I love TikTok, so much so I remember I cried actual tears when the app was banned in the United States for that whole day back in January (14 frightening hours). The app is an amazing space for creativity and connection, and although it is not the healthiest way to start my mornings, I can never see myself deleting it. I love TikTok for a list of reasons, from being able to save edits to my various folders to falling down movie synopsis rabbit holes narrated by mysterious voices, but one of the top reasons has to be for all the amazing new music I’ve found while using it!
I always love seeing artists promote their own music on TikTok. Throughout the article, I will share some of my favorite songs I’ve found through artists’ own self-promotion on the app. Each artist’s identity and work feel special and unique, and they are all worth checking out!
TikTok is a hub for trends, especially when it comes to music. Initially starting as a music app (RIP Musical.ly), trending audios and songs on TikTok are able to gain vast and rapid popularity, leading artists to be able to launch entire careers through the exposure. Many of my favorite songs that I’ve added to my Spotify playlist have been through randomly scrolling on TikTok. And for that, I’m very grateful, as these songs I now love I’d have possibly never been able to find otherwise!
It’s important to recognize the opportunities spaces like TikTok give to people looking to share their creative and personal endeavors. It’s really difficult to grow an audience on your own, but social media, and TikTok especially, can serve as reminders to artists that their work can and should be recognized — on an unlimited scale. People recognizing and commenting on artists’ work is incredibly motivating and incentivizing for artists to keep creating and sharing, and TikTok’s algorithm is essential in helping facilitate these connections.
What’s also of importance is TikTok gives artists the power and control to promote their music the way they want to. I often see artists highlighting certain lyrics, sharing the artists who inspire them, or simply saying, “Here is my song,” and letting the audience know they’ve been reached for a reason — like fate. The unlimited outreach on TikTok and available personalization help provide total autonomy for artists’ work and how they wish to craft their online personas. It can be really daunting to share your creative work online, but knowing you are in control of how it gets shared can be key in motivating and encouraging people to put themselves out there.
Furthermore, artists on TikTok can choose whether they wish to keep their identities anonymous, like how the now popular and Grammy-nominated artist PinkPantheress initially did in her early career. Many users are afraid of who around them may judge their work and hesitate to share it online, which is why it’s essential to have online spaces where people can share anonymously. Users can think about reaching the larger world and not worry about specific people around them. In doing so, they also have the opportunity to connect with others like them on their own journeys of sharing their art online.
Posting on TikTok, of course, does not guarantee reaching high audience numbers, and the sad truth is that many talented and deserving users posting their work go unnoticed. But this is why it’s always important to remember that an artist’s sense of self-worth and talent should not be measured by numbers. The algorithm heavily works by luck and chance, and while 10 likes on a post can be discouraging, one user loving an artist’s work and letting them know can go a long way — for both the artist and the commenter! Only caring about external rewards, such as likes or views, is a key recipe to killing passion. Artists should always feel appreciated and encouraged, and while it can certainly be challenging to remember, always know that the number of engagements they receive holds no weight in defining them.
Compared to other apps like Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter), TikTok’s For You page feature allows for high outreach. I never leave my For You page, so when I’m scrolling, I see new accounts and faces, here and there, mixed with accounts I’m already following or am friends with. This constant stream of newness for users allows for higher chances of visibility for those looking to promote their music, or other art in general. The feature also plays a key role in helping artists’ posts go viral, as high-performing posts grow rapidly and exponentially in views and likes.
In this digital age, entirely different from past generations, there’s a whole new means of finding and engaging with art online. Posting online allows anybody (with Internet) to share their art, and with that access comes power, the incentive to be creative, and hope that their work can reach and impact total strangers. TikTok, while simultaneously feeling low stakes, can change the trajectory of artists’ lives and connect their work to unlimited audiences. Humanity as a whole relies on people sharing their art to find meaning in life, which is why it’s imperative that artists always feel encouraged to showcase their work without fear of being seen as unsuccessful or not big enough.