Over the past few years, TikTok has gradually become a leading force in today’s entertainment. From creating funny videos and trends, to discovering new music, TikTok has it all. Many creators have used this platform as an attempt to put their music out into the world, an act that has been proven successful by many who have tried it. It is also now a huge outlet for consumers wanting to find new music and different genres. 

TikTok has changed the music industry as we know it. Creators no longer have to go to an official studio to release their music; they can now do it from the comfort of their own home. Consumers also don’t have to listen to the radio on repeat to find new songs; they simply have to log on to the app. I have found most of my current favorite songs simply by watching TikToks and listening to popular sounds.

“Numb Little Bug” was recently released by influencer Em Beihold. It features a look into the feelings of one going through the world right now with so many ups and downs. This is one of my personal favorites that I have found through the app as it talks about the emotions that go through teens minds living in today’s world. Beihold only wanted to share her feelings and didn’t realize that soon her song would have three million likes and over 140 thousand videos made using it. 

Conan Gray is an artist that switched from strictly using YouTube to now releasing his music through TikTok. Through the app his song “Heather” gained traction and has well over 300 thousand videos. Because of the apps ability to release songs and help them reach a wider audience, it helped the song make the US Billboard Hot 100. Through this, Gray has become one of my favorite artists and has since released his first album “Kid Krow” after his rising popularity. 

“Good 4 U” and “Drivers License,” created by actor and songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, have also gone viral through the use of the app. With well over one million videos made under each sound, these songs have reached a multitude of people through the app. “Good 4 U” is the perfect song to blare with the windows down with a group of friends, and “Drivers License” is a great addition to an “in your feels” playlist anytime a good cry is needed. 

Another one of my favorite songs I have found through the app is “In my mind” by Lyn Lapid. She was a small creator who is now performing in front of large audiences and releasing more music to the world, all thanks to TikTok. The song influenced the wholesome trend of putting the lyrics “If only you knew what goes on in my…” in the shape of a heart followed by ones favorite memories/pictures. 

Along with being an outlet for new creators, the app has also helped watchers rediscover older music, even putting some songs back on the charts, some for a second time and some for the first. 

Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” originally released in 1977, has become a popular sound on the app due to the viral video of a TikToker skateboarding to the song whilst drinking cranberry juice. While the comeback of the song was unusual, the song made its second appearance in the charts, rising to Top Ten. 

Trevor Daniel released his song “Falling” in 2018, but now in the past year through the app, the song reached number 31 on the charts. The opportunity for artists to gain traction years after the release of a song has been made exponentially easier through the rise of the social media platform. 

TikTok has made an extreme impact on the music we listen to today. One may hear a song they like on TikTok, and then the next day it is already on the radio and launched to the top of the charts. 

There is no doubt that music will continue to rise and fall through the app, and TikTok will continue to be an influential force in finding new songs and artists and pushing them towards success. 

Contact Makinzy Todd at [email protected]