TikTok Music is finally shutting down

TikTok dad or mum firm ByteDance is pulling the plug on TikTok Music, its short-lived music streaming service, by November. Launched simply over a 12 months in the past in July 2023, the platform debuted in Indonesia and Brazil as a part of the corporate’s effort to increase its TikTok empire into music streaming.

“We can be closing TikTok Music on the finish of November with a purpose to concentrate on our aim of furthering TikTok’s function in driving even higher music listening and worth on music streaming companies, for the good thing about artists, songwriters, and the trade,” Ole Obermann, TikTok’s international head of music enterprise improvement, stated in an announcement.

ByteDance has lengthy had a strained relationship with the music trade in america. Earlier this 12 months, a royalties dispute with Common Music Group (UMG) led the writer to tug its complete music library from the platform. Whereas TikTok denied UMG’s claims, the 2 finally resolved the disagreement and reached a brand new deal.

TikTok performs a significant function in music discovery, with about 107 million customers within the U.S., and 67 p.c of these customers saying they’re extra more likely to search out a tune after listening to it on the app. TikTok music, initially known as Resso, was rebranded to TikTok Music in 2023 and had expanded to Singapore, Australia, and Mexico on a attainable path towards america. Nevertheless, it confronted setbacks, together with being banned in India earlier this 12 months.

TikTok Music, like Spotify, operates as a freemium subscription service. With the service shutting down on Nov. 28, Apple customers have till then to request refunds. Google Play subscribers with plans extending past Nov. 28 will robotically obtain a refund or can request one by way of Google Play earlier than the service sunsets.