OPINIONS WWW.OBUSIGNAL.COM | PAGE 7
TikTok changes industry for musicians, artists BY WYATT ASHLOCK Staff Writer
TikTok has become one of the main social media apps throughout the world that has the most influence on culture and trends. TikTok can make songs, ideas and movements become famous overnight. When it was released, TikTok began with over 500 million monthly users that came from the merger with Musical.ly, and the app’s following has only grown since then. TikTok has become the main social media for singers trying to make their songs viral when the songs might not perform as well if released on the radio. Many groups have seen the music trend in TikTok and have released samples of their music on the app before releasing the full single. Lil Nas X released a sample of “Old Town Road’’ on TikTok before releasing the single on music services. This caused his song to be viral before the song had even been released. Due to the song’s success, many have followed, including songs from Lizzo and Ambjay. These artists were the first that used the free publicity from TikTok to get people excited and
anticipating the release of their songs, which increased the amount of listeners. When Olivia Rodrigo released her song “drivers license” it was an instant hit. The day after her song debuted, she released a clip on TikTok and her song doubled in listeners overnight. Many would use her song to make their own videos and the song climbed to No. 1 on the billboard charts. Her song is known as the TikTok heartbreak anthem for its emotional and relatable lyrics. “To see it do really well— to have this really painful moment in my life, and turn it into something beautiful that can maybe help people through a tough time that they’re having, like I was having a tough time— it’s just so empowering,” Rodrigo said in an interview with NBC News. “And I feel grateful that I got to do that.” Many celebrities use TikTok to find new fans that they might not if they just released their music to streaming services. However, there are many people who became instantly famous from making a TikTok video of them singing. Nathan Evans, 26, was known for singing sea shanties that are centuries old, but everything changed for him when he released
a new rendition of “Wellerman.” Millions watched his video, and he became an overnight sensation. Evans ended up signing a record deal with Polydor Records. Em Jaccs wrote a song that debuted on TikTok during quarantine. The song was based on the Disney movie “Ratatouille (2007).” This song became a viral trend which transformed into a virtual musical starring many celebrities, including Wayne Brady, Kevin Chamberlin, Adam Lambert and many others. “Ratatouille” was a fundraiser that made over $2 million for The Actors Fund, all because of a viral song on TikTok. “I like to think that in the lyric about Remy being ratatouille, the ratatouille is really more of a symbol for dreaming big and achieving greatness. Everyone should go out and try to be ‘ratatouille’ in their own lives,” Jaccs said in an interview with BroadwayWorld.com. There are many others like Evans and Jaccs who have become famous for their songs because of TikTok and its user base that helps people go viral. Whether the user is a celebrity or an everyday person, one thing is for sure. TikTok’s ability to help artists has changed the music industry forever.
of higher education. Known as HB1218, the bill mentions that if it is approved and schools do not comply, the State Board of Education will “adjust funding.” Lowery graduated from the University of Arkansas with a master’s degree in communications and has recently taught a course in communications at Henderson State University. As a lawmaker and a college instructor, he should know better than most people how dangerous this bill is to
the future of Arkansas. This bill seeks to sedate social tensions by whitewashing history in an incredibly shallow bucket. This bill should have been laughed off of the floor, but it has since been read twice, engrossed and referred to the Education Committee which includes Lowery. Banning the instruction of history, even parts of history, is blatant censorship. This action goes directly against the first amendment and under-serves not
HB1218 threatens historical inclusivity BY LANGLEY LEVERETT
Arts & Entertainment/Opinions Editor Arkansas legislator Mark Lowery proposed a bill on Jan. 21 that would “prohibit the offering of certain types of courses, classes, events, and activities that isolate students based on race, gender, political affiliation, social class, or other distinctions” throughout public schools and institutions
only minority students, but majority students, too. This bill would slash diversity training, inclusion efforts and any organization that seeks a defined social justice goal. This includes the Young Republicans, Young Democrats, gender or African American history classes, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Gay Straight Alliance, sororities, fraternities and multicultural organizations. This bill is harmful to anyone who is trying to make change
with inclusive efforts. Change will come when we realize our strength is in our diversity, not in isolated learning. The Civil Rights Act, and every person who has protested for equality since, has fought for students to have the ability to mobilize, speak out and become informed about what needs to change. It is our right to form diverse groups. All of these groups give students the ability to learn about others, themselves and the world around them.
