TikTok and Spotify are music trendsetters, profoundly influencing the way we discover, consume and share music. Gone are the days when fans bought albums to listen to over and over again. Today, it's all a matter of a few clicks and a few seconds.
Spotify's ultra-efficient algorithm and TikTok's formidable virality are completely redefining what becomes popular. In this context, artists must constantly adapt, radically changing the music industry.
TikTok and Spotify make music trends: a radical transformation
Twenty years ago, musical trends were dictated by radio, music channels like MTV, and the trade press. Today, TikTok and Spotify are driving musical trends, imposing a fast-paced, instantaneous model of music consumption.
On Spotify, editorial and algorithmically generated playlists determine artists' success. Being featured on a popular playlist like "RapCaviar" or "Today's Top Hits" can launch a career in a matter of days. Meanwhile, TikTok propels unknown songs into global sensations thanks to its viral challenges. Songs such as Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" and Doja Cat's "Say So" owe their meteoric rise to virality on TikTok.
The quantified impact of this new trend
To understand how much TikTok and Spotify are driving music trends, here are some revealing numbers:
| Indicators | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Musical discoveries via TikTok | 80% of users (source: TikTok France, 2022) |
| Income from streaming in 2022 | 17.5 billion USD |
| Revenues from physical formats in 2022 | 4.6 billion USD |
| Average length of a current hit | 2 min 30 |
This data clearly shows that consumption habits have radically changed, pushing artists to completely rethink the way they create.
TikTok and Spotify are driving music trends: a forced evolution for artists
With TikTok and Spotify driving music trends, artists are forced to create tracks that are tailored to these new platforms. From now on, every song must have a powerful hook from the very first seconds. The days of long musical intros are over. Creators are favoring short, effective formats that can be easily used for challenges or short videos.
This new reality generates two main consequences: on the one hand, an emergence of many young talents capable of mastering these viral formats, on the other, increasing pressure to produce musical content "optimized" for digital platforms.
The continued rise of streaming and new strategies
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has released industry figures for 2024, confirming that the global music market is thriving, worth around $30 billion. This continued growth is driven primarily by streaming, which now accounts for more than two-thirds of the industry's revenue. In the United States, for example, the number of paid subscriptions to music streaming platforms has reached 100 million.
Deezer perfectly illustrates this positive trend: in 2024, the French platform reached its profitability threshold for the first time and even aims to double its turnover within two years. This performance is partly explained by marketing strategies effective, including organizing exclusive events and creating a premium customer experience to retain subscribers.
A threat to musical creativity?
While TikTok and Spotify may be driving musical trends, one might legitimately wonder about the long-term effects on creativity and artistic diversity. The constant pressure to produce instant hits could lead to a standardization of popular music, favoring songs formatted to go viral quickly.
However, this dynamic also allows for greater diversity: any musical genre can potentially become a trend overnight thanks to a popular video or a well-targeted algorithmic playlist. This allows musical niches to achieve unexpected popularity and reach their audiences on a large scale.
Artificial intelligence and new challenges
Furthermore, artificial intelligence (AI) is now making its way into music, with one in ten songs uploaded each week to Deezer being partially or fully generated by AI. In response to this phenomenon, platforms are trying to implement controls to prevent abuses, such as artificially inflated streams, and to preserve fair compensation for artists. This new challenge is pushing industry giants to find a balance between technological innovation, price competitiveness, and the protection of human creativity.
What you need to remember
Ultimately, TikTok and Spotify are shaping music trends by imposing their own rules, completely reshaping the musical landscape. This rapid evolution offers fascinating new perspectives while posing significant new challenges for the music industry.
And you, do you think TikTok and Spotify are making music trends for better or worse? Share your opinions and experiences in the comments!