Tiktok Year In Music 2025: When The World Dances To The Same Beat
From high-tech girl power to resurrected golden oldies, TikTok's 2025 music retrospective proves that a simple scroll can now write the history of global pop.
TikTok, the New Control Tower of the Music Industry
1.9 billion monthly active users (SensorTower estimate for 2025), over 100 million in France: it's hard to overlook the power of TikTok. The short video app has transformed into a true control tower where labels, independent artists, and fans co-pilot the hits of tomorrow. Already in 2024, IFPI accounted for 23% of global streams coming directly from social networks. In 2025, the Chinese platform takes it a step further with its Year in Music — an XXL debrief that highlights those who have made our feeds (and our playlists) buzz.
KATSEYE: the mixed-race girl band that's clawing up the charts
Did you think the K-pop wave had swept everything away? Enter KATSEYE-pop! Born in 2023 in Los Angeles, the international sextet (USA, South Korea, Switzerland, Philippines) dominates the scene: 15 million subscribers, 30 billion views, 12 million videos created in one year. Their recipe? Multilingual choruses, choreography tutorials in duet format, and daily storytelling (behind-the-scenes, live backstage, moments of doubt). The result: the algorithm rolls out the red carpet, and the music press is already talking about the "first supergroup born on a social network".
The Improbable Comeback of Connie Francis
Sometimes, TikTok turns into a time machine... and it's delightful. Released in 1962, "Pretty Little Baby" by the late Connie Francis has surpassed 28.4 million creations, accumulating 68.6 billion views. It all started with a "vintage lip sync" challenge initiated by a New York student; 48 hours later, half of the globe was whistling this sweet doo-wop. The icing on the jukebox: the singer (82 years old) opened her own account at the beginning of 2025 to thank Gen Z. Just goes to show that an old standard is never safe from a second youth.
When the "Add to Music App" button boosts listens
Introduced at the end of 2023, the "Add to Music App" feature acts as an express bridge between TikTok and Spotify, Apple Music, or Deezer. Over 3 billion tracks have already been saved via this magic button, generating billions of additional streams. The undisputed queen: Taylor Swift and her surprise album "The Life of a Showgirl." Each 15-second teaser turned into digital gold: +42% pre-saves vs. her previous album, according to MidiaResearch. Proof that a swipe can equate to a global shelf placement.
"Anxiety": a demo that becomes a global anthem
A quick throwback to 2019: Doechii uploads a demo named "Anxiety." Fast-forward to 2025: the community digs up the track, begs for an official release, then creates THE dance of the year (shoutout to the Prince of Bel-Air move). Will Smith himself joins in, followed by Tatyana Ali and, of course, Doechii. The result: 10.4 million videos, 51.6 billion views, a direct entry into the Billboard top 10, and five Grammy Award nominations. Moral of the story: never underestimate the power of a snippet lying around on a hard drive.
Virality: A Tangible Economic Engine
Behind the filters and stickers lies a real cash machine. Goldman Sachs estimates that 40% of the hits ranked on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2025 owe their initial breakthrough to TikTok. Globally, streaming generated $19.3 billion in revenue last year; an increasing share is directly steered by trends born on the app. The majors know this: a promotional budget on TikTok typically returns a ROI of 3:1 (MusicWatch report, Sept. 2025). No wonder record labels allocate up to 25% of their digital spend to the platform.
A launch pad for local scenes.
Beyond superstars, TikTok also propels regional talents. For example, Lyna Mahy from Lyon, who was spotted through an a cappella song filmed in her kitchen; signed with Capitol, she is already touring as the opening act for Aya Nakamura. The same scenario unfolds in Seoul, Lagos, or São Paulo. The moral? No need for a visa or a continental media plan: a smartphone, a 5G connection (or sometimes only 4G, let's be honest) and a catchy idea are enough. It's exhilarating... and dizzying.
TikTok: More than Just an App, a Cultural Laboratory
Between a recipe for crispy ramen and a sewing tutorial, sound remains the glue that binds everything together on TikTok. Filters may become outdated, hashtags may shift, but an effective beat crosses borders like a summer breeze. The company understands this well: it's multiplying partnerships (with offices opened in Seoul, Berlin, Dubai...) and refining its creative ecosystem. The unofficial goal? To become the world's foremost showcase where one listens before streaming, even before Shazaming.
To remember (and to hum)
- KATSEYE crowned Global Artist 2025.
- A 1962 classic tops the playlists — thanks to Connie Francis.
- Taylor Swift queen of backups via Add to Music App.
- "Anxiety": the year's most imitated dance trend.
- TikTok now influences 2 out of 5 hits in the American charts.
N.B. (Nota Bene)
The Add to Music App feature mentioned above allows you to save a track directly to your favorite streaming service. Please note, it is not available in all countries (gradual rollout since 2024). Remember to update the app if the button does not appear.
