Prepare for a seismic shift in the music streaming landscape! A new player is in town and ready to make some noise: TikTok Music. Having successfully conquered the realms of short-video and social media, TikTok is now all set to turn the tables on established industry giants like Spotify and Apple Music with its latest innovation.
Hot off the press, TikTok today declared the launch of "TikTok Music," an exclusive subscription-based music streaming service, commencing operations in Brazil and Indonesia. This unique feature allows users to seamlessly sync their existing TikTok accounts, granting access to a vast library of music, which they can listen to, download, and even share. TikTok Music is teeming with collections from major record labels including Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music.
Immerse yourself in full-length viral TikTok hits, unearth personalized music suggestions, keep up with lyrics in real-time, and even join forces with friends to create shared playlists. The service has an inbuilt Shazam-like feature to identify the music you're jamming to. Moreover, like Spotify Premium, TikTok Music facilitates offline listening, with added social elements such as the ability to comment and connect with fellow music enthusiasts.
On the question of launching the service in the United States, the company remains tight-lipped. "We're thrilled about the potential TikTok Music holds for music fans, artists, and the industry, but at this stage, there's no additional information to share on future plans," said a company spokesperson.
With the advent of TikTok Music, ByteDance's current streaming service, Resso, is set to exit stage right, ceasing operations on September 5 in Brazil and Indonesia. The company is silent on whether TikTok Music will strike up a tune in Resso's other markets, such as India.
Affordable and accessible, a TikTok Music subscription will set back users $3.49 a month in Brazil, while in Indonesia, iOS users will have to shell out $3.25. Android users in Indonesia can enjoy a discounted rate of $2.96 a month for the first year, rising to $3.25 thereafter. Note that TikTok Music does not offer a free membership tier, but does tempt users with a one-month free trial.
Ole Obermann, TikTok's Global Head of Music Business Development, shared, "TikTok Music represents an extraordinary service that integrates the power of music discovery on TikTok with a top-tier streaming platform. We are passionate about the vast possibilities this platform offers to music fans, artists, and its potential to add substantial value to the music industry."
With ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, having filed a trademark application in May 2022 for a service titled "TikTok Music," today's news isn't exactly a bolt from the blue. TikTok has long served as a dynamic platform for music discovery, catapulting songs to fame after they gain traction in viral videos and trends.
As it steps into the arena against heavyweights like Spotify, Apple, and Amazon, TikTok Music must bring its A-game, offering an interface compelling enough to lure users away from the competition, all while ensuring a rewarding user experience. Despite being priced slightly lower than Spotify Premium in Brazil and Indonesia, it may be a tough sell to sway users towards its service over competitors.
While ByteDance's trademark application hints at the potential inclusion of podcast and radio content in the future, no official confirmation has been made yet. If incorporated, it would certainly make TikTok Music a robust adversary against Apple Music and Spotify. The stage is set, the audience awaits, and the music is about to play. Stay tuned!
