Front Burner

TikTok is changing the music industry — and music

With its immense catalog of sounds — from old tracks to new and every remix in between — TikTok has evolved beyond its early days as a space for lip-syncing videos and dance trends into a cultural "tastemaker," and a driving force for the music industry.
B.C. rock band Mother Mother suddenly exploded on TikTok in 2020, with videos featuring their songs from over a decade ago garnering tens of millions of views. (Rich Smith)

With its immense catalog of sounds — from old tracks to new and every remix in between — TikTok has evolved beyond its early days as a space for lip-syncing videos and dance trends into a cultural "tastemaker," and a driving force for the music industry.

The app is now partnering with Ticketmaster to help users find and buy concert tickets right on the app. With its recent filing to trademark "TikTok Music" in countries including the U.S., New Zealand, and the U.K., there's evidence that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, could try to compete with streaming giants like Spotify and Apple Music. 

Today on Front Burner, Insider media reporter Dan Whateley joins guest host Jason D'Souza to break down how TikTok has caused a paradigm shift in music — down to how it's written —  and what its plans might be to leverage the app's power over the industry. 

Listen on Google Podcasts

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

now