TikTok and iHeartRadio have teamed up to launch a live streaming singing competition on Monday (July 28) that will run through September.
The Next up: Live Music competition will give unsigned artists a platform to reach more audiences. Participants must be US residents over 18 with at least 50,000 TikTok followers and consistent engagement. They must own rights to at least one original son and remain unsigned by a major label or have label clearance.
Through TikTok’s live streaming feature, contestants will advance based on a combination of likes, views and comments, and judges’ scores.
The competition structure follows a traditional elimination format. Auditions run through August 11 and is open to all eligible creators. They will then be narrowed into 50 contestants, facing off in the semi-finals from August 25 to August 29 as they compete for a spot in the Top 12.
The Top 12 will perform live for the finale at the iHeartRadio Theater in Burbank, California, on September 26.
“TikTok has long been a launchpad for musical talent, helping undiscovered artists break through and reach global audiences. Together with iHeart, Next Up: LIVE Music is building on that legacy by turning discovery into a shared, real-time experience.”
Shen Gao, TikTok
Shen Gao, Head of LIVE Operations, Americas at TikTok, said: “TikTok LIVE gives fans the power to engage directly, support their favorite performers, and truly shape their journey to success.”
“TikTok has long been a launchpad for musical talent, helping undiscovered artists break through and reach global audiences. Together with iHeart, Next Up: LIVE Music is building on that legacy by turning discovery into a shared, real-time experience.”
Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer at iHeartMedia, added: “TikTok and iHeartRadio are powerful engines for artist discovery and showcasing new talent.”
“Together, we’re creating a pipeline that turns emerging voices into tomorrow’s headliners and with iHeartRadio we have the reach and influence to bring those artists to the masses.”
The program gives participants access to tools, exposure, and experiences, said TikTok.
“Together, we’re creating a pipeline that turns emerging voices into tomorrow’s headliners and with iHeartRadio we have the reach and influence to bring those artists to the masses.”
Tom Poleman, iHeartMedia
The launch of the music competition comes as TikTok doubles down on its music discovery and artist promotion offerings. Earlier this year, TikTok released its second annual Music Impact Report, carried out in conjunction with market monitor Luminate. The report shows that 84% of the songs that reached Billboard’s Global 200 last year went viral first on TikTok. Another 12% went viral on TikTok after hitting the Global 200 chart, and only 4% of tracks on the chart didn’t experience a viral moment on TikTok.
For songwriters, TikTok has also recently rolled out a set of new tools to help them highlight their work on the app. Called ‘Songwriter Features,’ the tool lets songwriters register for a ‘Songwriter Account’ that will identify them as a songwriter in their profile, and will come with a ‘Songwriter Tab’ that will identify a selection of the songs they have written or co-written.
Nearly two months ago, TikTok launched its artist analytics platform called ‘TikTok for Artists’ globally, which provides performance data and promotional tools. It now available in 26 countries, including the US, the UK, Germany, France, Canada and Mexico.
Music Business Worldwide
