430 songs reached 1 billion video views on TikTok in 2021 – not surprising, a big increase from the year before when 175 songs reached the billion mark.
Hip-hop/rap and pop are the dominating genres in the U.S., while Latin music is the fastest growing.
Megan Thee Stallion and Doja Cat were the No. 1 and No. 2 artists on TikTok, as well as for last year. It’s a winner takes all market. Rapper Popp Hunna came in at No. 3 with the viral hit “Adderall (Corvette Corvette), followed by Olivia Rodrigo at No. 4 and Cardi B at No. 5.
Emerging artists benefited from the platform including Canadian singer songwriter JESSIA. She had an idea for a chorus for her latest song, so she recorded it in her car and posted on TikTok, racking up over 1 million views in just one day.
Reyanna Maria built an audience on TikTok by connecting with other users on the platform, making her own beats and covering songs by Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish. Reyanna’s moment came when she used TIkTok’s duet feature to rhyme atop a beat by @katoproducer with a calm and confident verse, earning over 2 million views in the process.
Artist Jax made a name for herself on TikTok. A former American Idol contestant, her moment came when she uploaded content of parody songs that provide an unseen perspective. She signed a deal with Atlantic and dropped the track 90s Kids.