2020 was a difficult year for artists and 2021 is not looking brighter either, but TikTok was the knight in shining armour that came to the rescue. Kind of.

It’s a great platform for songs, but not for artist branding. Ask a teen what’s their favorite artist and you’ll get silence. Instead they’ll rattle off their favorite songs.

But what about artist payout?

Naomi Pohl, Secretary General of the Musician’s Union says “the problems posed by TikTok are the same problems artists face with streaming in general: artists simply don’t get a fair cut. “It’s great news that artists who have their songs featured on TikTok will be properly licensed, but if the deal has been made with a major label, the already tiny payment will have be filtered through the record label – meaning that ultimately, the artist will only get around 10-15% of the total profit.”

“If you’re an artist, and you go viral on TikTok, it can be very difficult to work out how much you’re being paid, and what the deductions are for.”

Look out for Pink Elefants and the track Sound Of Violence. You’ll like if you love The Weeknd ala alternative pop / synth pop.

“the observer in the song narrates as if they are in some lavish party in the hills. At first the party seems perfect until you look closely and peel back the layers. As the veneer begins to decay we can all start to see the darkness underneath” shares the band.

The Maryland-based duo consists of Finch (Flores) and Illeven (Joshua Matthew). The band name derived from the “Pink Elephants on Parade” sequence in Disney’s Dumbo. Give it a stream on KOAR’s Indie Invaders playlist.

The Orange County artist and producer Llusion has teamed with singer-songwriter Salem Ilese for their new song “Yoga” via Republic Records.

The track follows the success of a viral TikTok song. Ilese shares

“I came up with the concept for ‘Yoga’ during the first month of quarantine, after attempting the inevitable ‘morning yoga and meditation’ phase. Working with LLusion provided me more zen than any downward dog stretch could’ve.”

Llusion has garnered 50 million+ streams and nearly 100 million TikTok views. He gained traction on TikTok after his remix of No Idea by Don Toliver was featured in a video by Charli D’Amelio.

Check out Woman from up & coming Maddy Hartson. The Michigan based singer-songwriter mixes alt pop with midwestern grit, a unique combo that is.

“In the studio, I was able to tap into a more bold side of songwriting, one that simultaneously demands attention while still feeling evasive. I spent about an hour alone without anyone else in the room, left with a melody and a blank sheet of paper. I thought about things I’d wished to write about but never did. The feeling of feminine power, confidence, and bravery were all key emotions that played into the creation of this song. That’s when ‘Woman’ was born.” shares Maddy Hartson.

Give it a stream on KOAR’s Indie Invaders Playlist.

Cait dropped a new song Genius. It’s a well crafted electro pop track with a great vocal, just like her last her previous song I Was Never Here.

A former student at Berklee College of Music and originally from Wisconsin, she now resides in LA. They DYI artist designs her own artwork and films and directs her music videos and online visuals. Give it a stream on KOAR’s Indie Invaders Playlist.