ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is set to discontinue TikTok Music, its short-lived music streaming service, by the end of November. The platform, which was launched in July 2023 in Indonesia and Brazil, aimed to extend TikTok’s presence in the music streaming domain.
“We will be closing TikTok Music at the end of November in order to focus on further enhancing TikTok’s role in music listening and adding value to music streaming services for artists, songwriters, and the industry,” stated TikTok’s global head of music business development.
ByteDance has had a tumultuous relationship with the U.S. music industry, recently highlighted by a royalties dispute with Universal Music Group (UMG), which led to UMG withdrawing its music library from the platform. Although TikTok contested UMG’s claims, the parties eventually reached a new agreement.
With approximately 107 million users in the U.S., TikTok remains a powerful force in music discovery, with 67 percent of users indicating they are more likely to explore a song after hearing it on the application. TikTok Music, originally branded as Resso, was introduced to markets like Singapore, Australia, and Mexico but faced challenges, including a ban in India earlier this year.
The soon-to-be-defunct TikTok Music, similar to Spotify, operated under a freemium subscription model. As the service winds down on November 28, Apple users are encouraged to request refunds before this date. Google Play subscribers with plans extending beyond November 28 will automatically be refunded or can request one prior to the service’s discontinuation.
