As YouTube airs Eurovision, TikTok brings back in-house music contest

What do you get when you combine the Eurovision Song Contest, American Idol, and the SoundOn program? The answer is Music On Stage, a worldwide event that brings emerging artists to viewers via TikTok LIVE.

TikTok introduced Music On Stage last year, when the app introduced its community to an initial cohort of rising musical stars. According to a blog post, Music On Stage’s first go-around generated 8.2 billion impressions while drawing 1.4 million viewers throughout the broadcast of the Global Finals. Some artists featured in Music On Stage, including winner Anyelique Solorio, have built strong followings on TikTok and beyond.

One year later, TikTok is bringing back Music On Stage. Creators from more than 20 regions are competing for both recognition and shares of a tempting prize pool: Winners will receive developmental opportunities through SoundOn and on-stage opportunities at festivals like Breakaway Carolina Festival and All Things Go NYC.

@tiktoklive_onstageEvery star has a beginning. Microphone, lights, ready…GO LIVE! Welcome to #TikTokLIVE #MusicOnStage —where stars are born. Registration is now open from Aug 1 – 14. Show the world your sound, and the next music star could be YOU!

♬ 原聲 – Music on Stage

Auditions for Music On Stage began on August 15, with the Global Finals set for September. As in 2025, the competition will be split between the EMEA and APAC regions. The fomer show will be hosted by British singer-songwriter Cat Burns, while Thai singer-songwriter Songkarn

Between its international scope and focus on rising pop talent, Music On Stage has much in common with Eurovision. Some artists with large TikTok followings, including England’s Sam Ryder, have competed in the 70-year-old, cross-continental contest.

If, however, you want to stream Eurovision coverage, YouTube is one of the best places to do that. The official ESC channel has long had a strong YouTube presence, especially during the competition, and in 2026, YouTube took its support to the next level by becoming an official Eurovision broadcaster. Now, as the contest expands to Asia, YouTube is expanding its coverage in kind.

TikTok wants to continue emphasizing its impact on the music industry, so it needs an answer to YouTube’s Eurovision coverage. That’s where Music On Stage comes in. The event is not just a celebration of artistry, but also an advertisement for SoundOn’s capabilities and TikTok LIVE’s robust array of revenue streams. One of the performance opportunities available for Music On Stage winners is a slot at TikTok LIVE Fest, the app’s annual showcase of vertically-oriented talent.

The potential of those opportunities will become more pronounced as more users buy into the Music On Stage hype. Coverage of the contest can be found by searching for the #MusicOnStage hashtag on TikTok.