It was another defining year for music on TikTok, and as we celebrate our Year on TikTok 2023, we’re bringing you a deeper look into our annual report that explores the songs, artists, and musical moments that dominated our For You feeds this year.
The TikTok community’s power to breathe life into old hits, catapult emerging artists to the mainstream, and turn trending songs into culture-defining moments shown once again in 2023. And this impact isn’t just felt – it’s proven. The recently released Music Impact Report concludes that TikTok fuels music discovery — in the US, TikTok users are nearly twice as likely to discover music on short-form video (SFV) platforms than the average user of social or SFV platforms. And beyond platform use, global TikTok users spend significantly more money across music-related categories compared to the average music listener across all markets in the study.
As we celebrate TikTok’s role in music discovery, join us as we scroll back to this year’s most memorable songs, artists and musical moments.
THE 2023 HEADLINES
- Hip-Hop artists reign supreme: This year marked the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop and the genre’s domination of our For You feeds in the US. Industry heavyweights Cardi B, a TikTok In the Mix headliner, were joined by up-and-comers, including Lil Mabu and Ice Spice on the US top artist list. In the UK, Dave & Central Cee fly the flag for UK rap with ‘Sprinter’, making it this year’s runaway hit with 1 million video creations on TikTok.
- The girl’s a winner: Speaking of Ice Spice…since emerging on the scene last summer, the artist cultivated her munchkins on TikTok and made her debut on the top US artist list at #3, with 2 tracks on the top 10 US list.
- Lewis Capaldi takes the No.1 most viewed UK artist spot: It’s official, Lewis is the ‘King of TikTok’ as our most viewed UK artist of 2023. The community has rallied round the singer this year with a groundswell of support for his music and live performances. Take a bow!
- A global mixtape: This year’s top global song were a testament to the remarkably diverse and global musical talent found on TikTok. Artists spanned 10 different countries, from South Korea to Columbia, and 7 genres, from T-Pop to Reggaeton. In the Mix performer Peso Pluma became one of the biggest worldwide breakout stars of 2023 and expanded the reach of regional Mexican music, thanks to a number of globally trending songs including “La Bebe (Remix)” feat Yng Lvcas.
- Breathing new life into old hits: Music on TikTok transcends genres, geographies, and even time. This year we saw countless throwbacks make a comeback. A sped up version of Justin Skye’s 2014 song “Collide” was in the top 10 in both the US, UK and Globally, and Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer” trended on TikTok before ascending to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 nearly 4 years after its initial release.
- Elevating new artists: TikTok is not only where fans go to find their next favorite hit, but it’s become an industry barometer for songs and artists poised to break through. Doechii broke into the mainstream with her top global song, “What It Is” and earned a spot opening for Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour, while top US artist Ice Spice closed out the year with a Best New Artist Grammy nomination. With 13 out of 18 songs on Billboard’s Top 100 driven by significant trends this year, it’s clear the inextricable link TikTok plays in bringing the next biggest hit and hitmakers to the fore.
- Girl power: Selena, and Cardi, and Miley! 2023 wasn’t just the year of Barbie and girl dinners; it was also a chart-topping year for some of the queens of music. Female artists across genres represented 8 of the top 10 US artists and 7 of the top 10 artists globally. Women also dominate our biggest UK tracks with hits from the likes of RAYE, Jain, Kenya Grace, PinkPantheress & Ice Spice & Doja Cat.
- A community of creativity: From mash-ups to creative effects to sped-up songs, this year, we once again saw fans putting their own spin on their favorite hits. Jain’s “Makeba,” appeared on both the US and global top song lists thanks to a creative filter featuring comedian and actor Bill Hader, and a sped up version of thuy’s “girls like me don’t cry” reached 8 on the global list after earning millions of fan creations from DIY ideas to makeup tutorials.
THE PLAYLIST
From catchy pop tunes to comeback tracks, TikTok artists gave us the soundtrack of 2023. This year, our most popular song globally was “Cupid – Twin Ver – Sped Up Version” by FIFTY FIFTY. Capitalizing on the TikTok audience’s affinity for sped-up songs, this version of “Cupid” was a viral sensation, kicking off a number of trends from food tutorials to outfit picks. The trends drove millions of streams, resulting in the first Billboard 100 entry for the K-pop girl group. The US favored a diversity of genres, from Justine Skye’s R&B hit “Collide (more sped up)” to Taylor Swift’s pop hit “Cruel Summer”. In the UK, female artists dominated the list, while sped up remixes made up half of the top 10 tracks. Turn up the volume, and check out TikTok’s most popular songs of the year.
United States
- “Collide (more sped up)” – Justine Skye – TikTok continues to demonstrate its power to breathe new life into older music releases with Justin Skye’s “Collide.” Originally recorded in 2014, a sped-up version of the track became an earworm popular among every type of TikTok creator imaginable and made Skye an RIAA Gold-Certified artist, even earning her a late night appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
- “Cupid – Twin Ver – Sped Up Version” – FIFTY FIFTY – K-Pop group FIFTY FIFTY had the biggest song on TikTok in 2023. Capitalizing on the TikTok audience’s affinity for sped-up songs, this version of “Cupid” was popular across the board as a backing track to food tutorials to outfit picks, as well as a big chunk of creations being driven by a filter of John Cena wearing a pink suit boogying in his chair to the music.
- “Her Way (Sped Up)” – PARTYNEXTDOOR – A simple movement and paired with a sped-up track is sometimes all that’s needed to revive an old song and give it new life among audiences, and that’s just what happened with PARTYNEXTDOOR’s 2014 song “Her Way.”
- “Favorite Song – Sped Up” – Toosii – In 2023, Toosii put on a masterclass on how to use TikTok to promote a song. As “Favorite Song” started to connect with users on the platform, the rapper leaned all the way in, interacting with fans, re-creating the trends they did, and fanning the flames behind the sped-up version of the track, which went on to reach the top tracks in the US. Due to its success on TikTok, Toosii received his first Hot 100 appearance for “Favorite Song.”
- “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” – PinkPanthress & Ice Spice – This was Ice Spice’s year, and she struck gold after pairing up with certified TikTok all-star PinkPantheress on “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2.” The hit took off on the platform thanks primarily to people filming their dogs grooving to the track while wearing headphones.
- “Bounce When She Walk” – Ohboyprince – Ohboyprince yet again finds success thanks to a simple dance-based movement as “Bounce When She Walk” received millions of creations in the US and clap clap clapped its way into the ranks of the top songs in the US.
- “Peaches & Eggplants (feat. 21 Savage)” – Young Nudy – 2023 saw Atlanta’s Young Nudy connecting with 21 Savage on “Peaches & Eggplants,” a single that was not only a popular fixture of Drake’s It Was All A Blur Tour but a hugely popular TikTok track that resonated in just about every genre of video you could imagine.
- “In Ha Mood” – Ice Spice – As the third biggest artist in the US on TikTok, it’s no wonder that Ice Spice has two tracks in the top 10 US list. First teased out on Ice Spice’s TikTok, then driven by both a sped-up version and a mashup version featuring animated dogs from an obscure 90’s Barbie video game, “In Ha Mood.”
- “Makeba” – Jain – Breathing life into songs from the past is TikTok’s specialty, but thanks primarily to a meme featuring comedian-actor Bill Hader, “Makeba” by French singer-songwriter Jain rose to new heights in 2023, becoming a global top 10.
- “Cruel Summer” – Taylor Swift – It’s nearly impossible to be on TikTok in 2023 without experiencing the impact of Taylor Swift’s Era’s Tour, where fans finally got to hear “Cruel Summer” LIVE for the first time. The impact of fans capturing every moment of the track caused the song to first trend on TikTok before ascending to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 nearly 4 years after its initial release.
United Kingdom
- Sprinter – Dave & Central Cee: British rap heavyweights Dave and Central Cee took over FYPs and the global stage this year with their chart-topping single ‘Sprinter’. The record breaking song has flown the flag for UK Rap in a year where Hip-Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary. After getting an early preview through TikTok UK’s #NewMusic feature, Sprinter ran away as TikTok’s Song of the Summer and now takes the crown for the most popular song UK of the year.
- Collide (more sped up) – Justine Skye ft. Tyga: Justine Skye’s hit tune takes the number two spot in our playlist category. Featuring rapper Tyga, the track re-emerged after the sped up version went viral on TikTok earlier this year.
- Cupid – Twin Ver. – Sped Up Version – FIFTY FIFTY: In March, a sped-up version of FIFTY FIFTY’s sophomore single ‘Cupid’ started going viral on TikTok. The quartet are only the second K-pop girl group after Blackpink to break into the Top 40, despite debuting just over a year ago.
- Green Green Grass (Sped-Up) – George Ezra: This sped up remix has generated wholesome family-led trends. The hashtag #greengreengrass has hit nearly a billion views, showing the huge global reach of Ezra’s catchy hit.
- Makeba – Jain: Although the song was originally released in 2015, Makeba became viral on TikTok at the end of June 2023. Performed by French singer-songwriter Jain, the song is about South African musician Miriam Makeba, who is well known for her activist music against apartheid in the country at the time.
- Pretty (Sped Up) – MEYY: Belgian pop star MEYY’s ‘Pretty (Sped Up)’ earned its place on our ‘Songs of the Summer 2023’ list. With over 1.9 million video creations for the song, it’s clear to see why this hit tune has made it onto The Playlist this year.
- Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2 – Pink Pantheress and Ice Spice: Originally released in 2022, the remix introduces Ice Spice’s rap to the mix alongside PinkPantheress’ unique voice, which is the recipe for a successful collab and dominated the platform earlier this year.
- Strangers – Kenya Grace: Kenya Grace took TikTok by storm this year with her debut single ‘Strangers’, making her the second British female artist to top the UK charts with a self-produced song. Prior to releasing the song, she shared various snippets of the track with her TikTok fans, with the sound eventually being used in over 1 million TikTok creations.
- Paint The Town Red – Doja Cat: First teasing the single on TikTok in July, Doja Cat dropped this new single as part of her. It even started trending as part of a niche hair trend, a dramatic colour transformation that has been coined #cowgirlcopper.
- Escapism. – Super Sped Up – RAYE & 070 Shake: Kicking off 2023 with a bang, RAYE shot to number one with Escapism. TikTok users wholly embraced the track, creating multiple sped up versions and trending remixes. RAYE jumped on the trend, releasing an official sped up and super sped up version which drove massive engagement off platform culminating in a number one single.
Around the world (Global List)
- “Cupid – Twin Ver – Sped Up Version” – FIFTY FIFTY
- “If We Ever Broke Up” – Mae Stephens
- “Collide (more sped up)” – Justine Skye
- “What It Is – Solo Version” – Doechii
- “มองนานๆ” – FLI:P
- “La Bebe (Remix)” – Yng Lvcas & Peso Pluma
- “LALA” – Myke Towers
- “girls like me don’t cry (sped up)” – thuy
- “TQG” – KAROL G & Shakira
- “Makeba” – Jain
THE HITMAKERS
TikTok is a musical playground where artists and songwriters come together to propel tracks and trends at the speed of culture. In 2023, we had Selena Gomez (@selenagomez), BTS (@bts_official_bighit), and Kim Loaiza (@kimberly.loaiza) on repeat and repeat. In the US, industry giants like Cardi B (@iamcardib) and Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) are at home on TikTok, while rising stars like Ice Spice (@icespicee) and Lil Mabu (@lilmabu) broke through the charts with their latest hits. Lewis Capaldi (@lewiscapaldi) retains his crown as ‘King of TikTok’ in the UK, while a host of newcomers, including rock icons The Rolling Stones (@therollingstones), and emerging star Prinz (@prinzmusic_), made our UK Hitmakers list for the first time. From legends to up-and-coming musicians, here are the most popular artists whose songs took over our ears and For You feeds in 2023:
United States
- Selena Gomez (@selenagomez)
- Natalie Jane (@nataliejanesings)
- Ice Spice (@icespicee)
- Meghan Trainor (@meghantrainor)
- Ariana Grande (@arianagrande)
- Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus)
- Cardi B (@iamcardib)
- NLE Choppa (@nlechoppamusic)
- Lil Mabu (@lilmabu)
- Lizzo (@lizzo)
United Kingdom
- Lewis Capaldi @lewiscapaldi
- Sam Smith @samsmith
- Central Cee @centralcee
- Anne Marie @annemarie
- Ed Sheeran @edsheeran
- Prinz @prinzmusic_
- KSI @ksi
- The Rolling Stones @therollingstones
- Pink Pantheress @pinkpantheress
- Calvin Harris @calvinharris
Around the world (Global List)
- Kim Loaiza (@kimberly.loaiza)
- Selena Gomez (@selenagomez)
- BLACKPINK (bp_tiktok)
- BTS (bts_official_bighit)
- Feid (ferxxo444)
- ENHYPEN (@enhypen)
- KAROL G (@karolg)
- LE SSERAFIM (@le_sserafim)
- NewJeans (@newjeans_official)
- Shakira (shakira)
MORE YEAR ON TIKTOK 2023 HIGHLIGHTS
Music is at the heart of what makes TikTok special, so it’s no surprise we saw trending songs, artists and fandoms show up across all of our Year on TikTok categories. You can check out the full US list here, and UK list here. Below are a few high notes:
Breakthrough Stars
Every day, a star is born on TikTok. In 2023, Puerto Rican rapper and singer-songwriter Young Miko (@itsyoungmiko) joined an impressive list of breakthrough creators, celebrities and artists who made it on and beyond TikTok, including Keith Lee (@keith_lee125) and Alix Earle (@alixearle). Young Miko used her platform to promote her latest music, including collaborations with major artists like Bad Bunny, J Balvin and Tainy.
Only on TikTok
This year, the TikTok community continued to bring their creativity to life and push the boundaries of self-expression through a diverse array of community effects, sounds, filters and more, with over 25 billion videos created using community effects to date. With the popular trend, Altered My Brain Chemistry, creators shared their top moments that altered their brain chemistry, accompanied by Taylor Swift’s “Cardigan.”
Real-Time Rewind
It’s all happening! From sold out tours to song parodies, TikTok brought us all together to experience unique moments that helped shape culture as we know it in 2023. We were given a front row seat (on TikTok) as creators shared their best concert moments this year, featuring pop stars like Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter, R&B legends like Beyoncé, and alt rock favorites like Paramore. And with a potent combo of “danger and dance,” it’s unlikely anyone will forget Planet of the Bass. Taking inspiration from 90’s Euro Dance music, Kyle Gordon parodied the sound with his meaningless lyrics and hypnotic production.
#FanTok
TikTok brings fans together to celebrate their shared love of sports, entertainment, gaming, fashion and, of course, music. Between Swifties, the BeyHive, and Munchkins, Artist Fandoms took over the platform in 2023, as they celebrated their respective artists and found communities on TikTok to share their mutual obsessions.
© 2023, Seth "Digital Crates" Barmash. All rights reserved.
