Scene
In a major shift on TikTok, electronic music has officially outpaced indie as the app’s fastest-growing soundtrack. Videos tagged #ElectronicMusic surged past 13 billion views in 2024 — a 45% jump from the year before.
The genre’s rise reflects its popularity in fitness, fashion, and travel clips, with UK artists like Disclosure and Joel Corry driving mainstream success. DJs such as Hannah Laing and Billy Gillies have built booming careers through the app, as TikTok cements itself as a vital tastemaker in the music world.
According to the Guardian’s conversation with TikTok’s head of music partnerships for the UK and Ireland, Toyin Mustapha, dance music has become more accessible and big in the commercial sphere. “We are seeing the breaking down of boundaries for artists, and TikTok is part of that”, he added.
While social media DJs become increasingly popular, the industry faces new challenges. This shift highlights how TikTok continues to redefine the relationship between music and digital culture. While indie once thrived as the platform’s signature sound, electronic music’s adaptability to fast-paced, visually-driven content has made it the new favorite for creators and audiences alike – proven by the 2025 IMS Report in which among emerging DJs and producers, a big 61% believe that social media numbers now matter more than actual musical skill. Talent vs. reach – what sells the events and how to educate the audience?
