Photo Credit: Cytonn Photography
TikTok is teaming up with Apple Music for two new integrations: full-length in-app listening in TikTok, and a Listening Party feature.
Apple Music is teaming up with TikTok to launch two new features in the short-form video app, according to preliminary details tipped to Digital Music News this weekend. It’s unclear how broad this partnership is, though the companies are currently beta-testing functionality that allows users to play a full song in the TikTok app using Apple Music. They’re also testing a Listening Party feature that enables fans to listen to music together.
Power users in selected regions — which appear not to include the US, UK, or EU currently — are already noticing some changes. As 9to5Mac points out, the “Play Full Song” feature is based on Apple’s MusicKit framework, which enables developers to integrate Apple Music into their own apps. While usability will require an Apple Music subscription, the feature is designed to make it easier for TikTok users to discover new music and immediately start listening to the full song without leaving the app.
Notably, Apple Music is still the source of the music with this feature; there is a blatant “From Apple Music” label on playback in the TikTok app. That means that Apple Music remains the one paying the royalties and licensing for the music accessed in this manner.
Meanwhile, the two companies are testing a Listening Party feature that enables fans to “listen to music together in a community environment.” Other platforms have offered similar functionality, namely the former Turntable.fm service that allowed users to stream music in a collaborative environment. The two new features are currently in beta, so a wider rollout has yet to be announced.
Whether TikTok’s Apple Music partnership becomes a template for other DSP deals is anyone’s guess — though a broad swath of deals could boost premium subscription levels.
Previously, Apple and TikTok joined forces in 2023, allowing users to easily save songs discovered on TikTok to their Apple Music library. Then, in 2024, Apple Music launched support for sharing a song from the app directly to TikTok.
On the heels of Apple Music’s Super Bowl LX Halftime Show featuring Bad Bunny, the music streaming platform is still offering a free three-month trial for new users, which is available until February 24th.
