6.28.2023
TikTok Treats, Week of June 26th
Halfway Through 2023, Check Out How TikTok Powered Some of the Year’s Biggest Hits, By Miley Cyrus, Ice Spice, Peso Pluma & More, to the Top of the Charts
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.
For years, TikTok has been a major engine behind today’s biggest hit songs, capable of giving superstars their biggest hits and elevating unknown artists to stardom. As 2023 reaches its halfway mark, it is clear that TikTok has contributed to the success of several of the year’s biggest hits.
Miley Cyrus has been a cultural fixture since her teenage years, releasing hit songs in multiple decades, but TikTok helped her score her biggest hit yet in 2023 with “Flowers.” Initially previewed on TikTok in early January, the community’s frenzied reaction to the song–and the theory that she wrote the song about her ex–paved the way for an eventual 8-week run on top of the Hot 100. Now, “Flowers” has over 5.4 million creations, and the continued enthusiasm of the TikTok community has kept the song in the top 3 of the Billboard Hot 100 for the entirety of its run.
TikTok did wonders for an established pop star like Miley, but another of the year’s biggest hits helped two rising artists reach another level in their careers. The original version of “boy’s a liar” (683k video creations), a brisk pop confection by UK dance pop revivalist PinkPantheress, was a hit on TikTok in late 2022, generating over with celebrities like Jordyn Woods and Khalid catching on early. Hype around the song reached a fever pitch when PinkPantheress revealed that Ice Spice would guest on the remix–fans spotted the two starlets filming the video on a New York City fire escape. Once the song dropped, it was inescapable on TikTok, topping the TikTok trending charts for three weeks in February en route to a #3 peak on the Billboard Hot 100.
Perhaps the most unlikely TikTok-fueled Top 5 hit is “Ella Baila Sola,” a ballad by regional Mexican group Eslabon Armado and meteoric rising star Peso Pluma. Capturing the heart of TikTok’s sizable Latin music community, “Ella Baila Sola” racked up over 4 million video creations. The success of “Ella Baila Sola” continues a major theme of 2023–songs taking unconventional paths to the top of the charts. Miguel’s “Sure Thing” resurfaced after over a decade with a TikTok trend, helping power the song to a new peak on the Billboard Hot 100 and its current spot at #1 on pop radio. Luke Combs explained the story behind his cover of “Fast Car”–currently at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100–on TikTok, introducing Tracy Chapman’s classic to a new audience and generating over 152k video creations on TikTok.
These hits and more, including SZA’s “Kill Bill” (236k video creations), Toosii’s “Favorite Song” (440k creations), Yng Lucas & Peso Pluma’s “La Bebe” (2.4 million creations), have defined the year in music. Stay tuned throughout the year as TikTok continues to elevate hits into the stratosphere.
Check out more recent trends and tidbits from the world of music on TikTok:
- The TikTok community has a knack for breathing new life into throwback hits, and Mariah Carey’s 2008 hit “Touch My Body” inspires creators to show off their moves with a dance choreographed by creator @jmvillamor0. Boasting over 202K+ creations, “Touch My Body” finds news anchors dancing in the newsroom, nurses sharing their hilarious attempts at the moves, and mother-daughter duos revealing their ages. The viral dance sparked the #touchmybodychallenge, which boasts over 7.7M views on TikTok.
- Lana Del Rey’s 2012 track “Radio” helps creators show how their lives are “sweet like cinnamon.” The hook’s dreamy lyrics inspires the TIkTok community to share their green flags in American Sign Language (ASL) and bask in the happiest moments of their lives, from being engaged at the same time as their bestie to having the perfect Friday night swim with friends at a luxurious mansion.
- City boy and city girl summer has commenced, but Atlanta rapper Lil Donald’s “Better 2” provides the TikTok community with the opportunity to share relationship advice.” Boasting over 137K+ creations, the mellow track has inspired creators to share some of the relationship lessons they’ve learned in their lifetime. Using Lil Donald’s emphatic lyrics, creators share their thoughts on cheating, co-parenting with exes, and encourage others to leave toxic relationships. Lil Donald also interacted with the song on his TikTok, promoting the song and thanking creators for propelling “Better 2” to the top of TikTok’s US Top Tracks chart last week.
Visit 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:
TikTok Trends Assemble: Fresh x Reckless, Taylor Swift & Much More
Madonna, Brent Faiyaz, Destroy Lonely & More from Music on TikTok
On TikTok: De La, Bieber, Tank & The Bangas, and More
On TikTok: The “Buddy Holly” Lick, Dogg Transformations, and More
RiRi Returns, Superstar Pride Shines, and TikTok Trends That Prove
On TikTok: Skrillex & Fred Again.., Philly Club, and New Trends From Rising Artists
Grammy Winners, Mariah’s “Wrap,” “Mrs. Right,” and more
Celine Brings It All Back, Tech N9ne Celebrates the Chiefs, Plus More TikTok Music Stories
Pink Floyd’s New Great Gig, PARTYNEXTDOOR’s Sped Up Makeover, & More on TikTok
Miley and Shakira Get Petty, Miguel’s “Sure Thing” Revival, and More TikTok Music Stories
TikTok Welcomes 2023 with Timbaland Jams, K-Pop Bangers, and Multilingual Raps
Music on TikTok: 21 Savage, Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse, and Ice Spice Headline a Star-Studded Week of Trends
SZA’s ‘SOS’ Signal, Coi and Busta Mash Up, Plus More TikTok Trends to Close Out 2022
Metro & The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Baile Funk and More TikTok Trends to Warm Up The Winter
2022 For You: TikTok’s Top Songs, Artists, and Music Stories of 2022
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
BLACKPINK, Steve Lacy, and The Smashing Pumpkins Lead a Busy Week of Music on TikTok
On TikTok: ‘Yonce, Yeat, Lizzo, SZA and More
TikTok’s 2021 Music Report: Key Takeaways
TikTok Reveals Top Songs of 2021, Incl. Doja Cat, Coi Leray and More