It looks like Apple Music and Spotify are about to have a new foe in the music streaming wars. TikTok parent company ByteDance has reportedly filed for a trademark for a service called TikTok Music with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
The patent application outlines several components of the potential new streaming service including "allowing users to purchase, play, share, download music, songs, albums, lyrics," and "live stream audio and video interactive media programming in the field of entertainment, fashion, sports and current events."
The patent application also outlines some interactive elements as well, including the ability to comment, share and contribute content.
Many of these features are already available to users of the ByteDance-owned Resso streaming service, active in Brazil, Indonesia and India.
The concept of a TikTok owned streaming service makes considerable business sense. TikTok is already one of the most popular outlets for new music discovery and promotion, leading to huge success for newer acts like Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, the Kid Laroi, Doja Cat and even driving new listeners to heritage acts like Fleetwood Mac.
While songs and artists blow up because of TikTok exposure, ByteDance doesn't currently reap the full financial benefit, as streaming or purchasing of the songs currently has to happen via external services. Launching a streaming service would seem to be a tangible way for ByteDance to monetize that cultural influence.
Tech Crunch is reporting that a former ByteDance employee has revealed to them that "the company had weighed launching Resso to various global markets under a “TikTok Music” moniker, in fact. Specifically, it had been considering launches in mature markets like the U.K. and Australia."
In other TikTok news, Beyoncé has officially joined TikTok. The pop superstar officially launched her TikTok account a few weeks ago, immediately picking up millions of followers. Queen Bey’s first upload was an artfully composed compilation of user-generated content set to the sounds of her latest single Break My Soul.
