TikTok’s new music streaming service is literally Apple Music

TikTok wants to wield its influence within the recording industry, but building a music streaming service is difficult and expensive. That’s where an alliance with Apple comes in handy.

In a Newsroom post, TikTok announced a deal that will integrate Apple Music into its app. When users discover a track they enjoy on the For You Page, a new prompt will give them the ability to “Play Full Song” without leaving TikTok.

The Play Full Song option is located within the Sound Detail Page, where users can go to learn more information about the songs that power the world’s biggest short-form trends. So if you’re curious about that phonk track you heard in a brainrot video and you want to listen to the whole song, the new Apple Music integration has you covered.

TikTok developed Play Full Song via MusicKit, a tool that connects the Apple Music API to external apps. That’s an important detail, because it means the songs played on TikTok are technically being streamed on Apple Music. Artists, therefore, are compensated by Apple.

“Tapping into the music you love should feel effortless,” said Apple Music Co-Head Ole Obermann — who happens to be a TikTok vet — in a statement. “With Play Full Song, Apple Music subscribers can move easily from discovering a track on TikTok to listening to it in full instantly, without breaking the flow. This integration not only makes it easier for fans to discover, listen to, and engage with the artists they love, but also creates a powerful new pathway for artists – turning moments of discovery into deeper connection and sustained engagement in one simple, seamless experience.”

After emerging as a dynamic force in the world of pop music, TikTok attempted to drive more streams of its own by launching a music service. After that effort failed to pan out, TikTok tried a different strategy: Instead of building a music service, it integrated the ones that already exist. YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music were the initial partners for a feature called Add To Music App, which lets users locate and listen to the songs they find on TikTok.

Play Full Song is the next stepping stone on that strategic path. It allows TikTok to operate like a music service without incurring the expenses required to operate one.

And TikTok won’t stop there. Its partnership with Apple Music also powers a feature called Listening Party, which generates collaborative spaces where friends can listen to music together. If you ever used Turntable.fm back in the day, Listening Party will probably sound familiar.

Long story short: TikTok is doing everything in its power to borrow music streaming credibility from other tech companies. That plan might not stop those pesky licensing disputes from popping up, but it will make TikTok’s recording industry relations less of a hassle.