Tinashe’s sultry track “Nasty” has claimed the title of the UK’s TikTok Song of the Summer, outpacing popular hits by Sabrina Carpenter and Billie Eilish. The track, which has become a viral sensation with its standout lyric “match my freak,” soundtrack over 10 million TikTok videos, illustrating its immense popularity on the platform.
Despite its viral success, “Nasty” has faced a less impressive performance on traditional music charts, peaking at number 66 in the UK and 61 in the US. This contrasts sharply with last year’s TikTok song of the summer, “Sprinter” by Dave and Central Cee, which not only dominated the charts but also achieved significant commercial success with 1.2 million copies sold and a 10-week stint at number one.
The song’s rise began in April when it was paired with a viral dance video by British dancer Nate de Winer. This video, which garnered over 13 million views, showcased a captivating dance routine that was soon emulated by celebrities including Christina Aguilera and Janet Jackson. The track even found its way into a humorous edit featuring King Charles unveiling his official portrait, further boosting its visibility.
For Tinashe, “Nasty” represents a significant milestone in her career, which has faced various setbacks due to record label issues. Reflecting on her journey, Tinashe shared with Variety magazine, “I was saying this to my mom the other day, 10 years later, who would have thought?” She credited her persistent efforts in creating high-quality music and visuals as contributing factors to her current success.
This summer also saw notable successes for other artists on TikTok, including British singer-songwriter Blood Orange, whose 2011 track “Champagne Coast” experienced a surprising resurgence. Sabrina Carpenter, a prominent figure this year, saw both her hits “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” make it into the app’s Top 10.
However, TikTok’s role as a music discovery platform may be experiencing a shift. The platform’s influence on the music industry, while still significant, seems to be waning. Tinashe’s “Nasty” is also the second-biggest song globally on TikTok this summer, with the top spot going to Chilean artists Cris MJ and Floyymenor for their reggaeton track “Gata Only.”
TikTok’s evolving focus on long-form videos and its shopping platform, combined with past disputes over royalty payments with Universal Music, has impacted its role in music promotion. The recent dispute with Universal led to the removal of millions of songs from the app, causing a temporary disruption in user-generated content and highlighting the shifting dynamics in the app’s music landscape.
Despite these changes, TikTok remains a vital tool for artists to promote their work. The success of Charli XCX’s album *Brat*, which was strategically promoted on the app, demonstrates that while TikTok continues to be influential, it is now just one component of broader marketing strategies. The days of TikTok single-handedly launching an artist to global fame, as seen with Lil Nas X or Doja Cat, may be less common, but the platform’s impact on the music industry endures.
In other news – Danielle Fishel opens up about breast cancer diagnosis on podcast
Danielle Fishel, known for her role on *Boy Meets World*, has bravely shared her recent breast cancer diagnosis with listeners on the latest episode of her *Pod Meets World* podcast. During the August 19 episode, Fishel revealed to her co-hosts, Rider Strong and Will Friedle, that she had been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a form of breast cancer.
The 43-year-old actress explained that her diagnosis is at a very early stage, specifically stage zero, and that she has been diagnosed with high-grade DCIS with micro-invasion. Read More
