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In a big week for TikTok music news, the short-form video app announced the launch of Sound On, a marketing and distribution platform that allows artists to earn 100% of royalties from music uploaded directly to TikTok. During a period of increased debate on streaming ethics, this signals the app’s recognition of the importance of music to their business model—as well as a willingness to keep artists happy.

On top of that, the UK’s 2022 Eurovision entry was announced as Sam Ryder, an artist who found fame via TikTok’s algorithms. Both demonstrate the capacity for TikTok to create opportunities for artists today, and a clear ambition to continue to do so, given their immense and sudden power over listening habits in recent months.

Evidence of those listening habits is here, in this week’s eclectic mix of movie soundtracks, mashups, and old favourites doing the rounds…

will.i.am and Hans Zimmer - Big And Chunky

@chantalphee #duet with @jackinthefeenstalk BRUH YOU FUNNYFUNNY #fyp #wlw #fypage #dance #comedy ♬ original sound - triippyjermm

An unlikely collaboration between Black Eyed Peas founder will.i.am and legendary German film composer Hans Zimmer resulted in one of the catchiest hooks of the former’s career. Now, 14 years later, a song written for the Madagascar 2: Escape To Africa soundtrack is a firm TikTok favourite, at last experiencing the mass appreciation worthy of such an earworm. There’s even a dance routine to match.

Psy - Gangnam Style x Steve Lacy mash-up (by @koozebane)

@ithinkimabby and he never got any consequences &lt/3 #traumadump #exbf ♬ original sound - kooze

Psy’s 2013 mega-hit has re-emerged in the sphere of cultural relevancy. A pre-Tiktok example of a singular dance move’s ability to propel a song into international success, ‘Gangnam Style’ is no stranger to internet fame. This mash-up by user @koozebane, however, sees the song collide with ’N Side’ by Steve Lacy. For some reason, the sound has been adopted as an outlet for disturbing anecdotes, with users dropping the ‘punchline’ of a deeply traumatic or infamous event on the chorus, via old-school Microsoft PowerPoint-esque graphics.

Ayesha Erotica - Rock Star x Justin Timberlake Sexy Back mash-up (by zuperhead)

@jawarshere Reply to @jawarshere there’s no way I was gonna let the strand of hair ruin this for me #transitionidea #damnsorryiblewyouoff #makeup @jawarshere ♬ original sound - Jayden Naomi

On the theme of cursed mash-ups, Youtube creator zuperhead had the idea to fuse Ayesha Erotica’s 'Rock Star' with Justin Timberlake’s 'Sexy Back', culminating in the ideal backing song for bottomless brunch get ready with me videos. Specifically, the line "damn sorry I blew you off, I was doing lunch with Microsoft" is circulating, beloved by tech industry workers worldwide (or anyone who recently took their laptop to be repaired).

Billy Joel - Vienna

@victoreeuh This is essentially the only song I’ve been listening to this week, so I’m here to remind you to listen to it #billyjoel #music #playlist ♬ Vienna - Billy Joel

There’s likely a fraction of Gen-Z who’s first introduction to Billy Joel was through Olivia Rodrigo lyrics, which is perhaps a contributing factor to ’Vienna’s newfound status as an anthem for reassurance on TikTok. Joel’s voice exists as an endlessly comforting reminder that the tribulations of youth never change even while the world does, evident in the teens screaming the verses in their bedroom and driving up the song’s streaming figures.

AnnenMayKantereit - Tom’s Diner cover

@annenmaykantereit @Giant Rooks #annenmaykantereit #cover #tomsdiner #fyp #duet ♬ Originalton - AnnenMayKantereit

After over ten years of making music together, this German rock band are going viral following their cover of Suzanne Vega’s ‘Tom’s Diner’. It’s an entry for the TikTok generation in the history books of one of the most sampled songs of all time. 

The original video now has over seven million views, with users stitching the clip with their reactions, conveying sheer astonishment over the second singer’s deep, gruff vocal style. This fresh internet fame comes with seemingly little effort, with the band’s TikTok presence fairly sparse in comparison to many musicians on the app. It’s yet another demonstration of the priceless power of capturing algorithmic attention, and the unpredictability of where it will strike next. 

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