Okay, finish this sentence: “Don’t take…”
If your brain finished that phrase with “these beautiful things that I’ve got,” congrats — you’ve probably been on TikTok sometime in the last year. Or Instagram Reels. Or Facebook Reels. But most likely, you’ve seen one of the four million TikToks that have used this song — which doesn’t include all the remixes.
Booniacs (which, I assume, is what Benson Boone fans call themselves) might come for me because Boone has been around a little longer than his TikTok fame has, having found initial non-TikTok fame on “American Idol.” But no one can deny that “Beautiful Things” has become Boone’s biggest hit. And Boone himself knows that TikTok played a serious role. He did tease it on TikTok before releasing it for a reason.
@bensonboone ‘Beautiful Things’ #newmusic
♬ Beautiful Things – Benson Boone
Today’s Biggest Hits Aren’t Just Big on Billboard—They’re Big on TikTok
Let’s do a quick Billboard countdown: as of this writing, “Love Somebody” by Morgan Wallen is in 10th place. How’d it get there? You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t think Wallen’s constant TikTok teases didn’t help.
In ninth place, well, wouldn’t you know it, it’s Benson Boone with “Beautiful Things.” Did we mention “Beautiful Things” peaked at No. 2 in March of 2024? Yes, indeed, that’s the long-lasting power of TikTok.
In eighth place is “Taste” by Sabrina Carpenter, a true TikTok tastemaker (no pun intended). The success of this song truly kicked off with an iconic music video starring Carpenter alongside the one and only Jenna Ortega. The TikTok teasing the music video’s release, which didn’t even include “Taste” playing, has been viewed more than 25 million times.
@sabrinacarpenter Taste video out now💋
♬ Psycho Killer – Talking Heads
Post Malone and Morgan Wallen hold seventh place with “I Had Some Help.” And adding this to the list, I thought, “Hey, one I haven’t heard on TikTok!” Then I looked up the sound on TikTok and realized I was mistaken. I have seen approximately 10 billion videos featuring this song. Approximately.
@postmalone I Had Some Help @morganwallen
♬ I Had Some Help – Post Malone
In sixth place, “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams was the first ever Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit for the singer-songwriter. While it would be a little dumb to suggest that being a part of the Eras Tour had nothing to do with Abrams’ rise to fame, it’s worth noting that “That’s So True” inspired a massive TikTok trend that influencers and celebrities alike got in on.
In fifth place is “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims. Swims has been making music for several years before becoming a household name. But “Lose Control” is his first time going viral. And we’re sure you’ve encountered plenty of TikToks with him crooning, “I lose control.” I know I have.
@teddyswims Where it all started 🥹 #newmusic #teddyswims #losecontrol #soul #soulmusic #fypシ
♬ original sound – Teddy Swims
In fourth place, another Carpenter hit with “Espresso.” And if you say you’ve never seen the “Espresso” dance on TikTok, I will call you a liar.
@witneycarsonofficial This song is forever stuck in my head DC: @therealjordangrace #espresso #dance #viraldance
♬ original sound – therealjordangrace
Third is Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather.” And once again, if you say you’ve never heard a TikTok with this song, I will call you a liar.
@lilireinhart this is our wedding day actually @camila mendes
♬ BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish
Second place is “Die With a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, which inspired multiple TikTok trends.
In first place is Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which inspired its own dance, which almost every influencer has done.
@thesupercole dance goes hard not gonna lie👀
♬ A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey
So…What Does the TikTokification of Music Mean for the Future of Music Fame?
Every single one of the Top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 currently has a presence on TikTok. And while we can’t claim that all of these stars only found fame because of TikTok (hello, Lady Gaga predates TikTok by over a decade), we can safely say that it’s a heck of a lot easier to climb the charts when you have a TikTok dance to go with a song. Or a TikTok trend. Or if TikTok just really likes your song.
In the U.S., TikTok users are nearly twice as likely to discover new music on TikTok than users of other social media platforms. Not only that, but they’re also twice as likely to share that new music in their content. It spreads like a virus — but in a positive, more fun way than bird flu.
It’s also worth noting that 62% of TikTok users pay for a streaming service, compared to 43% of consumers in general. So, if your song’s Spotify numbers suddenly skyrocket, you might want to check if someone just made a dance to your song on TikTok. Over a third of TikTok users also attend live music events and purchase artist merch. Can you say, “Cha-ching!”?
And here’s the kicker — it’s not just one type of music that does well on TikTok. Pop music gets its name because it’s, well, popular. It’s “mainstream.” But TikTok is turning what’s popular on its head. Take a look at that Billboard countdown again. Sure, you’ve got pop music in there, but you’ve also got country, soul, and rock. If your music doesn’t fall into a pop category, that doesn’t mean it won’t gain traction on TikTok.
Plus, nearly half of TikTok listeners in the U.S. listen to music that’s not in English, with about a third saying that it’s “extremely important” to have access to music around the globe. You don’t have to be a U.S. artist to go viral in the U.S. on TikTok.
And one more note about what you think you know about TikTok’s audience: It’s not all Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Even if your music doesn’t appeal to younger audiences, that doesn’t mean it won’t go viral on TikTok. TikTok users over the age of 45 make up 27% of the platform as of 2024.
OK, But What Does It Mean for Me, a New Artist?
If you’re not on TikTok, you’re likely missing out on allowing your music to reach new audiences. TikTok users don’t just listen to music — they want to share it, too.
If you’re a new artist hoping to find fame in the field, you should be active on TikTok. Honestly, look at Sabrina Carpenter’s TikTok to know how to do it right.
Carpenter not only shares her music on TikTok but also gets involved in trends outside of her work, often using viral sound bites to create content, upping her chances of being seen (and heard) on the platform. She teases new music, posts perfectly on-brand, and interacts with her audience.
You might not have a Carpenter-caliber fame level yet, but if you build your TikTok strategy and keep putting your music out there, you might find that the next big dance is to your song.
