ByteDance has officially announced the shutdown of TikTok Music by November 28, 2024. The service was launched in mid-2023 in countries like Indonesia and Brazil, positioning itself as a competitive streaming platform. However, the service struggled with several challenges, including issues over royalty agreements with major record labels. This impacted its ability to sustain a solid user base and build a competitive edge over industry leaders like Spotify and Apple Music. ByteDance initially aimed to integrate TikTok’s immense music discovery power into the streaming service, hoping to create a seamless ecosystem for users. However, despite early excitement, TikTok Music could not hold up in a highly saturated streaming market.
This closure does not mean ByteDance is abandoning the music scene entirely. Instead, the company plans to shift focus back to TikTok itself, which remains one of the most powerful tools for discovering new music worldwide. Many artists have gained immense popularity through TikTok’s viral short-form videos, and ByteDance wants to enhance this platform’s role in music discovery. The shutdown of TikTok Music will allow ByteDance to streamline its efforts and invest in partnerships with other music services, benefiting both artists and listeners.
For TikTok users, the platform will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping music trends. Although TikTok Music didn’t live up to expectations, its parent company remains a central player in influencing the music industry globally.
SOURCES: (A Journal of Musical Things)(Malay Mail ).
