When I watched the 2024 Grammys, I realized I had heard almost every winning song before, but only in 15-second snippets.
Since its creation TikTok has subtly reshaped the music industry, transforming unknown tracks into global hits overnight and influencing billions of corresponding video content. In fact, according to TikTok’s reflection on 2024, the platform’s top ten songs alone were used in over 200 million videos and generated more than eight million streams on Spotify. Yet, as the Recording Academy adapts to this digital age, I’m left wondering: is the rise of TikTok-driven music a celebration of diversity or indicative of a diminishing musical depth?
On one hand, TikTok’s impact has democratized music discovery, giving independent artists a chance to reach millions—without the backing of major labels. The platform enables fresh, diverse voices, challenging the previously selective system and infusing our music scene with some vibrant, innovative sounds. This is, without a doubt, an incredible accomplishment for modern music.
However, the platform’s emphasis on short, viral clips might be eroding the very fabric of musical artistry. TikTok’s ability to take one song and set it racing up the charts is sought-after, and for good reason. It’s no wonder some artists seem to focus on a catchy 15-second hook—think Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” which only gained popularity for its chorus before the release of the rest of the song—rather than crafting a complete composition. Additionally, artists may put more energy into one song than the rest of the album, banking on one viral dance to skyrocket their streams. But when the measure of a song’s value becomes its shareability, we are sacrificing long-term artistic merit for temporary virality.
The evolution of the Grammys reflects this tension. In recent years, several Grammy-winning tracks were catapulted into the spotlight because they went viral on TikTok. From the 2023 Record of the Year winner—Lizzo’s “About Damn Time”–to 2025’s winner, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” the influence of TikTok is everywhere. While this shift allows the awards to stay relevant with younger audiences, it illustrates the Grammys’ preference for viral songs.
This year’s Grammy nominations further underscore this issue. The most popular artists inevitably receive invites, often sidelining more innovative or overlooked talent. For example, Taylor Swift’s latest album dominated the conversation, but did it truly deserve its nomination over lesser-known, yet artistically ambitious, works? For instance, while subjectivity is a vital aspect of music, Maya Hawke’s album “Chaos Angel” has largely gone unnoticed, despite her being a household name and the album’s appealing originality.
The Academy keeps legacy acts like The Rolling Stones and Green Day in the mix, which sure, provides a sense of continuity, but it’s the chart-toppers who drive viewership. 15.4 million Americans tuned into the awards this year, but how many were just waiting for Billie Eilish?
This emphasis on mainstream appeal makes the awards feel increasingly hollow. Recognition is tied more to commercial success than artistic excellence. If the Grammys genuinely sought to honor the best in music, the nomination process should require voters to listen to every song that exceeds a certain streaming threshold, rather than defaulting to the top 10% of hits.
Ultimately, the TikTokification of the Grammys embodies a broader cultural and artistic debate. Yes, TikTok has ushered in an era of access and diversity, but as the Grammys increasingly spotlight songs that owe their success to viral trends, we may end up trading depth for digital convenience. The challenge moving forward will be finding a balance that honors the immediacy of TikTok while preserving the enduring qualities of musical artistry.
