TikTok‘s ability to vault pop hits to a new tier of popularity is well known, but what about the people who craft those chart-topping songs? Songwriters play a crucial role in the flow of pop music on the For You Page, but TikTok’s track listings didn’t adequately credit those hitmakers — until now.
In a Newsroom post, TikTok announced an array of “Songwriter Features” that will help creators in the titular profession better identify themselves (and their work) on the app. A new label will allow songwriters to identify themselves at the top of their accounts, and a “Songwriter Music Tab” gives tunesmiths the space they need to showcase their latest and greatest compositions.
To promote the new features, TikTok has onboarded multiple notable songwriters, including Lauren Christy, Toby Gad, and Justin Tranter. Some of those artists — like Christy, a hitmaker for the likes of Rihanna and Dua Lipa — have previously been featured in TikTok’s #BehindTheSong series.
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“Just as young Songwriters were losing hope on finding a pathway to success in music, TikTok comes along to help save the day! I’m so thrilled to collaborate with TikTok on the beta rollout of their Songwriter features, helping songwriters share their music and stories,” Christy said in a statement. “Remember 48% of all streaming revenue is created by independent artists, and that would have been impossible without the help of TikTok.”
As indie artists and major labels seek distribution on TikTok, the app has looked to capitalize on its status by putting on concerts and other cultural events. Songwriters have been able to ride that wave as well, with Unofficial Bridgerton Musical scribes Abigal Barlow and Emily Bear serving as two notable examples.
But the shuttering of the nascent TikTok Music hub and the legal issues faced by Barlow and Bear show that TikTok can do more to support the musical artists who are driving the app to the pinnacle of pop culture. The new Songwriter Features were developed with help from a survey that queried 871 songwriters about their TikTok habits.
For that group, as well as any other artistic cohort, getting due credit is serious business. That’s why it’s nice to see TikTok following Instagram’s lead by highlighting the progenitors of the most prominent FYP fads. Songwriters may not perform their own hits, but those songs wouldn’t exist without them — and the new features are a way for them to show their work.
