TikTok partners with iHeartRadio for a revolutionary approach to artist identification
In an exciting collaboration, TikTok and iHeartRadio have joined forces to launch Next Up: Live Music, a groundbreaking singing competition designed to reshape how emerging artists are discovered and elevated.
From the end of July to September, this multi-phase, interactive competition will take place primarily on TikTok LIVE, culminating in an in-person finale at the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles. The competition targets U.S.-based artists, aged 18 and over, who are unsigned or have label clearance, own original music, and have at least 50,000 TikTok followers.
The competition aims to spotlight genuine rising talent by ensuring that contestants have built an engaged fanbase on TikTok. Artists can post their original songs with #nextuplivemusic on TikTok LIVE to enter.
The competition will balance community and expertise by evaluating each live set for artistry, originality, and stage command, and by considering social media metrics. An expert panel, composed of music programmers, producers, and talent scouts, will make the final decisions.
Each round will be live-streamed on TikTok LIVE, where fans can interact in real time. Fan participation through direct engagement metrics, such as likes, shares, comments, and votes, will affect competition outcomes. This reshapes artist discovery by transforming it into a real-time, community-driven process that puts the power in fans' hands, allowing them to influence artists' trajectories directly rather than being passive viewers.
The competition integrates TikTok’s established role as a music launchpad with iHeartRadio’s industry influence, creating a new pipeline for emerging voices to become prominent headliners. The competition leverages TikTok LIVE’s interactive capabilities, maximizing audience engagement and turning music discovery into a dynamic fan-artist journey.
Finalists will perform at the iHeartRadio Theater, providing visibility and legitimacy. This opportunity includes media exposure and a tangible demo reel. TikTok also offers live-stream coaching and production support to contestants, including guidance on camera angles, audience engagement, and narrative crafting.
For listeners, the competition transforms fandom into direct influence, letting them champion voices they believe deserve wider recognition. Next Up: Live Music signals a shift towards a participatory culture where fans play an active role in shaping musical careers.
The competition is part of a larger initiative by TikTok to elevate songwriters and music discovery. For unsigned and under-the-radar artists, the competition offers an unprecedented platform to translate online buzz into mainstream opportunities.
In essence, Next Up: Live Music represents a modern, digital-first way to find and elevate musical talent by blending social media interactivity with traditional live performance and professional industry support.
Artists can leverage their engaged TikTok fanbase to enter the Next Up: Live Music competition by posting their original songs with #nextuplivemusic on TikTok LIVE. The competition balances community and expert opinions by evaluating each live set based on artistry, originality, and stage command, while also considering social media metrics.
The finalists of the competition will not only perform at the iHeartRadio Theater, but will also receive live-stream coaching and production support from TikTok, as well as media exposure and a tangible demo reel. This competition Lowercase E elevates songwriters and musical talent by offering an unprecedented platform for unsigned artists to convert their online success into mainstream opportunities.
