Feature Request: Add Music Studio Types to Places API

API Usage Example

First I am using the Places API to search for recording studios:

GET https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/textsearch/json

Parameters:

{
    query: "Recording Studios in Cork",
    key: "[API_KEY]"
}

Then I am using the Place Details API to get the details of the recording studio:

GET https://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/place/details/json

Parameters:

{
    place_id: "[ChIJuxJyfVuRREgRWl9p6eVE7V4]",
    key: "[API_KEY]",
    fields: "name,formatted_phone_number,types"
}

Current Results

This is the response for the recording studio with place id ChIJuxJyfVuRREgRWl9p6eVE7V4 (M5 Sound Studio):

{
    "name": "M5 Sound Studio",
    "formatted_address": "2 Nicholas Well Lane, Gurranabraher, Cork, Ireland",
    "types": [
        "school",
        "store",
        "point_of_interest",
        "establishment"
    ]
}

Feature Request

Please add any one of the following specific place types for music and recording studios to the Google Places API.

Suggested new place types:

1. recording_studio - For professional audio recording facilities
2. music_studio - For general music production spaces
3. audio_studio - For broader audio production facilities

Current Limitations

1. No specific type for recording/music studios
2. Must rely on text search only
3. Results include unrelated businesses with "studio" in name (e.g., photography studios)
4. Cannot filter specifically for recording studios by type

Use Cases

1. Music production applications needing to locate nearby recording studios
2. Musicians searching for professional recording facilities
3. Music industry businesses wanting to accurately categorize their facilities
4. Applications needing to filter specifically for recording studios

Benefits

1. More accurate search results for users looking specifically for recording studios
2. Better categorization of music industry businesses
3. Improved filtering capabilities for applications using the Places API
4. More relevant place recommendations
5. Reduced need for additional application-level filtering

Current Workaround

Currently have to use text search and then filter through generic place types, which can include unrelated businesses that happen to have "studio" in their name. This requires additional application logic to verify legitimate recording studios.

Example Response Data

Current response for a legitimate recording studio:

{
    "name": "M5 Sound Studio",
    "formatted_address": "2 Nicholas Well Lane, Gurranabraher, Cork, Ireland",
    "types": [
        "school",
        "store",
        "point_of_interest",
        "establishment"
    ],
    "business_status": "OPERATIONAL",
    "rating": 5,
    "user_ratings_total": 64
}

Impact

Adding specific types for recording studios would:

1. Improve search accuracy
2. Enable better filtering capabilities
3. Reduce development overhead
4. Enhance user experience
5. Better serve the music industry ecosystem

Additional Notes

The music industry is a significant sector with specific needs for location-based services. Adding dedicated place types for recording studios would better serve this industry and improve the overall quality of the Places API for music-related businesses.

I have attached a screenshot of a listing on Google Maps showing "Recording studio in Northbridge, Western Australia" - so it seems Google does know when some places are a studio.