It was once a prominent offering on Sirius XM, offering paid users a steady diet of songs made popular by the TikTok app, ubiquitous among any smartphone user under the age of 25. Three months ago, it was dropped ahead of a shift to iHeartMedia. Now, the nation’s top audio content creation and distribution platform is rolling out its incarnation of TikTokRadio with digital and HD multicast access across the U.S.
HD2 access on stations including WAXQ-FM in New York, WMIA-FM in Miami, WUSL-FM in Philadelphia and KYSR-FM in Los Angeles, among a total of 28 markets, will see audiences gain access starting Friday (3/13) to “promising current hits with creator-driven content, cultural commentary, and emerging music.”
Llive broadcasts from the “iHeartPodcast Hotel” at SXSW in Austin will mark the commencement of TikTok Radio. Talent heard on TikTok Radio includes Kayla Thomas of KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, Jon Comouche of KBIG “104.3 MYfm” in Los Angeles, Becky Mits of KMYI “Star 94.1” in San Diego, and Angelina Narvaez of KYLD “Wild 94.9” in San Francisco. Recurring segments will include “Behind-the-Charts,” a weekly countdown of TikTok’s ten biggest songs; “On the Verge,” spotlighting artists approaching a breakout; and “Hacks on the :20’s,” surfacing trending lifestyle content from the app every hour.
The launch also introduces the first wave of creators for the iHeart-powered TikTok Podcast Network. Among the initial slate are Suite 305 with Lele Pons, Caroline’s Closet with fashion editor Caroline Vazzana, and two sports-focused shows from creators Clifford Taylor IV and Tim Martin. The November announcement had flagged up to 25 creator-led podcasts for the network.
— With reporting by Cameron Coats
