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Viral TikTok songs are changing the music industry

From obscure music, to forgotten hits, and new artists, is the music industry more diverse than ever?
 By 
Christianna Silva
 and 
Teodosia Dobriyanova
 on 
Mashable collage shows Christianna Silva holding their phone, with the TikTok logo popping up above the device, and images of Lil Nas X, Florence Welch, and Olivia Rodrigo featured at the bottom.
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Connie Francis’ “Pretty Little Baby” is more than 60 years old. And though it was never even released as a single, this 1962 song became a global sensation in 2025, coming in at number 5 on TikTok’s global Songs of the summer list. Other ‘catalogue’ tracks have reemerged lately, becoming trending hits decades after their release. But it’s not just music from the archives. New and emerging artists now have a new way to reach global audiences and become stars overnight. All of this because someone heard their song and got a TikTok video idea.

But is TikTok changing the ways we listen to music? And, more importantly, does it now have influence on how music is made?

Read the full Trending Now article by Christianna Silva.

Topics Music TikTok

Mashable Image
Christianna Silva
Senior Culture Reporter

Christianna Silva is a senior culture reporter covering social platforms and the creator economy, with a focus on the intersection of social media, politics, and the economic systems that govern us. Since joining Mashable in 2021, they have reported extensively on meme creators, content moderation, and the nature of online creation under capitalism.

Before joining Mashable, they worked as an editor at NPR and MTV News, a reporter at Teen Vogue and VICE News, and as a stablehand at a mini-horse farm. You can follow her on Bluesky @christiannaj.bsky.social and Instagram @christianna_j.

Picture of Teodosia
Teodosia Dobriyanova
Video Producer

Teodosia is a video producer at Mashable UK, focussing on stories about climate resilience, urban development, and social good.


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