Okay, end this sentence: “Don’t take…”
In case your mind completed that phrase with “these lovely issues that I’ve acquired,” congrats — you’ve in all probability been on TikTok someday within the final yr. Or Instagram Reels. Or Fb Reels. However most definitely, you’ve seen one of many 4 million TikToks which have used this track — which doesn’t embrace all of the remixes.
Booniacs (which, I assume, is what Benson Boone followers name themselves) would possibly come for me as a result of Boone has been round somewhat longer than his TikTok fame has, having discovered preliminary non-TikTok fame on “American Idol.” However nobody can deny that “Lovely Issues” has develop into Boone’s greatest hit. And Boone himself is aware of that TikTok performed a critical position. He did tease it on TikTok earlier than releasing it for a purpose.
Right this moment’s Largest Hits Aren’t Simply Massive on Billboard—They’re Massive on TikTok
Let’s do a fast Billboard countdown: as of this writing, “Love Someone” by Morgan Wallen is in tenth place. How’d it get there? You’d be hard-pressed to search out somebody who didn’t assume Wallen’s fixed TikTok teases didn’t assist.
In ninth place, nicely, wouldn’t you recognize it, it’s Benson Boone with “Lovely Issues.” Did we point out “Lovely Issues” peaked at No. 2 in March of 2024? Sure, certainly, that’s the long-lasting energy of TikTok.
In eighth place is “Style” by Sabrina Carpenter, a real TikTok tastemaker (no pun meant). The success of this track really kicked off with an iconic music video starring Carpenter alongside the one and solely Jenna Ortega. The TikTok teasing the music video’s launch, which didn’t even embrace “Style” taking part in, has been seen greater than 25 million instances.
Publish Malone and Morgan Wallen maintain seventh place with “I Had Some Assist.” And including this to the listing, I believed, “Hey, one I haven’t heard on TikTok!” Then I appeared up the sound on TikTok and realized I used to be mistaken. I’ve seen roughly 10 billion movies that includes this track. Roughly.
In sixth place, “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams was the primary ever Billboard Sizzling 100 Prime 10 hit for the singer-songwriter. Whereas it will be somewhat dumb to recommend that being part of the Eras Tour had nothing to do with Abrams’ rise to fame, it’s price noting that “That’s So True” impressed a large TikTok development that influencers and celebrities alike acquired in on.
In fifth place is “Lose Management” by Teddy Swims. Swims has been making music for a number of years earlier than changing into a family identify. However “Lose Management” is his first time going viral. And we’re certain you’ve encountered loads of TikToks with him crooning, “I lose management.” I do know I’ve.
In fourth place, one other Carpenter hit with “Espresso.” And in the event you say you’ve by no means seen the “Espresso” dance on TikTok, I’ll name you a liar.
Third is Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather.” And as soon as once more, in the event you say you’ve by no means heard a TikTok with this track, I’ll name you a liar.
Second place is “Die With a Smile” by Woman Gaga and Bruno Mars, which impressed a number of TikTok tendencies.
In first place is Shaboozey’s “A Bar Music (Tipsy),” which impressed its personal dance, which nearly each influencer has achieved.
So…What Does the TikTokification of Music Imply for the Way forward for Music Fame?
Each single one of many Prime 10 songs on the Billboard Sizzling 100 at present has a presence on TikTok. And whereas we will’t declare that each one of those stars solely discovered fame due to TikTok (whats up, Woman Gaga predates TikTok by over a decade), we will safely say that it’s a heck of lots simpler to climb the charts when you could have a TikTok dance to go along with a track. Or a TikTok development. Or if TikTok simply actually likes your track.
Within the U.S., TikTok customers are practically twice as prone to uncover new music on TikTok than customers of different social media platforms. Not solely that, however they’re additionally twice as prone to share that new music of their content material. It spreads like a virus — however in a optimistic, extra enjoyable means than chook flu.
It’s additionally price noting that 62% of TikTok customers pay for a streaming service, in comparison with 43% of customers on the whole. So, in case your track’s Spotify numbers abruptly skyrocket, you would possibly need to test if somebody simply made a dance to your track on TikTok. Over a 3rd of TikTok customers additionally attend stay music occasions and buy artist merch. Are you able to say, “Cha-ching!”?
And right here’s the kicker — it’s not only one sort of music that does nicely on TikTok. Pop music will get its identify as a result of it’s, nicely, widespread. It’s “mainstream.” However TikTok is popping what’s widespread on its head. Check out that Billboard countdown once more. Positive, you’ve acquired pop music in there, however you’ve additionally acquired nation, soul, and rock. In case your music doesn’t fall right into a pop class, that doesn’t imply it received’t achieve traction on TikTok.
Plus, practically half of TikTok listeners within the U.S. hearken to music that’s not in English, with a few third saying that it’s “extraordinarily necessary” to have entry to music across the globe. You don’t should be a U.S. artist to go viral within the U.S. on TikTok.
And yet another observe about what you assume you recognize about TikTok’s viewers: It’s not all Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Even when your music doesn’t attraction to youthful audiences, that doesn’t imply it received’t go viral on TikTok. TikTok customers over the age of 45 make up 27% of the platform as of 2024.
OK, However What Does It Imply for Me, a New Artist?
In the event you’re not on TikTok, you’re possible lacking out on permitting your music to succeed in new audiences. TikTok customers don’t simply hearken to music — they need to share it, too.
In the event you’re a brand new artist hoping to search out fame within the subject, you ought to be lively on TikTok. Actually, take a look at Sabrina Carpenter’s TikTok to know tips on how to do it proper.
Carpenter not solely shares her music on TikTok but in addition will get concerned in tendencies exterior of her work, typically utilizing viral sound bites to create content material, upping her probabilities of being seen (and heard) on the platform. She teases new music, posts completely on-brand, and interacts along with her viewers.
You may not have a Carpenter-caliber fame degree but, however in the event you construct your TikTok technique and maintain placing your music on the market, you would possibly discover that the following massive dance is to your track.
