TikTok and Apple Music have enjoyed a collaborative relationship for some time. Apple Music was the first digital service provider to test TikTok’s ‘Add to Music App’ feature in May 2023, and the two platforms even streamed the same Burna Boy concert in July.
Now, their partnership is strengthening with a new feature in Apple’s iOS 18.1 for iPhones. According to 9 to 5 Mac, a new button within the Apple Music app allows users to share tracks directly to TikTok.
“When you tap this button, the TikTok app opens with a card displaying the song you’ve shared. You can then post it as a video, photo, or send it as a private message,” the report explains. “Interestingly, if you opt to post it as a video or photo, TikTok will automatically link the song to your post.”
This feature goes beyond just a sharing button; it incorporates effective catalog integration in the background. As far as we know, Apple Music is the first streaming service to implement this type of integration with TikTok.
However, it may not be the last. Since the initial tests with Apple Music, TikTok has expanded its ‘Add to Music App’ feature to other digital service providers, including Spotify and Amazon Music. It makes sense that sharing functionality in the opposite direction wouldn’t be limited to just one partner.
Stay tuned for updates. It’s also worth considering the potential complications TikTok might face due to its ongoing dispute with the independent licensing agency, Merlin.
As it stands, independent labels that opt not to sign direct deals with TikTok by the end of this month will have their catalogs removed from the app. Consequently, users attempting to share those songs from Apple Music may find they cannot include that audio in their posts.