Stop calling things “TikTok music”
Photo courtesy of u/ishouldgooutmore / Wikimedia Commons
In recent years, TikTok has become a common social media space for people to discover new music and artists. Derogatory terms such as “TikTok music taste” and “TikTok artist” are used by many to describe when music is bad or “basic,” which I think should only apply to music made with the intention of going viral for a 15-second segment.
I think, however, these negative terms are unwarranted 90 percent of the time. Just because an artist or song is being posted on TikTok does not mean their music is terrible— it can still be a great way to discover new artists!
This phenomenon has exponentially grown and, frankly, has gotten out of hand. Recently, while scrolling through my Explore page, I came across a video claiming that Ethel Cain was a “TikTok artist,” and that her music was not even good. This person posted the video under one of Cain’s songs that has been used in a TikTok trend, and I was speechless! This person has no idea about her lore, her character, her message, or anything that she stands for.
That one example does not even begin to cover the ridiculous claims that have been made about artists who were established years before posting their songs on TikTok. Some of these artists are often unaware that their songs are being used for trends that a separate creator started on the app.
Even if an artist started their career on TikTok and gained traction on the app, this should not be derogatory! Many different bands and musicians that I discovered on TikTok ended up being some of my favorite artists.
In this modern era, utilizing TikTok to gain traction is actually a very smart business strategy. Not only is it free to post on the app, but if the video goes viral, one could end up with a plethora of new fans willing to buy their albums and tickets to their next tour.
Another situation in which the term “TikTok music” is used is when a song or artist gains significant popularity in a short period of time, whether or not they used TikTok to do so. A prime example of this can be seen with singer-songwriter Chappell Roan. Though she has been in the music industry for many years, opening for Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS World Tour and traveling the country, some of her songs are boiled down to “TikTok songs.”
Roan creates many songs about the queer experience, providing support for those who may be struggling internally with their own personal struggles. Hating on people who find comfort in her songs only contributes to a much larger problem at hand, and can even make people feel uncomfortable with how the songs make them feel.
We live in a unique time when someone without a record label or manager could make their music famous off of one small social media platform. Instead of hating this concept, we should embrace it and encourage those trying to find their place in the industry to post their music!