In an era where the music industry is constantly evolving, TikTok has proved to be a useful tool for newer artists with the intention of getting their music out there. Sure, some artists also use apps like Spotify and Apple Music, but what sets TikTok apart from everything else is its uncanny ability to transform an artist’s career overnight. I have had TikTok since 2019, and I have personally witnessed these remarkable things happening. I have noticed how TikTok allows for “forgotten” artists a second chance at success. It seems that everyone is competitive with each other over everything, and it just makes me happy to see that TikTok serves as a dynamic platform that breathes new life into forgotten or underappreciated songs or talents. An example of this is the song, “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush. It was made in 1985 and was popular before other songs took the attention of its listeners. However, in 2022, the show, Stranger Things, gained a lot of attention on TikTok because of its new season. In the show, Bush’s song was played during an important and memorable scene that touched the hearts of many watchers. Because of the edits made of the show and related posts on TikTok, Bush’s song was boosted 9000% in popularity and by June 11, 2022, it reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. Personally, I think that is an amazing accomplishment for Bush, and I’m sure it was unexpected for her. People tend to look past these kinds of things or claim that the artists were just “lucky”, and while that may be true, it really is pretty satisfying to see how TikTok not only creates opportunities for upcoming artists, but can also “revive” the careers of artists who already had their breakthrough years before.
