` | `string` or `null` | The release's barcode: its UPC or EAN, digits only; null when the platform does not show it. |
| `data[].copyrights` | `object[]` | The release's copyright lines as the platform shows them; \[\] when none. |
| `data[].copyrights[].type` | `string` or `null` | c: the copyright in the work (©); p: in the sound recording (℗); null when the line does not say or states both. New values may be added.<br>One of `c`, `p` |
| `data[].copyrights[].text` | `string` | The line as the platform shows it. |
| `data[].genres` | `string[]` | Genres the platform files it under, as shown (not normalized), the main one first; \[\] when none (listed in unknown_fields when the source cannot see them). |
| `data[].is_explicit` | `boolean` or `null` | Marked as holding explicit content (by the platform, or on any of its tracks); null when the platform does not say. |
| `data[].duration_ms` | `integer` or `null` | Total length of the release in milliseconds; null when neither the platform nor a complete tracks list gives it. |
| `data[].tracks` | `object[]` | The release's tracks in album order (by disc, then track number). A list of albums, whose source shows none, answers \[\] and lists tracks in unknown_fields; a list the source could only read part of is listed in approximate_fields. |
| `data[].tracks[].id` | `string` | Platform-native track ID (string): the one the platform's track endpoint takes and answers. |
| `data[].tracks[].url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | The track's page; null when the source does not show it. |
| `data[].tracks[].title` | `string` or `null` | The track's title as the platform shows it; null when the source names the track only by its ID. |
| `data[].tracks[].artist_name` | `string` or `null` | Who the platform credits for this track, as one display string (a feature included); null when the source does not name them. |
| `data[].tracks[].artists` | `object[]` | The platform accounts of the artists credited on this track, in the platform's order; \[\] when none is linked (listed in unknown_fields as tracks\[\].artists when the source cannot see them). |
| `data[].tracks[].artists[].id` | `string` or `null` | Platform-native account ID; null when only the handle is known. |
| `data[].tracks[].artists[].username` | `string` or `null` | Handle without the @; null when the account has none. |
| `data[].tracks[].artists[].display_name` | `string` or `null` | Display name shown on the profile. |
| `data[].tracks[].artists[].url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Canonical profile URL. |
| `data[].tracks[].artists[].avatar_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Profile picture URL. Platform CDN URLs can expire within hours. |
| `data[].tracks[].artists[].is_verified` | `boolean` or `null` | Platform verification badge; null where the platform has no badge. |
| `data[].tracks[].track_number` | `integer` or `null` | Its position on its disc, from 1; null when the source does not state it (tracks stay in album order). |
| `data[].tracks[].disc_number` | `integer` or `null` | The disc it is on, from 1; null when the platform does not say (a release of one disc, on platforms without discs). |
| `data[].tracks[].duration_ms` | `integer` or `null` | Length of the track in milliseconds; null when the source does not state it. |
| `data[].tracks[].is_explicit` | `boolean` or `null` | Marked as explicit by the platform; null when it does not say. |
| `data[].tracks[].isrc` | `string` or `null` | International Standard Recording Code, 12 characters without hyphens; null when the platform does not show it. |
| `data[].tracks[].play_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Audio file URL: a short preview, where the platform serves only one. Signed links expire within hours; null when not exposed. |
| `data[].tracks[].metrics` | `object` | Counts at fetch time; null = hidden or not exposed, 0 = zero. |
| `data[].tracks[].metrics.view_count` | `integer` or `null` | Plays; null when the platform does not show them. |
| `data[].metrics` | `object` | Counts at fetch time; null = hidden or not exposed, 0 = zero. |
| `data[].metrics.track_count` | `integer` or `null` | Tracks on the release as the platform counts them, null when it does not state a count; tracks answers fewer only when listed in approximate_fields or unknown_fields. |
| `data[].platform_specific` | `object` | Fields only this platform has, under its ID (platform_specific.\<platform>); each null when unknown. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic` | `object` or `null` | An Apple Music album's own fields. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.storefront` | `string` or `null` | The Apple Music store this answer is from, as a lowercase country code (us, jp): titles, availability, track lists and links differ by store. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.rank` | `integer` or `null` | Position on the requested chart (1 = top); null off a chart. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.editorial_summary` | `string` or `null` | Apple's one-line note on the album; null when none. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.content_rating` | `string` or `null` | explicit, or clean for an edited version of something explicit; null when Apple marks neither. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.audio_traits` | `string[]` | The audio formats it comes in (atmos, lossless, lossy-stereo, spatial, …); \[\] when none or the source does not show them (listed in unknown_fields). New values may be added. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.is_complete` | `boolean` or `null` | Every track of the release is available in this store. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.is_prerelease` | `boolean` or `null` | Announced, and not released yet. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.is_mastered_for_itunes` | `boolean` or `null` | Carries Apple's Mastered for iTunes badge, which Apple now calls Apple Digital Master. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist` | `object[]` | Apple's other releases by the same artist, as many as its page shows at first; \[\] when none or the source does not show them (listed in unknown_fields). |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist[].id` | `string` | Apple Music's ID of the item (string). |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist[].kind` | `string` | What it is. New values may be added.<br>One of `song`, `music_video`, `album`, `playlist`, `artist`, `station` |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist[].url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Its page; null when Apple does not state it. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist[].title` | `string` or `null` | Its title, or an artist's name. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist[].artist_name` | `string` or `null` | Who Apple credits for it, or a playlist's curator; null on an artist. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist[].cover_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Its artwork at the largest size Apple states; null when none. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist[].released_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | Its release date, midnight UTC of that date; null when Apple does not state it. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist[].track_count` | `integer` or `null` | An album's tracks, null on other kinds. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist[].duration_ms` | `integer` or `null` | A song's or music video's length in milliseconds, null on other kinds. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.more_by_artist[].is_explicit` | `boolean` or `null` | Apple marks it explicit; null on kinds it does not mark. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.other_versions` | `object[]` | Other versions of the release (the clean or explicit one, a deluxe edition); \[\] when none or the source does not show them (listed in unknown_fields). |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.other_versions[].id` | `string` | Apple Music's ID of the item (string). |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.other_versions[].kind` | `string` | What it is. New values may be added.<br>One of `song`, `music_video`, `album`, `playlist`, `artist`, `station` |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.other_versions[].url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Its page; null when Apple does not state it. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.other_versions[].title` | `string` or `null` | Its title, or an artist's name. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.other_versions[].artist_name` | `string` or `null` | Who Apple credits for it, or a playlist's curator; null on an artist. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.other_versions[].cover_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Its artwork at the largest size Apple states; null when none. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.other_versions[].released_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | Its release date, midnight UTC of that date; null when Apple does not state it. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.other_versions[].track_count` | `integer` or `null` | An album's tracks, null on other kinds. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.other_versions[].duration_ms` | `integer` or `null` | A song's or music video's length in milliseconds, null on other kinds. |
| `data[].platform_specific.applemusic.other_versions[].is_explicit` | `boolean` or `null` | Apple marks it explicit; null on kinds it does not mark. |
| `data[].approximate_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of values that are date-only, rounded by the platform or parsed from display text (released_at from a date, duration_ms from "1 hour 1 minute"). A list path means the list may be incomplete. \[\] when all exact. |
| `data[].unknown_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of lists whose \[\] means unknown rather than none (a source that cannot see them), tracks\[\].artists for that list on every track; null already means unknown for every other field. \[\] when every list is known. |

not_found and private_or_unavailable are item-level: the request was fine, the item can't be returned.

### 400

400 Bad Request: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `invalid_input` | 400 | No | A parameter is missing or malformed, or the link is not one this endpoint takes. | Fix the parameter named in param as the message says. For a link of the wrong kind, call an endpoint listed in details.endpoints, when there is one. |
| `invalid_cursor` | 400 | No | The cursor is malformed or expired, belongs to another endpoint, or came with other parameters than the request that returned it. | Repeat the original request without cursor to start the list again. |

### 401

401 Unauthorized: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `unauthorized` | 401 | No | The x-api-key header is missing, or its key is unknown or revoked. On the dashboard's routes: the session cookie is missing or expired. | Send a valid API key in the x-api-key header. No key yet? A person gets one at details.signup_url; an AI agent follows details.agent_auth_url. |

### 402

402 Payment Required: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `insufficient_credits` | 402 | No | The account does not have enough credits for this request. | Have a person buy credits at details.purchase_url (or make them a checkout link with details.checkout), then repeat the request. Do not retry automatically. |
| `spend_limit_reached` | 402 | No | The API key reached its spend limit for this period. The account may still have credits. | Wait until details.resets_at, or raise the key's spend limit (PATCH /v1/api_keys/{id}). Do not retry automatically. |

### 403

403 Forbidden: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `forbidden` | 403 | No | The API key is valid but may not make this request, and details.reason says why: the account is suspended, the key lacks the route's scope, waits for its owner to confirm it by email, has expired, or was used from an IP outside its allowlist, or a rotated key's previous secret was used for a call that needs the admin scope. A running job stops with it too when its account is suspended or the key that created it is revoked or expires. It is about the key, never the item: a private item is private_or_unavailable, also 403, so branch on the code. | Act on details.reason. suspended: contact [support](mailto:support@socialtap.dev). scope: use a key with details.required_scope. previous_secret: use the new secret. key_pending: have the owner open the emailed link. key_expired or key_revoked: create a new key. ip_not_allowed: call from an allowed IP. |
| `private_or_unavailable` | 403 | No | The item exists but is not public: it is private, age- or region-restricted, or needs a login to view. It shares 403 with forbidden (which is about the key), so branch on the code. | Only public items can be fetched. Do not retry. |

### 404

404 Not Found: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `not_found` | 404 | No | The item does not exist or was deleted. On GET /v1/requests/{id}/response: the response was not kept (details.reason says why). | Check the link or ID. Do not retry. |

### 429

429 Too Many Requests: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `rate_limited` | 429 | Yes, later | The account passed its runaway-protection ceiling: a high per-account limit that stops a broken client loop (plans have no rate limit). Requests without an API key (signup, the MCP server's tool listing and find_endpoint) are limited per IP address instead. It also stops an account whose failed requests in the last hour cost far more than its successful ones paid for: failures are free within a limit (the message says so), and successes raise it. | Wait the seconds in the retry-after header, then retry. If your steady traffic needs more, ask [support](mailto:support@socialtap.dev) to raise the ceiling; without an API key, send one. |

### 500

500 Internal Error: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `internal` | 500 | Yes, later | An unexpected error on SocialTap's side. | Retry with backoff. If it keeps happening, contact [support](mailto:support@socialtap.dev) with the request_id. |

### 502

502 Bad Gateway: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `upstream_error` | 502 | Yes, later | The platform failed, or answered with something we could not read. | Retry with backoff. Failed requests are free. |

### 503

503 Unavailable: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `upstream_blocked` | 503 | Yes, later | The platform refused every attempt, our own retries included. | Retry later with backoff. Failed requests are free. |
| `overloaded` | 503 | Yes, later | SocialTap was at capacity, or paused by its operators, and did not start the request. Nothing was fetched or charged. | Retry after the seconds in the retry-after header. Failed requests are free. |

## Pagination

Items come in pages, **Apple Music's own relevance order for the query**. To get the next page, send **the same request plus `cursor`** set to `page.next_cursor` from the previous response. Keep every other parameter the same (limit, max_age and fields may change); anything else that differs is rejected. When `page.has_more` is `false` the walk is over, and `page.end_reason` says why: only `end` means you have every item (the others say the platform or a page cap stopped the walk early).

- **Order**: Apple Music's own relevance order for the query
- **Page size**: Up to 50 albums, singles and EPs (the default; `limit` lowers it)
- **Cursor lifetime**: 24 hours; don't store cursors
- **Price**: Per page, 1 credit

### The `page` object

| Field | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `page.has_more` | `boolean` | True when another page exists; then next_cursor is set. An empty page with has_more true is not the end. |
| `page.next_cursor` | `string` or `null` | Pass as cursor, with the same other parameters, to get the next page; null at the end. |
| `page.next_cursor_expires_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | When next_cursor stops working, RFC 3339 UTC; null at the end. Don't store cursors. |
| `page.end_reason` | `string` or `null` | Why there are no more pages; null while has_more is true. end: the list ended, or reached since/until. platform_limit: the platform stops serving further pages although the list goes on. max_pages: SocialTap's cap on pages in one walk. New values may be added. A short or empty page is not the end: only has_more false is.<br>One of `end`, `platform_limit`, `max_pages` |

### Next page

cURL: next page:

```shell
curl 'https://socialtap.dev/v1/applemusic/search_albums?query=lover&cursor=c1.EXAMPLE_CURSOR' \
  -H "x-api-key: $SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"
```

- The price is per page: each successful page costs the same, whatever `limit` is and however many items it has. Empty pages are charged too (an empty page with `has_more: true` is not the end).
- A `limit` below 50 doesn't save credits: the next request serves the rest of the same platform page, which is fetched again and charged as a page each time, and items can shift between those requests if the platform changes the list. Omitting `limit` is the cheapest way to walk the list.
- Errors are free, including a rejected cursor.
- Pages served from the cache are free.
- An expired or altered cursor, or one sent with different parameters, fails with [`invalid_cursor`](https://socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_cursor) (HTTP 400): Repeat the original request without cursor to start the list again.

[Pagination guide](https://socialtap.dev/docs/pagination/index.md)

## Pricing

From **1 credit** per page. Charged per successful page, whatever its number of items. Errors are free. The price depends on the source that produced the result, reported as `meta.source`.

| Source | Price per successful page | Per 1,000 pages |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Platform API `api` | 1 credit | $0.75–$1.97 |

**Balance, sources and what you were charged**

Your balance must be at least **1 credit** to start a request; with less, it is refused with [`insufficient_credits`](https://socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#insufficient_credits) (HTTP 402) and costs nothing. Only that minimum is set aside when the request starts.

| meta.source | Source | What it means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `api` | Platform API | The platform's public, logged-out API. |

`meta.credits_charged` and the `x-credits-charged` header show what you paid. [How credits work](https://socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md) · [Packs](https://socialtap.dev/pricing/index.md)

Endpoint ID `applemusic.search_albums` · operationId `applemusic.search_albums.list` · [Product overview](https://socialtap.dev/apis/applemusic/search_albums/index.md)

---

[HTML version](https://socialtap.dev/docs/reference/applemusic/search_albums/) · [Docs index for AI agents](https://socialtap.dev/llms.txt) · [All docs in one file](https://socialtap.dev/llms-full.txt)