Trending songs on TikTok are dominating the top music charts in America. Old songs and artists have resurfaced on TikTok, and at the same time, the best current artists began their careers on the platform. According to Billboard Magazine, 13 of the 16 number-one songs on the U.S. Billboard Top 100 were trending on TikTok in 2024.
Remember in 2020 when “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac went viral when we were quarantined? The skateboarder who started the trend, drinking Ocean Spray cranberry juice and lip-syncing to the song, caused its streams to skyrocket. The song reached number 24 in just three days on Spotify’s U.S. charts. The band resurfaced and reached an entirely new generation. Many people participated in the trend, including Mick Fleetwood, the drummer of Fleetwood Mac.
Fleetwood Mac wasn’t the only blast from the past on the charts. When season four of Stranger Things was released in the summer of 2022, Kate Bush’s song “Running Up That Hill” reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. When the song was first released in 1985, it only reached number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100. When the new season of Stranger Things came out, everyone was eager to recreate scenes on TikTok and begin new trends with the song. Kate Bush is another example of an artist who has reached several generations, especially as people use TikTok’s platform to recommend more of her songs and connect with others.
Lil Nas X is another artist who blew up on TikTok with “Old Town Road” in 2019. This song held the number-one spot for longer than any other song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The song went viral on TikTok with the “Yee Haw” dance challenge. Lil Nas X has since won several awards, including two Grammys, five Billboard Music Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, and many more.
Other dance trends skyrocketed streams for artists. In 2020, Megan Thee Stallion was TikTok’s number-one listened-to artist of the year. Song trends like “WAP,” “Savage,” and “Body” created new trends and dances, making her songs top the charts. Like Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion received numerous awards, including three Grammys and many other accolades. Her song “Savage” achieved 5x Platinum status.
Chappell Roan, arguably one of the best rising stars of our generation, has become a true “Midwest Princess.” Chappell Roan made a name for herself with her hit songs “Good Luck, Babe!” and “HOT TO GO,” which have gained popularity on the charts. She initially started by posting videos on YouTube and later turned to TikTok to promote her music, following in the footsteps of many other artists. When she performed at Lollapalooza in 2024, she broke the festival’s record for the largest daytime crowd. Just this year she won the Grammy for Best New Artist.
Once infamous for their lip-syncing scandal in the early ’90s, Milli Vanilli resurfaced thanks to TikTok users’ creativity. The songs “Blame It on the Rain” and “Girl You Know It’s True” have reached generations of new listeners. Milli Vanilli reclaimed its place at the top of the charts, overcoming its negative past through trends, dances, and edits, thanks to the show Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix. According to Billboard Charts, Milli Vanilli’s songs saw a stream increase of upwards of 1,471% compared to before the documentary was released.
In a group of MCC students, only one had not heard of the “Dreams” trend, but that was only because she did not have TikTok at the time. Other students participated in the dance trends such as the “Yee Haw” challenge and dancing to “Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion.
“I honestly thought Chappell Roan just had songs that went viral on TikTok,” one student said. “I didn’t realize she was a big artist until I saw her at the Grammys.”
While playing parts of some viral songs, some students recognized them and danced along to popular TikTok dances, while others demonstrated the dance motions for “HOT TO GO.” These talented artists have gone viral overnight on TikTok, captivating audiences everywhere and becoming must-know sensations.
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