TikTok (Music) Stars
By: Adela Rakoski '23
Extreme boredom during the original lockdown led many to an app that promised satisfaction in 30 seconds or less. On TikTok, many took their instruments and began to sing, gaining the attention of millions. Within months, artists from all genres were blowing up on the app. Hit songs such as "Heat Waves by Glass Animals," and "Good 4 You" by Olivia Rodrigo became instant hits.
TikTok, an app made popular for viral dances, is available in over 150 countries and has over one billion users. A billion different people aged 13 to about 60, allow users to witness the latest trends unfold before their eyes. The algorithm consists of likes, shares,and comments, and each one contributes to an artist soaring in popularity.
Most commonly known for his song “Mr. Loverman," Ricky Montgomery gained popularity through Tik Tok. Pop and indie fans alike were introduced to his depressing lyrics, mixed with an upbeat instrumental background. His first album, Montgomery Ricky, was released on April 1, 2016. With only a few thousand monthly listeners, Montgomery did not know that his music would gain popularity four years later. His songs on Youtube have about 30K views, and his audio was used 88.7K times on TikTok. “I’m really proud of his success and it’s really interesting to watch him as he gains more and more recognition," said Arin Payne '16.
Montgomery is not the only one who has gained immense popularity. Leanna Firestone, a small artist, is most known for creating music from her apartment bedroom. Her song, "Strawberry Mentos," was written on a whim during a TikTok video. After many persisting comments to release the song on Spotify, Firestone caved. Now, her song has over 5.7 million streams. “I feel so grateful for the opportunity to share my music with the world. I’m very very excited about it so I hope everyone likes it as well," she stated in an online interview with FTP.com. Now, Firestone has a newly released album and is reaching hundreds of thousands per month. Although it is hard to blow up on TikTok, there are many different ways that one could become popular on it. Every niche, fandom, and interest lie in the parameters of the app. One could even become viral on TikTok.