TikTok debuted its first-ever TikTok Rising concert at the Singapore Night Festival 2024, showcasing six home-grown talents in a hybrid online-offline event. 

The 3.5-hour concert, held on August 29, supported by Samsung Electronics Singapore, features Haven, Jean Seizure, Josh Makazo, Nathan Hartono, Sezairi, and Shazza.

Teaming up with Samsung

The event marked TikTok’s latest effort to amplify Singaporean musicians on a global stage.

“TikTok Rising exemplifies this by bridging online and real-life experiences, connecting musicians with their audiences in innovative ways,” Christo Putra, Artist Services Lead at TikTok Southeast Asia, said in a blog post.

Samsung Electronics Singapore, the lead sponsor of the Singapore Night Festival, contributed to the event by enhancing photo and video experiences at select installations with its latest Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 devices. 

“We hope to provide the canvas for more local talents to showcase their creative ingenuity and to reach more audiences on social media and beyond,” stated Lynn Chong, Head of Brand Marketing, Mobile eXperience at Samsung Electronics Singapore.

Samsung’s #TeamGalaxy program has been working with local content creators, offering opportunities to grow their presence using Galaxy devices.

Artist Feedback

TikTok’s hashtag culture highlights the platform’s role in music discovery. 

The #NewMusic hashtag has garnered 86.7 billion views, while the locally-focused #TunesofSG hashtag aims to connect Singaporean musicians with broader audiences.

Participating artists report positive impacts from their TikTok presence. 

Haven’s single “No Hard Feelings” has reached over 8.8 million streams across platforms. 

“It’s a lot more intimate,” she noted. “Previously, I could only talk to people through private messages and comments, but now it’s even more personal.”

Josh Makazo credited TikTok for expanding his audience reach beyond traditional channels. His track “Half of My Heart” gained 2.3 million streams in 60 days after going viral on the platform.

 “The platform has helped my music cross into different demographics and regions, influencing how I think about my strategy moving forward,” Makazo said.

TikTok recently released its global “Songs of the Summer” list, revealing that indie artists outshone superstars. 

In June, the company launched “Off the Record,” giving fans an inside look at the creative process behind the latest albums from music’s biggest names. 

The series features artists like Charli XCX, Meghan Trainor, Bleachers, Shakira, Camila Cabello, and Peso Pluma.