TikTok is gearing up to expand its music-streaming app, TikTok Music, into three additional markets on July 19. The popular video platform will roll out its closed beta version in Australia, Mexico, and Singapore, offering a select group of users a chance to experience the new feature.
This move comes after TikTok recently unveiled its music-streaming app in Brazil and Indonesia. With the latest expansion, TikTok aims to further establish its presence in the music industry and challenge established streaming giants like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. The closed beta users in the new markets will enjoy a three-month free trial of the service as part of the testing phase.
If TikTok Music eventually enters other countries, including the United States, where a trademark application was filed in May 2022, it could become a formidable competitor to existing music streaming platforms. A TikTok spokesperson hinted at more updates regarding the official launch of TikTok Music in the coming months.
TikTok’s role in music discovery and artist promotions has been pivotal. It wields significant influence, with record labels, music marketers, and artists investing heavily in TikTok influencers to feature tracks in videos. The platform has even seen the creation of custom augmented-reality effects and collaborations with remix artists to generate excitement for songs.
Jonny Kaps, co-founder and CEO of independent label +1 Records, described TikTok’s impact as groundbreaking, stating, “It’s the most important thing that’s happened in the music industry in a long time. It just allows us to build a new artist audience in a way that we’ve never really been able to do before.” With the introduction of TikTok Music, the platform can bridge the gap between music discovery and audio streaming. Users will be able to seamlessly sync their TikTok Music accounts with the main TikTok app, allowing them to listen to song snippets and easily switch to streaming the full tracks.
Notably, competitors are taking note of TikTok’s influence and innovation. Spotify, for instance, introduced its TikTok-like short-video feed in March, and its CEO, Daniel Ek, acknowledged TikTok as a “formidable competitor” during an earnings call in January. TikTok’s venture into audio streaming comes as no surprise. The company filed a trademark application for “TikTok Music” in Australia in November 2021. Additionally, its parent company, ByteDance, has been testing a music-streaming app called Resso in India, Brazil, and Indonesia since 2020. TikTok Music is expected to eventually replace Resso in the latter two markets.
Beyond music streaming, TikTok has been exploring other revenue streams related to its impact on the music industry. Last year, it introduced “SoundOn,” an artist distribution and marketing product, and even tested direct artist signings. Furthermore, the platform recently unveiled its version of music charts, similar to the Billboard 100 or Spotify Viral 50, for select users.
TikTok’s continuous innovations and strategic moves underscore its commitment to shaping the music landscape and engaging its vast user base in new and exciting ways. As it expands its music offerings to more regions, the platform is poised to disrupt the traditional music streaming market and solidify its position as a major player in the global music industry.
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