The past few years have seen the rise of new social platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which have given birth to a new generation of stars. Social media has completely changed the way we consume and create content, and it’s made a large impact in the entertainment industry, particularly in the world of music. Young people have adopted social media platforms as their primary way of communicating, and it’s opened up a whole new world of opportunities for songwriters, producers, and performers. Having debuted on TikTok in 2016, singer-songwriter Hailey Bieber has nearly 150 million views on the platform, and her most recent single, “Sorry Not Sorry,” became the first song to top the Billboard Hot 100 solely on the strength of a video on TikTok. Bieber’s success can be attributed to the platform’s unique algorithm, which prioritizes content that is both entertaining and socially beneficial. The same goes for artists like Shawn Mendes and Charlie Puth, who have both reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart with songs that primarily featured video content from TikTok (Mendes’ “Tinder” and “Want You,” respectively, and Puth’s “Puth”).
TikTok Influences Pop, Rock, And Country
With the rise of TikTok and its offspring, TikTok stars have completely altered the pop landscape. Whether they’re singing about love, losing their virginity, or wanting to be the best, these artists offer up a unique blend of comedy, music, and attitude that keeps you coming back for more. Here, we take a closer look at how these influential musicians have shaped popular culture over the past year.
Singer-songwriter Halsey
Singer-songwriter Halsey rose to fame as a member of the boy band Forever, but she quickly became well-known for her distinctive, powerful voice. After graduating from college, Halsey released her self-titled debut album in 2016, which boasted the hit single “New Day.” The song became Halsey’s best-selling single to date, topping the Billboard Top 100 in multiple countries and gaining over 11.5 million views on YouTube.
Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons are a British-American band that rose to fame in the 2010s as the follow-up to the iconic band the Beatles. The band features Marcus Mumford, a founding member of the band, who fronts the group alongside brothers William and George. Mumford & Sons’ latest album, Delta, was released in February 2019 and entered the Top 5 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, while their single “Broken Down” also hit number one on the Billboard Top 100.
Kacey Musgraves
Country singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves rose to prominence in 2017 with the release of her critically acclaimed album, “Golden Hour,” and its lead single, “Honey Bee.” After establishing herself as a country music superstar, Musgraves released her new album, “Out Of My Mind,” in November 2019. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 chart and includes the hit single “Slow Dancing,” which has racked up nearly 15 million views on TikTok since its release.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift rose to fame as one of the biggest stars of the 2010s, becoming one of the best-selling music artists of all time with over 200 million records sold. The singer started her career as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in 2001, releasing her debut album, “Swift,” in 2006. In addition to selling millions of records, Swift earned accolades for her vocal performances and unique use of language in her songs.
Shawn Mendes
Singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes became famous in 2012 for his collaboration with Avicii on the hit song “Wake Up” and its accompanying music video. Since then, Mendes has had multiple hit singles and won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In October 2019, Mendes released his highly anticipated third studio album, “Illuminaughty,” which featured the hit singles “Lost Without You,” “Beautiful,” and “Gorgeous.” The album debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 chart and has garnered over 35 million views on TikTok as of early February 2020.
Kiss
Formed in the mid-1970s, hard rock band Kiss have sold over 60 million records worldwide and are considered one of the biggest bands of all time. The band has been credited with creating a new musical genre, hair metal, and whose members have been known to sport elaborate, makeup-wearing costumes on stage. The legendary group has been actively pursuing a social media presence ever since their creation, regularly posting behind-the-scenes footage to their Instagram account.
Kiss began using social media platforms like Twitter in the early 2000s, and frontman Paul Stanley has over 310,000 followers on the platform. The band even has a Twitter account for their dog, Bogie, who has over 90,000 followers. One of the most popular Twitter accounts associated with Kiss is @RealKiss, which has nearly 13 million followers and is the official account of the band’s fan club. The account is run by Kiss’ media team and frequently posts behind-the-scenes content and the occasional tour photo.
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Singer-songwriter Anthony Kiedis, bassist/guitarist John Frusciante, and drummer Chad Smith, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, rose to fame in the 1980s as one of the most influential and innovative bands in rock music. The band released their album, “Blood Sugar Sex Magik,” in 1987 and went on to win two Grammys and two MTV Awards before breaking up in 1997. Since then, the band has reunited multiple times and continues to be a popular draw at live shows, selling out stadiums worldwide and maintaining a dedicated cult following.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have a lengthy history on Twitter, regularly engaging with their followers and offering behind-the-scenes photos and cryptic status updates. The most popular Twitter account associated with the band is @RedHotChiliPeppers, which has over 1.7 million followers and often shares photos of the band’s upcoming shows and album releases. The account is run by the band’s media team and frequently posts about the group’s extensive touring schedule and upcoming live albums as well as other miscellaneous tidbits about the band and its members.
Tool
Tool are a band that rose to fame in the 1990s as a trio of brothers from Los Angeles. The band’s music is a fusion of hip-hop, drum and bass, and metal, and they are often compared to Nirvana due to their similarly dark musical themes and unique brand of humor. The band’s debut album, “Tool,” became one of the biggest-selling independent albums of all time, and they have gone on to become one of the most commercially successful independent artists of all time, with over 80 million records sold.
The Tool Twitter account, @Tool, was originally created in 2015 and now has over 1.3 million followers, mostly thanks to the band’s frequent live streaming on the platform. The account is run by the band’s media team and posts photos of the guys working hard, as well as behind-the-scenes content from the band’s shows and interviews. In addition to Twitter, Tool also has an Instagram account, where they often post candid images of them working, traveling, and hanging out with their dogs.
These are just a few of the biggest names in music that have shaped pop culture in a significant way in the past year. As music becomes more accessible and social media continues to evolve, we’ll surely be seeing more pop stars rise to stardom and have a lasting impact on music and entertainment.