ByteDance announced that it will be shutting down its music streaming service, TikTok Music, on November 28, 2024. A notice on TikTok Music’s website states, “We are sorry to inform you that TikTok Music will be closing on 28 November 2024.” The service was available in Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Singapore, and Mexico.

Subscribers can continue using TikTok Music until the closure date, after which renewals will be automatically canceled. Users who wish to transfer their playlists to other streaming services must do so by October 28, and refund requests should be submitted by November 28.

Ole Obermann, Global Head of Music Business Development at TikTok, stated, “Our Add to Music App feature has already enabled hundreds of millions of track saves to playlists on partner music streaming services. We will be closing TikTok Music at the end of November to focus on enhancing TikTok’s role in promoting music listening and adding value to music streaming services for the benefit of artists, songwriters, and the industry.”

TikTok emphasized that it will continue to partner with music streaming services rather than compete with them. In February, the company launched the “Add to Music” feature, allowing users to add tracks directly to playlists on Apple Music, Amazon Music, or Spotify.

TikTok Music originated from a ByteDance product called Resso, which launched in India and Indonesia in 2019 and later expanded to Brazil. In 2023, ByteDance rebranded Resso as TikTok Music in Brazil and Indonesia, subsequently expanding it to Singapore, Australia, and Mexico. Resso was banned in India earlier this year.

TikTok has emerged as a popular platform for music discovery, serving as a launchpad for artists and significantly boosting their streaming numbers. According to a study by TikTok and entertainment data research firm Lumiate, the platform plays a crucial role in enhancing the value for artists through streaming and promoting music discovery.

ByteDance, which also owns the music distribution platform SoundOn, likely aimed to leverage TikTok’s popularity to drive streams within its own ecosystem; however, TikTok Music did not expand internationally beyond a few select markets.

Recently, TikTok has faced challenges in its relationship with the music industry. Earlier this year, Universal Music Group removed its music catalog from the service due to disputes over royalties, prompting TikTok to criticize UMG for a “false narrative and rhetoric.” However, in March, both parties reached a resolution and signed a new agreement.

Additionally, TikTok is currently contesting a bill that could lead to a ban on the short video app in the U.S. This situation may have hindered ByteDance's plans to expand TikTok Music into the U.S. market.