[4] While the site was originally created with the goal of becoming the largest online database of electronic music,[5] it now includes releases in all genres and on all formats.

[4] Discogs was started in 2000 by Kevin Lewandowski who worked as a programmer at Intel.

[6][4] It was originally started from a computer in Lewandowski's closet and was limited to electronic music.

[7] In July 2007, a new subscription-based system for sellers was introduced on the site, called Market Price History.

At the same time, the US$12 per year charge for advanced subscriptions was abolished, as it was felt that the extra features should be made available to all subscribers, now that a different revenue stream had been found from sellers and purchasers.