TikTok rolls out its new subscription-based music streaming platform – aptly named TikTok Music – to new markets, almost two weeks after going into service debuted for the first time in Indonesia and Brazil. This is according to a press release shared with The edgeTikTok is inviting select users from Australia, Mexico and Singapore to join a closed beta test starting today, where participants will receive a three-month free trial of the TikTok Music service.
“TikTok Music is a new kind of music service that combines the power of music discovery on TikTok with a music streaming service that offers millions of songs from thousands of artists,” the company said in the press release. Participating users can join the beta by downloading the TikTok Music app, either by visiting music.tiktok.com or directly from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
According to information on the regional websites that have already launched, a TikTok Music subscription costs AUD 11.99 ($8.18 USD) per month in Australia$115 MXN ($6.87 USD) in Mexicoand S$9.90 ($7.47 USD) in Singapore. TikTok Music is also available as a discounted plan for college students and as a family plan for up to six accounts.
TikTok Music can be synced with a TikTok account to listen, share and download tracks discovered on the standard platform.
While TikTok Music has its own dedicated app, the new streaming service can also be linked to a standard TikTok account, allowing users to listen, share and download music they discover through the social media platform. Users can also share their favorite TikTok music tracks and artists with their community on the main TikTok service.
The service includes features that allow users to import their music library, download songs for offline listening, create collaborative playlists, view lyrics in real time, and find tracks by searching their lyrics. The service also includes a Shazam-like feature to identify songs heard nearby and allows TikTok Music subscribers to leave comments and interact with other users.
There’s currently no word on when we can expect TikTok Music to launch in the US, though the company said in its press release that it will have “more news about TikTok Music’s launch in the coming months.” TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has filed a trademark application for TikTok Music in Australia November 2021later followed by another report with the US Patent and Trademark Office adding some assurance in May last year that ByteDance has plans to launch TikTok Music in the US, despite government concerns.
TikTok is already a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. The platform has boosted the success of many hit songs since it launched in 2016, helping users discover new artists and tracks through viral trends. Many of these songs have been collected in special TikTok playlists on rival streaming services, so it makes sense that TikTok would want to compete directly with Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. The company also has partnerships with Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner music group to fill up his audio library.
