We can blame the Covid-19 pandemic for changing a lot of things in our everyday lives, including the death of office culture and no longer being able to blow out birthday candles without a second thought. But TikTok seems to be having the biggest influence over the music industry than any other external force.
On the addictive app, a 15 second clip can go from a top trend to a Grammy-winning track in less than one year. And if it seems like TikTok makes stars overnight, well, that’s because the app does just that. According to TikTok, in 2020 alone over 176 songs received over 1 billion views as sounds, which just goes to show how it’s changing our listening habits, too.
Music discovery is at the core of TikTok’s identity. Budding musicians depend on it to promote music and build a global fan base by simply uploading their original songs to the platform. Without a doubt, TikTok can make songs from relatively unknown artists go viral overnight. Users can also upload an original song or choose TikTok music from the app’s “sound” tab. You should note that you can access a great variety of tracks in the app, including new releases, greatest hits, and trending songs. As an artist, you should never shy away from posting your songs and videos!
You could be one post away from going viral. For instance, you can add videos dancing to your debut single or just lip-syncing to an original track. It is important to note that artists have equal opportunities to get their songs discovered on TikTok since the platform offers pure, crowd-sourced options for users. In 2016, when the app launched, you could only come across viral videos or billboard hits. Today, popular TikTok songs influence the billboard charts, rather than the other way around. Songs will also trend more on TikTok if well-known creators use them for their content.
TikTok is undeniably a sensation to record labels and managers who want to promote music for their artists. This includes collaborations, singles, and even albums. TikTok is also giving rise to a new breed of influencers who don’t need huge sums of money to put your track on their creations. It is an almost all-free ride to overnight fame. Music is one of just many industries that Tik Tok is dusrupting, and those who do not use the social media platform to their advantage are at risk of perishing to their competitors who do.
