TikTok is rolling out its new subscription-based music streaming platform — aptly named TikTok Music — to new markets, almost two weeks after the service first debuted in Indonesia and Brazil. According to a press release shared with thresholdTikTok is inviting select users from Australia, Mexico and Singapore to join a closed beta test starting today, offering participants 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 through its press release. Participating users can join the beta by downloading the TikTok Music app, or by visiting music.tiktok.com, or directly from the Apple app store or Google Play store.
According to information listed on regional websites that have already launched, a TikTok Music subscription costs AUD 11.99 (USD $8.18) per month in Australia, MXN $115 (USD $6.87) in Mexico and 9 S$.90 (US$7.47) in Singapore. TikTok Music is also available as a discounted subscription for college students and family plans for up to six accounts.
TikTok Music can be synced with a TikTok account to listen, share and download songs 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 will also be able to share their favorite TikTok music artists and songs 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 songs by searching their lyrics. The service also includes a Shazam-like feature to identify nearby songs 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 to share on the launch of TikTok Music in the coming months.” TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, filed a trademark application for TikTok Music in Australia in November 2021, later followed by another filing with the US Patent and Trademark Office in May last year adding some security 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 fueled the success of many hit songs since its launch in 2016, helping users discover new artists and songs through viral trends. Many of these songs are collected in dedicated 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 complement its audio library.
