TikTok started as a dance app that allowed any sound to be used as background for users’
videos. Overtime, the app has grown to feature much more than dances, although they remain a
huge part of the posts on the app.
Nowadays, any soundbites from movies, tv and radio shows, podcasts and more can be used in
any way. Sometimes users will lip sync to scenes from these different media sources to make a
point completely separate from the original point of the soundbite, and sometimes, users will
create dances to sounds that aren’t music. This freedom of creativity has been a catalyst for
other creative uses of soundbites, and the music industry has picked up on this transformation.
TikTok is a huge marketing tool for musicians as sounds go viral frequently and are easy to find
information on thanks to the user interface. With a quick tap, anyone can use a sound in their
own video and automatically credit the artist, or at least, the original poster of the song. Because
there is so much room to play around with sounds, all a musician needs for a sound to go viral
is a catchy instrumental or relatable lyrics that are easy to lip sync.
With virality being an indicator of success, even established artists are quick to release songs
that have gained popularity even after their initial release. For example, Doechii’s song Anxiety
is an amalgamation of remixes and re-releases from years ago that recently gained popularity
on TikTok, causing the artist to release it as a single and even participate in a dance trend
based on the song.
Consumers are catching on as well, noting that some releases are shorter and are built around
catchy riffs that could easily be in the background of a popular TikTok trend. This isn’t a bad
thing, as consumers appreciate when artists listen to them and make content that caters to
them. This simply means the music industry, and every industry that uses sound, has a direct
line of communication with those they want supporting their work.
