TikTok Announces Shut Down of Separate TikTok Music App

In information that may influence… nicely, only a few folks in all honesty, TikTok has introduced that it’s shutting down its separate “TikTok Music” streaming app, after varied operational challenges and restricted person curiosity.

TikTok Music was initially launched in India in late 2019, underneath its unique identify “Resso”, which aligned with TikTok’s personal meteoric rise within the nation. And whereas TikTok was banned in India in 2020, someway, Resso averted the identical restriction.

But, even so, Indian customers didn’t present numerous curiosity in TikTok’s personal streaming supplier. And when the app was ultimately banned by Indian authorities earlier this 12 months, it was just about already on the outs as a viable different within the area.

TikTok renamed Resso to “TikTok Music” final 12 months (which can have led to its ban in India), and re-launched it in Brazil and Indonesia. It additionally expanded entry to chose customers in Australia, Mexico, and Singapore as a part of a closed beta take a look at.

However music licensing disputes and failure to achieve traction towards incumbents will now see TikTok re-align its strategy round its primary app as an alternative.

As per TikTok:

“We will likely be closing TikTok Music on the finish of November as a way to concentrate on our purpose of furthering TikTok’s function in driving even higher music listening and worth on music streaming providers, for the good thing about artists, songwriters and the business.”  

The TikTok Music web site now has a message advising customers of its pending closure:

“We’re sorry to tell you that TikTok Music will likely be closing on November 28, 2024. After this date, entry to TikTok Music, together with login, subscriptions, and all different functionalities, will now not be obtainable.”

Customers can switch their playlists from the app (up until October twenty eighth), whereas customers can even request refunds from the service (up until November twenty eighth). TikTok will delete all person account information after that closing date.

As famous, it’s not a giant shift within the broader social media or music panorama, as TikTok Music by no means actually gained traction instead streaming supplier.

The thought was that TikTok would have the ability to solidify its connection to the music business, by not solely performing as a key promotional platform for artists, but additionally a direct supplier of their work. TikTok’s father or mother firm ByteDance has tried the identical strategy in China, with one other separate streaming app, however Douyin, like TikTok, stays its primary focus, and primary driver of curiosity.

Actually, it was at all times a chance in taking up the established gamers within the area, and I doubt TikTok is overly stunned that it didn’t work. However it gave it a shot, and whereas it hasn’t enabled it to develop its empire, it’ll seemingly assist to enhance TikTok’s personal music strategy.