TikTok has been doing more than entertaining fans. It is an engine of music discovery...
TikTok has released the list of artists who made use of the platform to gain ground in the music industry this year in its 2021 Music Report.
The platform includes two icons from Africa. CKay is listed for Nigeria, and Amaarae is listed for both Ghana and the US.
A clear reason why TikTok listed the individuals is that they "followed in the footsteps of artists like The Kid Laroi, Tai Verdes, and Tate McRae, who made TikTok's list of Emerging Artists in 2020 and had banner years in 2021, these artists used TikTok to raise their profiles in a major way this year."
Why did CKay get on the list?
TikTok reports the following on the artist: "CKay (Nigeria) - CKay's "Love Nwantiti" was inescapable on TikTok and IRL during 2021, generating over a million video creations on its many remixes, reaching #1 in several countries (incl. India, The Netherlands, and France), and reaching #2 on Billboard's Global 200 songs list."
Amaarae deserves a mention as well. She has done well in the US and in Ghana.
TikTok writes: "Amaarae (Ghana/US) - Fusing R&B and Afrobeats into a one-of-a-kind mix, the Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter scored her first-ever Hot 100 hit after "SAD GIRLS LOVE MONEY" (Remix) ft. Kali Uchis & Molly trended on TikTok."
TikTok has been doing more than entertaining fans. It is an engine of music discovery, capable of helping a new artist reach the biggest audience possible, but it's also a great platform for celebrating the legacy of some of music's biggest legends.
According to TikTok, "In 2021, some of the most iconic acts in rock and pop history joined the platform, bringing songs from their legendary catalogs with them."
