Many upcoming small artists are using TikTok as a platform to launch their music. What is the reason for this? Tiktokification is a trend where artists make songs specifically for TikTok audiences rather than creating what they might think is a successful song.
These songs tend to be more catchy to make videos out of them, so they are more memorable. By doing so, the song is more likely to be used on the app, and the artist is known by it. This is extremely useful because, as an unknown artist, you can make your name known through the entire TikTok audience. Although the artist might not do this to win a Grammy, the artist can become famous. They will now have an audience when they release their songs.
Despite this, not all artists wanting to get viral do this. Sometimes, tiktokification is more about releasing and promoting music on the app. A clear example of this is Olivia Rodrigo, an incredibly well-known artist now. Olivia Rodrigo, a three-time Grammy-winning singer, released her debut album, Sour, in 2021.
When Olivia released her main song, “drivers license,” it went remarkably viral. After just a few days, “drivers license” had nine million views because she had shocked the world with her beautiful voice after being seen as just a Disney actress. For Olivia, TikTokification was convenient because the algorithm made her song go viral, and she could use it to promote her album Sour. This phenomenon assisted in her fame as an artist now.
Not only can artists be created as a cause of tiktokification, but classics are also brought back to life. With Gen Z constantly listening to the newest popular artists, they forget to go back and acknowledge iconic artists from past generations, such as Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Selena, Dolly Parton, and many more. This type of tiktokification helps these great artists become more relevant nowadays with this new and upcoming generation.
A recent viral song on TikTok that even had a dance created was “Touch My Body” by Mariah Carey. This song went viral after thirteen years, and even Carey’s ex-husband, Nick Cannon, danced with their twins. These artists, who are already enormous A-list celebrities unknown to younger generations, are brought back and repopularized. While Gen Z is not very interested in past pop culture, TikTok brings millennials and Gen Zs together through the tiktokification of old but good songs.
Tiktokification is a way to encourage future artists to pop off, go viral, and connect with past social culture. This side of TikTok, tiktokification, isn’t seen much positively or negatively, but it is there helping those on the other side of the screen and those watching the screen. This is a grand effect that TikTok has brought and will continue to be convenient for both sides of TikTok, viewers and artists.
Article Written by Alejandra Sanchez of Seneca Valley High School
Photo Courtesy of Billboard