- Interactive Discovery: TikTok LIVE’s metrics—likes, comments, shares—must align with expert judging to advance artists.
- Three‑Phase Journey: Auditions, Semi‑Finals, and a live Grand Finale create escalating stakes and fan engagement.
- Strict Eligibility: U.S. artists 18+, 50K+ followers, original song rights, and major‑label clearance ensure quality.
- Artist Support: Contestants receive training, exposure, and the chance to perform at the iHeartRadio Theater.
- Partnership Power: The TikTok–iHeartRadio alliance merges digital immediacy with radio’s promotional muscle.
Next Up: Live Music blends real‑time performance metrics with expert judging to elevate unsigned creators to headline stages.
In an era where breakout hits can emerge from any bedroom or basement rehearsal space, TikTok LIVE and iHeartRadio have joined forces to create Next Up: Live Music, a groundbreaking competition designed to reshape how emerging artists are discovered and elevated.
@iheartradio TikTok LIVE + iHeartRadio = Next Up: LIVE Music! 🎤🎶 Auditions are now open - post your original song with #nextuplivemusic and rack up engagement on TikTok LIVE! A competition where fans help decide who moves forward. It’s real, it’s live, and it’s all driven by YOU.
Launching at the end of July and running through September, this multi‑stage contest invites the TikTok community to participate in live voting with every view, comment, and like, while seasoned music industry professionals lend their expertise to select who progresses to the grand finale at the storied iHeartRadio Theater.
An Immersive Three‑Phase Journey
From the moment the contest opens, artists move beyond pre‑recorded clips and step into a live arena where their performances are judged in real time.
The first phase casts the widest net: hopefuls tune into TikTok LIVE, introduce themselves, and deliver their best original material. As the field narrows, the semi‑final round raises the stakes with more focused feedback and heightened audience engagement, driving the conversation among fans who weigh in on every musical choice and stage presence.
Finally, a select dozen musicians earn the coveted invitation to perform in person on a Los Angeles stage—an opportunity that many established stars have cited as a career springboard.
Criteria That Balance Community and Expertise
To ensure the competition spotlights genuine rising talent, entry requirements are intentionally rigorous.
Contestants must already have built an engaged fanbase on TikTok, own the rights to their music, and be ready to perform live without the safety net of edits or playback tracks.
@samanthasingsit This is my official submission for the iHeart Radio contest I’ve dreamed of performing on a stage like this my entire life — and now, because of TikTok and iHeartRadio, that dream could actually come true. 💫 I wrote “See You Somewhere” from the deepest part of my heart — for anyone who’s ever lost someone they love and still carries them every day. 💔 The Top 50 videos move on to live auditions, and every view, like, comment, and share helps me get one step closer to the iHeartRadio Arena in LA. If this song speaks to you, please share it. You could help change my life. 🖤 #NextUpLIVEMusic #TikTokLIVECompetition #iheartradio #independentartist #CapCut @iHeartRadio @tiktoklive_us
This blend of audience support and artist readiness prevents the contest from favoring viral one‑hit wonders over creators who consistently hone their craft. Meanwhile, an expert panel—composed of music programmers, producers, and talent scouts—evaluates each live set for artistry, originality, and stage command, injecting seasoned perspective into a process often driven solely by social media metrics.
Fan Engagement as a Voting Powerhouse
What sets Next Up: Live Music apart is how it empowers fans to influence the outcome. Every digital “cheer,” comment, encouragement, and song request contributes to an artist’s overall score.
This democratized voting mechanism transforms passive scrolling into active support, giving listeners a tangible role in an artist’s ascent. As viewers rally behind their favorites, they become co‑creators of success stories—sharing performances, organizing watch parties, and even providing real‑time feedback to help artists refine their shows mid‑stream.
Tools, Training, and a National Spotlight
Recognizing that an electrifying performance takes more than raw talent, TikTok offers live‑stream coaching and production support to contestants.
Artists receive guidance on optimizing camera angles, engaging an online audience, and crafting a narrative that resonates both on screen and on stage. The culmination of this mentorship arrives at the iHeartRadio Theater, where finalists perform before a live crowd and national broadcast.
Beyond the chance to dazzle fans and judges alike, participants gain industry contacts, media exposure, and a tangible demo reel—all invaluable assets for an independent artist navigating today’s competitive landscape.
@thevanessacompton iHeart Radio competition, let's gooo! Please Like&Share DAILY!! #ExpirationDate #originalmusic #NextUpLIVEMusic #vanessacompton #iheartradio #tiktoklive #CapCut
A Strategic Alliance for Music’s Future
TikTok’s platform has become synonymous with overnight sensations, but the partnership with iHeartRadio infuses that rapid discovery engine with broadcast heritage and promotional heft. Together, they merge the immediacy of social engagement with the credibility of radio’s tastemakers, creating a pipeline that can shepherd talent from viral clip to headline act.
As Shen Gao of TikTok and Tom Poleman of iHeartRadio have noted, this collaboration harnesses each brand’s strengths—real‑time interactivity and mass reach—to craft a new model for artist discovery in the digital age.
Check out the TikTok in Music Marketing: Selena Gomez’s Viral Campaign for ‘I Said I Love You First’
Implications for Emerging Artists and Audiences
Next Up: Live Music signals a shift away from passive content consumption toward a participatory culture where fans play an active role in shaping musical careers. For unsigned and under‑the‑radar artists, the competition offers an unprecedented platform: a place to translate online buzz into mainstream opportunities.
For listeners, it transforms fandom into direct influence, letting them champion voices they believe deserve wider recognition. In doing so, TikTok and iHeartRadio are not just crowning stars; they are architecting a community‑driven talent ecosystem that may define the next generation of hitmakers.
As the opening note echoes on TikTok LIVE this summer, both artists and audiences embark on a journey where every interaction matters. In the ever‑evolving landscape of music discovery, Next Up: Live Music stands as a testament to the power of collaboration—between platforms, between fans and creators, and between the digital present and the broadcast past.
