After dominating the brief video market, TikTok could also be contemplating a music service – TechCrunch

TikTok guardian firm ByteDance filed a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Workplace in Could for a service referred to as “TikTok Music.” First noticed by Business Insider, the submitting signifies that the trademark may very well be utilized to a cellular app that will permit customers to buy, play, share and obtain music.

The short-form video app is already a preferred device for locating music, and oftentimes can result in songs rising in recognition after they’re utilized in viral movies and tendencies. A report launched by the corporate final 12 months prompt that 175 songs that trended on the brief video platform ended up on the Billboard 100 chart. As well as, a current report revealed by a U.K.-based music investor prompt that songs which might be well-liked on TikTok drive further views on YouTube and streams on different platforms, like Spotify.

Whereas TikTok drives these songs to be well-liked, it doesn’t have its personal music streaming platform — at the very least within the U.S. — to become profitable from them. As an alternative, customers flip to well-liked providers like Spotify or Apple Music to play their favourite TikTok songs. Nonetheless, TikTok’s guardian firm ByteDance operates a music streaming service referred to as Resso in India, Brazil, and Indonesia, and we perceive it had beforehand thought-about bringing this service to extra markets.

A former ByteDance worker informed TechCrunch the corporate had weighed launching Resso to varied world markets underneath a “TikTok Music” moniker, in reality. Particularly, it had been contemplating launches in mature markets just like the U.Okay. and Australia, the supply mentioned.

Resso’s app may very well be a viable risk to current U.S. streamers given its shut ties to TikTok and its social networking features. At the moment, Resso provides a TikTok-like consumer interface the place customers can skip by the songs by scrolling up and down. It additionally has the choice to touch upon songs and albums, and edit the duvet of customers’ playlists — just like what the TikTok Music trademark suggests.

The app has seen strong progress in its current markets, cellular information signifies. Based on analytics agency SensorTower, the corporate noticed 42.3 million downloads from the App Retailer and Google Play from January to Could this 12 months — progress of 19% year-over-year for a similar interval. The music streaming app has had 184 million lifetime downloads general.

ByteDance’s filing lists quite a few use circumstances for the TikTok Music trademark. One use case listed within the submitting for “TikTok Music” consists of an app that will permit customers to reside stream audio and video, together with the choice to “edit and add pictures as the duvet of playlists.” The app would additionally permit customers to depart feedback on music, songs, and albums, in response to the submitting. One other use case means that the service may very well be used to “reside stream audio and video interactive media programming within the discipline of leisure, trend, sports activities, and present occasions.” The submitting additionally suggests the app may very well be used to “present customers with podcast and radio broadcast content material.” The addition of podcast content material alongside music would make TikTok Music an excellent larger competitor to Apple Music and Spotify.

The information of TikTok’s potential upcoming music streaming service comes as the corporate launched its personal music advertising and distribution platform, SoundOn, a number of months in the past to assist extra artists get their music heard. The platform permits artists to add their music on to TikTok and Resso, along with world streaming platforms together with Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Deezer, and Tencent’s Joox. With the launch of its personal music streaming service alongside SoundOn, TikTok would be capable of supply a whole resolution for each listeners and artists within the U.S.

TikTok has dominated the short-form video market and was the primary non-Meta app to app to reach three billion downloads globally, in response to Sensor Tower. Its progress has triggered the likes of Instagram and YouTube to rethink their platforms and enterprise approaches as a result of risk they face from the short-form video app. That makes its plans to enter the music streaming house a possible risk to incumbents.

Nonetheless, it’s price noting TikTok hasn’t proved to achieve success in translating all its providers to new markets. The corporate, for instance, just lately shuttered its Shopping service in the U.K. after a disastrous launch and worker walk-out. TikTok’s U.Okay. workers had alleged a poisonous work tradition and employment legislation violations. This might set again plans to carry different providers — together with Resso, a service run by the Chinese language tech large ByteDance — to the U.S. or different areas.

ByteDance and TikTok didn’t reply to TechCrunch’s request for remark.