TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is officially shutting down TikTok Music, its short-lived music streaming service, by the end of November.
Launched in July 2023, TikTok Music was initially rolled out in Indonesia and Brazil as part of ByteDance’s efforts to expand its dominance in the music streaming space. Despite its expansion into markets like Singapore, Australia, and Mexico, the service never made it to the U.S. and will now be discontinued globally.
In a statement, Ole Obermann, TikTok’s global head of music business development, explained the company’s decision: “We will be closing TikTok Music at the end of November in order to focus on our goal of furthering TikTok’s role in driving even greater music listening and value on music streaming services, for the benefit of artists, songwriters, and the industry.”
Challenges and Setbacks
TikTok Music, initially branded as Resso, was rebranded in 2023 as part of its relaunch. The platform operated similarly to Spotify, using a freemium model that allowed users to stream music with the option to upgrade to a paid subscription. Despite some early momentum, TikTok Music faced significant obstacles.
One major setback occurred earlier this year when a royalties dispute with Universal Music Group (UMG) prompted the music giant to remove its entire library from the service. While ByteDance denied UMG’s claims, the two parties eventually reached a new agreement. However, this conflict highlighted ByteDance’s strained relationship with the U.S. music industry, which may have contributed to the service never launching stateside.
Additionally, TikTok Music was banned in India, limiting its global reach. Although TikTok remains a significant player in music discovery, with 107 million users in the U.S. alone, the platform’s streaming service struggled to overcome these hurdles.
What Happens Next?
The shutdown will take effect on November 28, and users with subscriptions through Apple or Google Play will need to take action. Apple users have until the end of November to request refunds, while Google Play subscribers with plans extending beyond the shutdown date will automatically receive a refund or can request one via Google Play.
Despite TikTok Music’s short lifespan, TikTok’s role in the music industry remains undeniable. About 67% of U.S. users say they’re more likely to seek out a song after hearing it on the platform. TikTok continues to play a vital role in music discovery, and ByteDance is shifting its focus toward strengthening those efforts rather than operating a standalone streaming service.
With TikTok Music winding down, it will be interesting to see how ByteDance continues to evolve its relationship with the music industry, as the app continues to influence global music trends.
