TikTok has announced a partnership with Apple Music, allowing subscribers to play full songs within the TikTok app, further integrating music discovery and playback on the platform.
The new feature, available on the “For You” page and the Sound Detail Page, enables Apple Music subscribers to tap a button to listen to full tracks without leaving the social network. This integration is set to streamline the path from discovery to full playback for users, positioning TikTok as a central hub for music discovery while directing final playback to Apple Music. It’s worth noting that TikTok does not allow users to play full songs from other streaming services, such as Spotify.
The feature utilizes Apple’s MusicKit, meaning playback occurs on Apple Music, with streams being paid within that service. This development is part of a broader collaboration between the two companies, which also introduced a “Listening Party” feature. Listening Party allows for real-time listening sessions where fans and artists can interact, providing a more social way to experience music, as stated by TikTok.
The new features are set to launch worldwide over the coming weeks. This move comes after TikTok previously launched and later shut down its own streaming service, now focusing on driving music discovery within its app. The app already offers an “Add to Music App” feature that lets users save tracks to their preferred streaming service and a “Share to TikTok” feature allowing users to share tracks from Apple Music and Spotify directly to the platform.
Last year, TikTok launched “TikTok for Artists,” a music insights platform designed to help artists connect with fans and access performance data. This latest partnership with Apple Music further solidifies TikTok’s commitment to enhancing the music experience on its platform.
