2.8.2023
TikTok Treats, Week of February 7th
TikTok-Fueled Stars Win Big During Music’s Biggest Night, Mariah Hogs the Mic, and Much More from the World of Music on TikTok
The News:
Each week, the TikTok Treats newsletter gives a snapshot of the state of music on TikTok, touching on trending hits, emerging artists, superstar moves, ascendant memes, and much more.
This weekend, songs and artists that thrived on TikTok in 2022 won big at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Community favorites like Harry Styles and Lizzo won major awards, while Beyoncé, who set the record for all-time GRAMMY wins during the telecast, made sure to thank her fans on TikTok for their support on social media. Rising artists who used TikTok to jumpstart their careers also had a big night: Steve Lacy won the award for Best Progressive R&B Album, and Muni Long won multiple trophies including Best R&B Performance. Though Best New Artist winner Samara Joy might have been unfamiliar to many watching, she has a big following on TikTok (250k+ followers), who appreciate her exquisite vocals and inventive cover songs. Check TikTok’s newsroom for a full accounting on the community favorite artists who took home the gold during the GRAMMYs.
Don’t forget to check out this week’s trends and moments below. Perhaps there is a 2024 GRAMMY winner hiding in plain sight:
- Mariah Carey has claimed dominion over Christmas, but her reign doesn’t end when the ball drops on the New Year. The legendary diva is trending on TikTok once again with her song “It’s A Wrap,” a deep cut from her 2009 album Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. Using a sped-up version of the song, Mariah and her entourage performed a sultry dance that ended with a comedic culinary moment. The dance inspires creations from those who love to dance with their friends in IKEA, with their adorable nephew, and when they procrastinate on their homework. With over 1.1M creations, the sound is also fitting for creators who cannot tolerate certain behavior, such as people raising their voices at them or not liking their aesthetic. Mariah Carey and her daughter Monroe also participated in the trend, with the duo joking about Mariah always taking over when Monroe tries to practice her vocals.
- Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and self-love is already in the air on TikTok! Drawing inspiration from former boy band Mindless Behavior’s 2011 hit, “Mrs. Right” (322.6K+ creations), creators give themselves a boost of confidence as they reveal aspects of their personalities that few others share. Using Mindless Behavior’s emphatic hook, “Where is Mrs. Right? I gotta see her,” creators ask to meet someone who is a bigger fan of Bad Bunny, wears more black clothing, or consumes more salt than they do. In other recent videos, TikTok creators continue to show off their majorette skills as they repurpose a routine by creator @amour.jordynn. Mindless Behavior member Princeton also interacted with the sound, encouraging fans to come up with the best interpretation of the “Mrs. Right” trend.
- With popular sounds like Key Glock’s “Ambition For Cash” and GloRilla’s “Tomorrow 2” and “F.N.F.” racking up millions of creations in the past year, Memphis rap has proven itself a favorite subgenre of the TikTok community. Drawing from the past for the latest Memphis-bred trend, creators are flocking to Project Pat’s 2002 track, “Take Da Charge” (20.1k creations), for a dance trend as inherent to the city of Memphis as the music itself. Known for its smooth bounce and agile footwork, “jookin’” has been a staple of Memphis culture since the late ‘80s. With Project Pat’s classic track setting the pace, creators are using the sound to bring the sauce to culinary school, turn their little brothers into big steppers, and show that they still got the moves.
- Rising rapper Ktlyn made a name for herself on TikTok after participating in Russ’ “Handsomer” open verse challenge and ending up on the Billboard Hot 100 charting “Handsomer Remix.” The San Diego native has another viral hit on her hands with her solo track “Hot,” which Ktlyn used to inspire a transformation challenge. Flipping Mims’ 2007 hit “This Is Why I’m Hot,” the new empowerment anthem is perfect for kid-free date night and gym closet transformations, as well as restless makeup and haircut tutorials. Adding to the 75.9K+ creations, Ktlyn expressed her gratitude toward the many TikTok creators using the sound.
- 17-year-old Houston rapper Luclover made a splash on TikTok with his viral hit “L$d,” one of TikTok’s Top US Tracks of 2022. Following up his previous TikTok success, Luclover is trending once again with his song, “BENIHANA,” released through SoundOn, TikTok’s all-in-one music marketing and distribution platform. Previewed as a snippet on TikTok in mid-October, “BENIHANA” finally saw official release in January and quickly racked up over 79.6K creations. Luclover’s catchy hook inspired creator @drewjeeezy to create a dance, and creators across the platform are sharing their own renditions . Additionally, the song soundtracks ballet dance practice videos, car restorations, and adorable clips of furry friends. Luclover did his part to keep the sound trending, using the sound to emphasize that he is not a one-hit wonder, as well as dancing to his own lyrics in a garage. Backed by the support of the TikTok community, “BENIHANA” earned over 216K Spotify streams, becoming his second-highest streamed song to date.
- TikTok has proven to be an effective space for roots and country singers to get their careers started–in 2022, artists like Bailey Zimmerman and Zach Bryan earned big boosts from their activity on the platform. Wyatt Flores, a singer from Stillwater, Oklahoma who now lives in Nashville, is working hard to become the next big name to jump from the For You feed to the country charts. The rising singer built a following of 59k on TikTok with his powerful cover versions, grainy vocal showcases, and clips of live shows. He’s been percolating on the platform with his song “Please Don’t Go,” originally released in 2022, which empathizes with those struggling with mental health. “Please Don’t Go” is making inroads in TikTok’s active country community, with over 4.5k creations, with many creators praising Flores’s talent for writing sad country songs, comparing his raw emotion to Zach Bryan, and relating to the song’s heavy themes. Meanwhile, Wyatt is enjoying movie nights and continuing to release new music, as “Please Don’t Go” climbs the Spotify Viral 50 chart, where it currently sits at #9.
Check TikTok’s newsroom for more noteworthy stories: newsroom.tiktok.com
For more info, please contact:
Michelle McDevitt, Annjie Houston, Destiny Riley, T’Keyah Hayes, Audible Treats
Leah Linder, TikTok
The Background:
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Their mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.
TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Links:
TikTok’s Newsroom: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/
Check out previous editions of TikTok Treats, a weekly newsletter about the most interesting music happenings on TikTok:
Miley and Shakira Get Petty, Miguel’s “Sure Thing” Revival, and More TikTok Music Stories
Blink 182, Lil Yachty, Cardi & GloRilla, and More from Music On TikTok
Taylor Track Reveals, Sam Smith + Kim Petras, and More From Music on TikTok
Omar Apollo, The Throne, and More TikTok Trends to Watch This Week
BLACKPINK, Steve Lacy, and The Smashing Pumpkins Lead a Busy Week of Music on TikTok
On TikTok: ‘Yonce, Yeat, Lizzo, SZA and More
Britney & Elton, Snoop Dogg & Ice Spice Lead This Week’s TikTok Trends
Latin Pop, Celebrity Nemeses, and More From TikTok Music
Teenage Dirtbags and Super Freaks Take Over on TikTok
On TikTok: Beyoncé Strikes Back, Rosalía Returns, and More
“BILLIE EILISH,” Oklahoma Smokeshows, and K. Michelle Heat Up on TikTok
Rising Stars, Latin Pop Queens, and More From Music on TikTok
Step 1: Beyoncé, Ryan Tedder, Steve Lacy, & More on TikTok
Metallica, Flo Milli, Avril Lavigne, and More From Music on TikTok
Drake Feels No Ways, Doja Channels Elvis, and More from Music on TikTok
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