TikTok is launching a subscription-based music streaming service in Australia, Singapore, and Mexico. The company says it’s inviting users in the three countries to participate in a beta test that starts today.
Using your existing TikTok account, users will be able to listen, download, and share songs from big-league record companies like Warner Music Group, which just inked a fresh licensing deal(opens in a new tab) — Universal Music Group(opens in a new tab) and Sony Music(opens in a new tab) have existing deals with the app but not yet with TikTok Music.
Essentially, TikTok Music aims to rival what existing music streaming sites, like Spotify and Apple Music, already offer, but it’s early days.
Launched in Brazil(opens in a new tab) and Indonesia(opens in a new tab) two weeks ago, TikTok Music is likely to expand globally following the current beta test. For users in the U.S., TikTok’s parent company ByteDance filed a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last May, to patent “TikTok Music” — though whether this will be approved amid all ongoing talk of TikTok bans in America remains to be seen.
TikTok also announced yesterday(opens in a new tab) that it has signed a “wide-ranging, first-of-its-kind partnership” with Warner Music Group, with the intention of opening up revenue opportunities between the two companies. TikTok will be working with WMG to develop fandom partnerships around WMG artists and songwriters, with possible monetization features around ticketing, merchandise, and other “digital goods and services.”
Warner’s licensing deal also expands from TikTok Music to CapCut, TikTok’s video-editing app. Musicians have long gone viral and forged new territory via TikTok, so it’s no surprise the app wants to cash in.
Those involved in the TikTok Music closed beta will receive a free, three-month trial. But apart from this, the subscription service has a monthly fee, differing from country-to-country. According to TechCrunch(opens in a new tab), these prices are SGD $9.90 in Singapore ($7.48 USD), Mex $115 in Mexico ($6.86 USD), and AUD11.99 in Australia ($8.16 USD).
