Bold claim: TikTok crowned Katseye, Connie Francis, and Taylor Swift as the year’s standout artists, proving that the platform can elevate both timeless legends and fresh sensations alike. But here’s where it gets controversial: does the platform’s rapid virality truly reflect lasting musical impact, or just short-lived trends?
Over the past year, TikTok has spotlighted Katseye, a Los Angeles–based girl group known for blending pop and global influences. They earned the title of TikTok's Global Artist of the Year, amassing over 30 billion views and generating about 12 million user-created videos featuring their music. The group’s lineup is international: six members spanning the United States, the Philippines, South Korea, and Switzerland. Their recent activity also earned them two Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist.
Their track record includes the song “Gnarly,” which spawned 2.4 million TikTok videos and drew in high-profile users like Camila Cabello, as well as appearances by K-pop acts such as Enhypen, Le Sserafim, and Tomorrow X Together in fan-made remixes and dances. The hit “Gabriela” helped propel Katseye into the Grammy conversation with a nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance after inspiring a TikTok dance craze that reached 2.8 million videos and 9.8 billion views. A collaboration with Gap, set to a clip of the song “Milkshake” by Kelis, further amplified their reach with 151 million views and a wave of remakes.
Katseye’s message in the TikTok press release underscored the power of the EYEKONS—the community of fans who rallied around them every day—turning their music, moments, and even chaotic moments into a global phenomenon and expressing sincere gratitude for this support system.
Connie Francis (the legendary singer who passed away in July 2025) joined TikTok in June, just over a month before her death, and posted her first TikTok expressing astonishment and excitement about the momentum behind her 1962 recording “Pretty Little Baby.” The track was named TikTok Global Song of the Year as well as the top U.S. song, after fans created over 28.4 million videos using it and viewing them more than 68.6 billion times. A Kylie Jenner video with her daughter Stormi helped push the song’s visibility, surpassing 132 million views. The surge in TikTok activity translated into more than 130 million Spotify streams and a presence on the Billboard Global 200 chart. TikTok’s Tracy Gardner described the track as having been adopted by a new generation.
Taylor Swift also dominated TikTok in 2025, earning the title of Global Most-Saved Artist, with countless saves of tracks from her album The Life of a Showgirl as fans moved between TikTok and streaming platforms.
Other notable 2025 TikTok awards and recognitions included:
- Global Most-Saved Track: “Back to Friends” by Sombr, which generated 7.7 million videos and 21.7 billion views and earned Sombr a Grammy Best New Artist nomination.
- Global Most-Saved Album: Tate McRae’s So Close To What, built on a following exceeding 13.5 million on TikTok.
- Top songwriter: Ejae of HUNTR/X, co-writer on many of the soundtrack’s tracks, including the single “Golden,” which amassed 9.8 million creations and 23.6 billion views and secured three Grammy nominations including Song of the Year.
- Music Trend of the Year: “Anxiety” by Doechii, which sparked a dance craze with contributions from Will Smith and Tatyana Ali and amassed 10.4 million creations and 51.6 billion views, earning multiple Grammy nominations.
Tracy Gardner emphasized TikTok’s role as the music industry’s most powerful engine for discovery, noting that the platform revives beloved classics and propels new voices—especially women—into global prominence. She highlighted TikTok’s unique ability to connect diverse audiences to artists and genres, fostering worldwide fandoms.
Here are additional highlights from TikTok’s 2025 rankings.
Top 10 Global Artists 2025
- Katseye
- Alan Arrieta
- Enhypen
- Bad Bunny
- Stray Kids
- Taylor Swift
- Lady Gaga
- Fuerza Regida
- Billie Eilish
- Ariana Grande
Top 20 Global Songs of 2025
- Pretty Little Baby – Connie Francis
- Hold My Hand – Jess Glynne
- Rock That Body – Black Eyed Peas
- Azul – J Balvin
- Dame Un Grrr – Fantomel x Kate Linn
- APT – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
- Te Quería Ver – Alemán & Neton Vega
- Stecu Stecu – Faris Adam
- Anxiety – Doechii
- Sailor Song – Gigi Perez
- Shake It To The Max – MOLIY, Silent Addy, Skillibeng, Shenseea
- Ocean Eyes – Billie Eilish
- No One Noticed – The Marias
- Back to Friends – Sombr
- Sparks – Coldplay
- That’s So True – Gracie Abrams
- Let Down – Radiohead
- Suave – El Alfa
- My Darling – Chella
- We Hug Now – Sydney Rose
What these results mean is that TikTok has become a dominant channel for music discovery and cultural conversation. It doesn’t just reflect current tastes; it actively shapes which songs become global phenomena and which artists rise to prominence. Do you think this shift benefits artists across the board, or does it favor a few who ride platform trends? Share your thoughts in the comments.
