ByteDance, TikTok parent company, appears to be working on a new app to help users discover new music. The app will be called 'TikTok Music,' according to a trademark application filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office, though the exact launch date is unknown. Because the primary TikTok app not only promotes short video content but also heavily relies on music, the application may help the company expand its operations. It will also compete with music streaming behemoths such as Spotify, Apple, and Google. ByteDance already has a music streaming app called Resso that is still available for download in India, despite the fact that its sister app TikTok is banned in the country for security reasons.
TikTok Music by ByteDance will allow users to "live stream audio and video interactive media programming in the fields of entertainment, fashion, sports, and current events," according to the trademark. It will provide "downloadable mobile apps with podcast and radio broadcast content."
If the TikTok Music app is in the works, it will most likely include some tools that are already available on Resso. The Resso app, for example, has a TikTok-style scrolling interface and shows recommendations based on users' browsing history, similar to Spotify and YouTube Music. Like Shazam, it also allows users to view lyrics, download music for offline listening, and search for songs playing in the background. Notably, the app makes it simple to delete users accounts. However, it is only available in a few countries, including Brazil and India.
There is also a dedicated button in the TikTok app for Brazil that directs users to Resso.
When the app is officially released, Resso will most likely continue to operate under the same name in India, while the Brazil-focused app may be rebranded. TikTok Music intends to establish itself in key markets such as the United States and the European Union. According to Appbrain, Resso has over 100 million downloads worldwide.
According to ByteDance expansion plans, the company will launch TikTok Music Originals, similar to Spotify's in-house content. All of the songs available on the app will, as expected, be available for use on the main TikTok app.