TikTok Music, the giant’s foray into the music streaming market, is set to close down on November 28, 2024, the company said on its website. Users will have until October 28 to transfer their playlists to other services. Their personal data will be automatically deleted following the closure.
Short-Lived Service
TikTok Music launched as a subscription-based platform in Indonesia and Brazil last summer. The service quickly expanded its reach to Australia, Mexico, and Singapore within a few weeks.
The company sought to capitalize on the popularity of viral TikTok songs to establish a foothold in the competitive music streaming market. TikTok videos have been credited with catapulting new artists and creating hit songs.
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But despite the potential of TikTok to boost music discovery, the company faced numerous challenges, including competition from established music streaming giants like Spotify and Apple Music.
TikTok also faced tensions with the music industry, particularly with Universal Music Group (UMG). Earlier this year, UMG withdrew its music catalog from TikTok, citing disagreements over royalty payments. In response, TikTok criticized UMG for spreading “false narratives and rhetoric.” The two parties eventually reached a compromise in March, signing a new agreement to resolve their differences.
TikTok’s decision to abandon its music service highlights the challenges and complexities of breaking into a highly competitive market. The company said it would instead prioritize its “Add To Music App” feature. This feature allows users to save music tracks they discover on TikTok to playlists on their preferred music streaming service.
