8 Ways TikTok Is Shaping The Entertainment Industry

In a few short years, TikTok has done what many other social media platforms still struggle to do. It has completely revolutionized the entertainment industry. What started as just another social platform promoting short, memorable videos has evolved into a behemoth redefining how we produce and consume entertainment. From influencing music trends to infiltrating stories, the app's impact on the entertainment world and culture in general is undeniable.

Here are just some of the ways TikTok continues to shape the industry:

1. Sourcing and Promoting New Talent

TikTok has become one of the biggest platforms for new talent across various creative fields to make their voices heard. Musicians, dancers, comedians, and actors have all found their footing and first successes here. TikTok’s user-friendly interface and algorithm-driven content allow artists to show off their skills in front of a global audience.

The best thing about this is that no one decides who gets the spotlight anymore. Instead, TikTok users can turn viral video creators into overnight sensations.

Take, for instance, the rise of Lil Nas X. His song Old Town Road became a massive TikTok hit. Users created their own videos using the melody and mimicking the dance moves. This caused the track to reach the top of the charts and launched an artist into stardom.

2. Music Industry Transformation

Along with Old Town Road, many other songs gained traction on TikTok and reached chart success. Challenges and dance trends have helped catapult tracks to new heights. In fact, TikTok’s impact on the music industry is so profound that record labels have started strategizing how to make song tracks more TikTok-friendly.

The song “drivers license” by Olivia Rodrigo is a prime example of this. The relatable lyrics of this song made it perfect for user-generated videos. And this song soon led the charts, too.

3. Incredible Storytelling

TikTok’s short video format inspired and forced creators to embrace new storytelling techniques. The maximum length is one minute, so they only have 60 seconds to tell a concise story that keeps viewers hooked. This has led to the rise of skits, micro-vlogging, and incredible visual storytelling.

For example, the Sea Shanty trend sees users collaborating on a multi-part story. Each user adds a short video to continue the storyline. At the end of the video series, a collective story unfolds through the perspective of different users.

4. Leveling the Playing Field

The TikTok algorithm promotes content based on levels of engagement. It doesn’t care about the creator’s follower count. This levels the playing field and gives lesser-known creators an excellent chance to go viral. It also means that while these creators may have found themselves marginalized on traditional entertainment platforms, TikTok allows them to shine.

Charli D’Amelio was one of TikTok’s earliest stars. She created highly relatable and original dance videos, which propelled her to celebrity status almost overnight. Charli was just a regular teenager from Connecticut before that. If TikTok didn’t exist, she may never have had the opportunity to amplify her voice.

5. Interactive Content

TikTok favors engagement and participation. This is why challenges, trends, and duets do so well on the platform. Interactive content encourages users to engage instead of just scrolling. It also blurs the lines between the creator and the audience, creating an even more interactive experience. The shift from passive consumption to full-on engagement has seen more audience involvement on TikTok than ever.

The “Renegade” dance challenge is one of the best examples of TikTok’s interactive nature. Fourteen-year-old Jalaiah Harmon created the dance, which soon took on a life of its own on the platform. Other users joined in and put their own spin on it. This turned a simple dance trend into a global phenomenon.

6. Catalyst For Culture

Beyond music and dance, TikTok is also a powerful cultural catalyst. It shapes trends and memes and influences fashion choices. Moreover, it can instantly spread ideas and behaviors worldwide, making it a primary driver of new pop culture. Challenges and memes that originate on TikTok frequently spill into mainstream media. This further cements TikTok’s role as a cultural trendsetter.

The “Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical” was a phenomenon that demonstrated this perfectly. TikTok users created a musical based on Disney’s “Ratatouille” movie, complete with new songs, choreography, and set designs. Not only was this initiative a roaring success, but it raised much-needed funds for charity. It also earned the attention of entertainment industry professionals.

7. Social Media Disruptor

TikTok quickly gained a reputation for being a disruptor of convention. While other social media apps preferred polished and curated images, TikTok took to celebrating imperfection. Its emphasis on unfiltered moments instantly resonated with users. It gave them the break they needed from trying to be perfect on social media. This shift also challenged the notions of beauty and style.

Nothing better exemplified this than the ‘no-filter’ trend. Influencers and users participated in this trend to discuss skin imperfections and mental health challenges. By doing this, they highlight the concept of body and mind positivity. They also sparked conversations about self-acceptance and authenticity. To this day, this trend continues to challenge traditional beauty standards and seeks to break down negative self-talk.

8. A Redefined Social Media Landscape

TikTok's rapid rise in popularity also threatens the dominance of established social media platforms. Its short-form content and unique algorithm quickly established it as a worthy alternative to Facebook and Instagram. These platforms recognized this fact, too, and they were forced to adapt by offering similar features.

For example, Instagram introduced Reels, a direct answer to TikTok videos. By introducing short-form videos, Instagram had no choice but to acknowledge TikTok’s massive impact on the social media landscape.

Final Thoughts

TikTok’s effects on the entertainment industry have proved to be profound. From transforming how we see music trends to challenging the status quo, TikTok continues to reshape everything we thought we knew about entertainment. Even as TikTok and other social media platforms continue to evolve, it is clear that TikTok is staying ahead of the pack. And its incredible impact on the entertainment industry is here to stay.