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SG Lewis: Who Is He - and What’s Next For This Rising Star?

February 6, 2023

SG Lewis (Samuel George Lewis) is a rising star in the dance/electronic music realm. He is a DJ/producer turned singer-songwriter, and is known for his disco-inspired, transcendent sound. He routinely

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Lessons to Learn From the Launch Of Sam Smith’s “Unholy”

February 4, 2023

Sam Smith just released their new album “Gloria” on the 27th of January. As described by Pitchfork, “Gloria flips between hyperpop, country, dancehall, disco, 2-step, and intimate, Kehlani-esque R&B”.

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Are Virtual Idols the Future of Music?

February 5, 2023

Virtual reality and the metaverse have become popular topics in the music industry where more and more technology and music have been combined, creating something that could revolutionize the entire

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Grammy Awards Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical: The Category Songwriters Deserve

February 5, 2023

The 65th annual GRAMMY Awards are here, and there's a long-awaited addition to the awards. This year marks the introduction of a new category: the Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical Award. For all

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How Zach Bryan’s Authenticity Makes His Music So Appealing, Even to Non-Country Fans

January 31, 2023

Zach Bryan released his first album in 2019, and in the short time since he has become one of the biggest names in country. His biggest album, “American Heartbreak”, broke single-day album streaming

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Miley Cyrus is Going to Take Over Pop in 2023

January 31, 2023

Miley Cyrus was born into the music industry, and has spent her career channelling her Nashville and Hollywood roots into a diverse discography stacked with hits. Add to that countless covers that are

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Why This Pop-Rock Band Got Hate For Starting On YouTube

January 31, 2023

Before the invention of TikTok, many music artists gained popularity through YouTube. However, similar to the TikTok stars of today, people in the music industry saw ‘YouTube bands’ as lesser because

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Will Google End Work for Music Creators with their New Music AI?

February 1, 2023

Google has done it. They have created an AI that can generate music from text descriptions. The announcement of this is timely because recently Chat GPT, (a language learning model created by OpenAI

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The Road to Success: What qualities can we learn from Kpop Idols?

January 28, 2023

What does it take to be a professional singer in South Korea? On stage, these Kpop idols capture our attention with catchy songs and amazing choreographies, but what about off-stage? Behind the ...

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Songwriter's Block: Inspiration Tuning in From Around the World

January 26, 2023

Writer’s block is real, and it’s not just authors, but also songwriters and composers. Thinking of top hit songs can be difficult, so how do the pros do it? Where do they get their inspiration from?

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Arcane: How A Video Game Adaptation Ended Up With A Banger Soundtrack

January 26, 2023

What does a TV show based on a video game and the music industry have in common? Near the end of 2021, Arcane took the world by storm after debuting on Netflix. Not only did it dazzle us with its...

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How Black Pink Should Negotiate Their New Contract with YG Entertainment

January 23, 2023

As the contract between Blackpink and YG Entertainment nears its end, fans of the popular South Korean girl group are wondering if the group will renew their contract with the agency...

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TikTok - Changing the Music Industry

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Photo Source: Carbon Magazine

There is no question that technology and the internet is changing the way in which many aspects of the world operate. The internet has rapidly accelerated the rate that information can be communicated between people, and it allows anyone to reach people from anywhere on the globe in a matter of seconds, something that was previously impossible. 

Of course, the effects of new technology such as the internet carry over to the music industry. This article will discuss the effects that mobile apps are having on the way the music industry works, focusing specifically on TikTok. TikTok has significantly altered the way music creators promote music, how record label companies seek out new talent, and how songs go viral.  

Artists are using TikTok to gain exposure and advertise their music. TikTok’s algorithm is incredibly effective at spreading content quickly and it is very good at displaying content that is similar to what the user has previously interacted with and found interesting. Artists are taking advantage of this by posting short videos of their music on the platform. Because of this, users can discover new music from their favourite genres that they otherwise would have never found out about. 

Another feature of the app that can increase the amount of exposure a particular video receives is the share feature. If users come across a new song or artist that they really enjoy, they can send the video or the artist’s account to all of their friends, who may send it to their friends, and the cycle will continue. 

Most clips on TikTok are very short, usually less than 1 minute, and this makes them easily digestible for the user. Instead of having to listen to entire songs on the radio, people can watch a 15 second clip of the best part of a song, increasing the amount of different content that each person can find. In addition to this, some music creators have teamed up with already popular TikTok personalities and influencers who help promote their music to a large audience. 

Looking at the bigger picture, the music industry as a whole is adjusting to this novel approach to promoting content. In the past, record label companies would have artists audition or would attempt to find new artists in person. These companies have started using TikTok to come upon new artists who haven’t received exposure from traditional forms of media, making it much easier for companies to reach talented artists. This is mutually beneficial for both artists and companies, as it gives talented musicians a way to get into the big leagues, and it gives record companies the opportunity to profit from discovering the next big thing. 

Finally, TikTok trends can also revive older music and establish its popularity in demographics who otherwise would be unlikely to be exposed to such music. For example, ‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac surged in popularity after it was used in a viral TikTok trend involving skateboarders filming themselves with picturesque scenery in the background. 

Overall, the internet will only become more utilized and widespread, and the future of music will follow this trend. 

TikTok - Changing the Music Industrytiktok-changing-the-music-industryBy Adam HolsteinNov 24, 2023There is no question that technology and the internet is changing the way in which many aspects of the world operate. The internet has rapidly accelerated the rate that information can be...