Over 176 different songs surpassed 1 billion video views on micro-video platform TikTok. That from the company’s first annual music report. Over 70 artists have broken on the platform, and landed major label deals. While major surveys put YouTube as a leading music discovery environment, TikTok seems determined to build recognition for its role in finding and sharing songs. Continue Reading
Taking TilTok seriously yet, as a music exposure, promotion, and distribution platform? Well TikTok is, and so is Ollie Wards if we go by his just-announced job change. Wards is leaving his post at Triple J, the nationally funded alternative music radio outlet in Sydney, Australia, for an appointment as music director in Australia ast TikTok. Continue Reading
TikTok may have at least temporarily gotten its ducks in a row for licensing, but music publishers are still threatening legal action. David Israelite, CEO of the National Music Publishers Association, told the Financial Times (paywall) that a lawsuit is a “likely future step.” Continue Reading
Short-form video has been a huge focus for Internet and media culture, and the field could be seeing some shifts. First, TikTok is moving to make its massively popular platform more in line with the major labels. Second, YouTube isn’t going to cede its video crown to the newer rival just yet. Continue Reading
Merlin, the independent label network and rights organization, has signed a licensing deal with the short-form video platform TikTok. This multi-territory agreement will make Merlin’s repertoire of indie music available for legal use by any users of the social app. Continue Reading
Ole Obermann has been hired by mobile short-form video app TikTok as its vice president and global head of music. The former Warner Music Group digital exec joined the company in October. Continue Reading
Bytedance, the Chinese company that owns short-form video platform TikTok, may be moving forward with launching its own streaming music service. Financial Times reported that Bytedance is working on an app that would offer the typical on-demand audio experience. Continue Reading
DistroKid has added support for one of the most popular social networks. The company can now distribute to TikTok. The app’s popularity and power have also attracted attention from labels. Continue Reading
Short form video platform TikTok has been growing its reach in new markets outside its home base of China. After a brief removal from the mobile app platforms for both Google and Apple in April, the service has resumed in India. The Economic Times reported that TikTok now has 200 million users in India, including 120 million who are active every month. Continue Reading
Karaoke and lip syncing apps have been making a splash in the international tech sector, and one of the most successful is rumored to be broadening its reach. Bloomberg reported on sources claiming that Chinese tech startup Bytedance may be looking to debut its own paid streaming music service. Continue Reading
TikTok has seen global popularity as a mobile platform for short-form music videos and lip syncing, and there have been multiple new developments surrounding the app. First, the service has been working to build itself as a music discovery platform. The second major development is higher up the chain, involving labels. Continue Reading