TikTok introduces a music streaming service, and competes with Spotify and Apple Music. But it won't be the same. Here's all the news
If you're over thirty, you may not know TikTok. If, on the other hand, you're under twenty, this app is probably your bread and butter. The social network born in China a few years ago has already conquered millions of users worldwide. It is currently valued at 75 billion dollars. And, as if that wasn't enough, it is preparing to challenge Spotify and Apple Music.
Soon TikTok will introduce a free music streaming service, which will thus complement the mini-clips posted by users. The news was announced by Bloomerg and confirmed by some anonymous sources on TechCrunch. Unlike Spotify and other giants, TikTok's streaming service will be aimed at emerging countries, and not at already saturated markets such as Europe or the United States. The content will be the most diverse: for the occasion the company has partnered with several record companies, mostly Indian. It is not excluded that the service may also interest other parts of the world.
TikTok launches music streaming: all the details
Just as happens with the famous Spotify, even on TikTok you can listen to streaming music through a free membership or a premium subscription. To access the free streaming, however, you'll have to put up with some advertising between songs. According to Bloomerg, the service is designed for emerging markets. ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, has not confirmed this rumor. However, it is certain that the company has made agreements with major Indian record companies such as T Series and Times Music.
India is among the countries with the largest number of TikTok subscribers: currently there are about 300million and with the new feature they will increase. To acquire more and more of them, the service will be free. In fact, many Indians listen to music online, but few are willing to pay for it.
Not just streaming: music is in TikTok's DNA
The company's spokesperson Todd Scheffin recently told the Wall Street Journal that music is in the platform's DNA, not so much for enjoyment, but more for creativity. In fact, the mini-clips that can be made and shared on the social network are based on scenes from movies, but mostly on snippets of songs, on which users improvise skits or dances.
The company already holds the rights to these audio clips for which it has already partnered with more than 800 music labels. It is also constantly striving to find musical talent and stimulate them to create original music for the platform.
All new TikTok apps and focus on India
ByteDance in the past few months has also introduced a new app called Duoshan. It is a video chat service that can be placed somewhere between TikTok and Snapchat. In addition, it has released another messaging app called Feiliao.
Finally, TikTok's maneuver is focused on India also because it has lost credibility in this country in recent years. In fact, an Indian court banned the app due to content deemed questionable and since then, the company has been moving more cautiously to avoid intervention from the authorities and not hurt its reputation.