TikTok parent company ByteDance is pulling the plug on TikTok Music, its short-lived music streaming service, by November. Launched just over a year ago in July 2023, the platform debuted in Indonesia and Brazil as part of the company’s effort to expand its TikTok empire into music streaming.
“We will be closing TikTok Music at the end of November in order to focus on our goal of furthering TikTok’s role in driving even greater music listening and value on music streaming services, for the benefit of artists, songwriters, and the industry,” Ole Obermann, TikTok’s global head of music business development, said in a statement.
ByteDance has long had a strained relationship with the music industry in the United States. Earlier this year, a royalties dispute with Universal Music Group (UMG) led the publisher to pull its entire music library from the platform. While TikTok denied UMG’s claims, the two eventually resolved the disagreement and reached a new deal.
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TikTok plays a major role in music discovery, with about 107 million users in the U.S., and 67 percent of those users saying they’re more likely to seek out a song after hearing it on the app. TikTok music, initially called Resso, was rebranded to TikTok Music in 2023 and had expanded to Singapore, Australia, and Mexico on a possible path toward the United States. However, it faced setbacks, including being banned in India earlier this year.
TikTok Music, like Spotify, operates as a freemium subscription service. With the service shutting down on Nov. 28, Apple users have until then to request refunds. Google Play subscribers with plans extending beyond Nov. 28 will automatically receive a refund or can request one through Google Play before the service sunsets.