25 musicians who were discovered on TikTok

Lil Nas X was discovered on TikTok back in 2019, after releasing his hit song “Old Town Road.” This song triggered the viral trend called the “Yeehaw Challenge,” where users filmed themselves doing a cowboy-style transformation video. Lil Nas X has since had several No. 1 hits. 

Doja Cat is another TikTok-bred legend. Her breakout TikTok song “Say So” gained immense popularity during the pandemic. Countless TikTokers used the song for signature dances, which led to the artist’s ongoing mainstream success.

TikTok greatly contributed to Ice Spice’s widespread fame. Her song “Munch (Feelin’ U)” quickly went viral on TikTok back in 2022. She’s since collaborated with popular artists like PinkPantheress and Taylor Swift.

We all remember the infamous release of Olivia Rodrigo’s gut-wrenching song “Driver’s License.” This massive hit broke the internet, especially on TikTok, with millions of fans speculating about the love triangle that allegedly inspired the track. Now, Olivia is one of the largest pop stars of her generation. 

Taylor Gayle Rutherfurd, who goes professionally by Gayle, was quickly discovered on TikTok for her rageful hit song “abcdefu.” The viral track became my breakup anthem in 2021/2022, when it rose to fame on TikTok. This song is the perfect tell-off track for anyone who’s dated a toxic partner. 

Do you remember the popular TikTok song “Stuck in the Middle” by Tai Verdes? Released in 2021, this hit track helped Tai rise to fame. Through his success (thanks to TikTok’s massive push), the singer was able to quit his day job at Verizon and land a record deal.

JVKE actively used TikTok to gain success in the music industry, building a loyal fanbase and producing viral songs like “Upside Down.” In fact, he even credited his fame to TikTok in a Reddit post three years ago. “I'm so passionate about music, and that's where my heart is, but I knew that I needed to analyze the algorithm and take full advantage of TikTok, the most powerful, free marketing tool in [the] history of the music industry,” he wrote.

Like many other rising artists, PinkPantheress became famous largely thanks to TikTok and the viral success of her breakout songs, like “Pain” and “Just for Me.” Her bedroom pop sound attracted a loyal following and instant popularity. From there, she was offered a record deal and began collaborating with other popular artists. 

I think Lauren Spencer Smith’s “Fingers Crossed” broke many of our hearts when it first went viral on TikTok. At the time, it was just a preview of the track. However, once it was finally released, it received millions of streams in the span of weeks. 

Benson Boone gained fame after posting singing videos on TikTok and wowing his audience. For a short period, he appeared on American Idol in 2021 before quitting to pursue music on his own terms. The singer was only 18 years old when he first blew up, and he’s since gained immense fame.

Ashnikko’s 2019 song “Stupid” quickly propelled the artist to fame after going viral on TikTok. Many other famous artists shared the song with their audience, which furthered her reach and led to nearly overnight success. Her virality, coupled with celebrity endorsements, continues to fuel her growing fame. 

Steve Lacy might not owe his entire music career to his TikTok popularity, but it certainly helped him reach a new level of fame. His massive hit “Bad Habit” became a chart-topping viral sensation in 2022. Once fans discovered him, some of his older songs (like Dark Red) began gaining traction, too. 

Bella Poarch was popular on TikTok for her viral lip-syncing videos. However, once she began posting her own singing videos, she quickly attracted a fanbase. Her debut single, “Build a B*tch,” was extremely successful, furthering her reach even more. 

After posting a clip of her deeply relatable and vulnerable song "Numb Little Bug" on TikTok, Em Beihold quickly went viral and earned her a major record label deal. The singer had other viral tracks as well, which solidified her mainstream success. 

English singer Sam Ryder got his start by posting cover videos on TikTok during the pandemic. His captivating voice charmed many fans and eventually earned him a record deal. He’s even received quite a few celebrity endorsements for his raw talent. 

Natalie Jane became famous on TikTok after sharing videos of herself singing song covers and originals. These viral clips helped her gain traction in the music industry. Eventually, she amassed such a loyal following that she was able to launch a successful music career. 

Nessa Barrett’s original start on TikTok had nothing to do with her musical talents. In fact, she gained a following due to her involvement with other influencers and her viral dancing/lip-syncing videos. However, once she began sharing clips of her singing, she was quickly propelled into a successful music career. 

Arden Jones’s single “Parallel Parking” was a massive hit on TikTok in 2021. The singer-songwriter/rapper accumulated millions of streams as a result of his viral song. His rise to fame is great thanks to his success on the social media platform, as well as his relatability as a young artist. 

Jax’s song “Victoria’s Secret” gained major traction on TikTok—and for good reason. The hit single reflected honestly on the ridiculous beauty standards women face today. The body-positive track resonated with countless women online, marking the start of Jax’s successful music career. In fact, she was named iHeartRadio's first-ever TikTok Songwriter of the Year in 2022.  

Cochise made a name for himself when his single “Hatchback” gained popularity on TikTok in 2020. However, in 2021, his hit “Tell Em” ft. $NOT further fueled his rise to fame. 

Sydney Rose originally gained traction on TikTok from her viral breakout song “Turning Pages.” However, more recently, she wowed the internet with the devastatingly beautiful ballad, “We Hug Now.” Many TikTok users have used the song to paint their own heartbreaks and connect with others through vulnerable times.

Beabadoobee’s “death bead (coffee for your head)” basically became the soundtrack of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The artist gained massive popularity on TikTok, and she continues to release incredible music to this day. She’s had countless hits on the app since her rise to fame.

I’ll never forget when Katie Gregson-MacLeod’s song “complex” took over the internet for weeks. This honest, raw, and vulnerable ballad gained the attention of TikTokers and well-known musicians alike, with many even covering the song before it was officially released. Her demo pretty much made her an instant success. 

Quinne gained major attention on TikTok after the release of her song “touch tank” in 2022, which reached millions of streams. In fact, snippets of the track went viral before the track was even out. The artist has since continued to produce popular music. 

Another artist who rose to fame from TikTok is Leith Ross. If you’ve heard the gut-wrenchingly beautiful song “We’ll Never Have Sex,” her breakout song on the social media app, you’ll understand why she garnered such a strong following.