TikTok is already where Gen Z discovers new music, but now the app is ready to make things more official.
The company is currently conducting a beta test for users in Australia, Singapore and Mexico, granting them access to a variety of songs from major record labels such as Warner Music Group, which recently struck a new licensing deal. While Universal Music Group and Sony Music already have deals with TikTok, this move signifies the app’s ambition to compete with established music streaming giants like Spotify and Apple Music.
Having launched in Brazil and Indonesia just a two weeks ago, TikTok Music is expected to expand its global reach in the coming weeks. In the United States, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, filed a trademark application for “TikTok Music” last May, though its approval remains uncertain amid ongoing discussions of TikTok bans in the country.
In an additional development, TikTok has announced an extensive partnership with Warner Music Group, aiming to explore revenue opportunities between the two entities. This collaboration will involve developing fandom partnerships for WMG artists and songwriters, with potential monetization features centered around ticketing, merchandise and various digital goods and services. The agreement also extends to CapCut, TikTok’s video-editing app, as musicians have found significant success and new avenues for exposure on TikTok.
TikTok has disrupted the music industry since it launched in 2019. The social media app has launched dozens of artists seemingly overnight thanks to viral music clips.
Participants in the TikTok Music beta will enjoy a complimentary three-month trial, but afterward, the subscription service will carry a monthly fee, with varying prices from country to country. For instance, the subscription costs SGD $9.90 in Singapore ($7.48 USD), Mex $115 in Mexico ($6.86 USD), and AUD11.99 in Australia ($8.16 USD).
