TikTok Experiences Explosive Growth In Electronic Music As User Preferences Shift

While major acts like the Gallagher brothers are gearing up for stadium tours this summer, a new musical wave is emerging on TikTok—electronic music. For the first time in 2024, genres like techno and house have surpassed indie and alternative in TikTok video views, signaling a major shift in user preferences.

Globally, videos tagged with #ElectronicMusic garnered over 13 billion views in 2024, a 45% increase from the previous year. Even more striking, the number of videos using the tag more than doubled during the same period, outpacing the growth seen in rap, hip-hop, and indie/alternative categories.

TikTok attributes the rise of electronic music to its growing accessibility and the mainstream success of UK artists like Disclosure and Joel Corry. “Dance music has become more commercial and widely accepted,” said Toyin Mustapha, TikTok’s Head of Music Partnerships for the UK and Ireland. “TikTok is breaking genre boundaries for artists.”

The platform continues to shape the music industry, serving as a launchpad for viral hits. For example, Adam Port's "Move" became a global chart success after gaining traction on TikTok, while Pawsa's "Dirty Cash (Money Talks)" reached No. 17 in the UK following its viral TikTok trend.

Live performances are reflecting this trend as well. Fred Again’s sets at Reading and Leeds cemented electronic music’s place at major festivals, while TikTok stars like Jazzy—Ireland's first female artist to top the charts in over a decade—are translating TikTok virality into mainstream recognition.

Rising DJs such as Hannah Laing, dubbed the queen of “doof,” and Billy Gillies have built strong followings through TikTok, with Laing even launching her own festival and record label. In the UK, views of #ElectronicMusic videos increased by 22%, and content creation using the tag jumped by over 50%.

Mustapha adds, “Electronic music is deeply community-driven, and on TikTok, tagging the genre helps users signal their identity and the communities they belong to.”

As the digital and music worlds continue to converge, TikTok remains a powerful force in shaping not only what we listen to but how entire genres evolve.