TikTok Exits Music Streaming: Implications for the Market

Photo of Austin Smith
By Austin Smith Updated Published
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
TikTok Exits Music Streaming: Implications for the Market

© Spencer Platt / Getty Images

Key Points:

  • TikTok exits the music streaming business, creating opportunities for competitors.
  • Spotify likely benefits most from TikTok’s departure.
  • TikTok’s younger user base may not have been interested in paid music streaming.
  • Forget Disney, instead look at ‘The Next Nvidia’ as the stock to propel your portfolio higher in 2025

TikTok’s Departure from Music Streaming

solen-feyissa / Flickr

  • TikTok, despite its massive user base, has decided to exit the music streaming business after just two years.
  • The move is surprising given TikTok’s dominance in video sharing, which seemed like a natural extension into music streaming.

Demographics and Market Crowding as Possible Reasons

JHVEPhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

  • The primary users of TikTok, who are often younger, may not be the demographic willing to pay for music streaming services.
  • The music streaming market is already crowded, with major players like Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, and Google via YouTube.

Winners and Losers in the Streaming Battle

Anatoliy Sizov / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

  • TikTok’s exit is a potential boon for Spotify and Apple Music, who may attract former TikTok Music users.
  • Spotify, in particular, stands to benefit the most as it is more focused on music streaming, while for Apple, this would be a minor gain given its vast ecosystem.

Considerations for Investors

Bence Bezeredy / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

  • Investors might see an opportunity in Spotify, which could capitalize on the departure of a competitor in an already competitive market.
  • While Apple may also gain users, the impact on its overall business would be minimal compared to Spotify, where music streaming is central.

The Future of Music Streaming

Avid Photographer. Travel the world to capture moments and beautiful photos. Sony Alpha User / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

  • TikTok’s withdrawal highlights the challenges of entering an already saturated market, even for a platform with a huge user base.
  • The established players, especially those with diversified offerings like Google and Amazon, will likely continue to dominate, but Spotify remains a key player to watch.
Photo of Austin Smith
About the Author Austin Smith →

Austin Smith is a financial publisher with over two decades of experience in the markets. He spent over a decade at The Motley Fool as a senior editor for Fool.com, portfolio advisor for Millionacres, and launched new brands in the personal finance and real estate investing space.

His work has been featured on Fool.com, NPR, CNBC, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, AOL, Marketwatch, and many other publications. Today he writes for 24/7 Wall St and covers equities, REITs, and ETFs for readers. He is as an advisor to private companies, and co-hosts The AI Investor Podcast.

When not looking for investment opportunities, he can be found skiing, running, or playing soccer with his children. Learn more about me here.

Continue Reading

Top Gaining Stocks

CBOE Vol: 1,568,143
PSKY Vol: 12,285,993
STX Vol: 7,378,346
ORCL Vol: 26,317,675
DDOG Vol: 6,247,779

Top Losing Stocks

LKQ
LKQ Vol: 4,367,433
CLX Vol: 13,260,523
SYK Vol: 4,519,455
MHK Vol: 1,859,865
AMGN Vol: 3,818,618