TikTok is not your grandmother’s radio. Children’s songs play back-to-back with sexual liberation anthems, classical ballads complement vicious hyperpop, and stars that have been in the spotlight for decades share the stage with newbie bedroom producers.

The musical diversity of TikTok is astounding, but opinions are split on whether that’s a blessing or a curse. After all, the longevity of TikTok trends (and the popularity of the music associated with them) is ever-shortening, and the sheer number of participants means that songs get played to death. What was once an enjoyable snippet becomes skull-smashingly annoying, and many who loved the song simply drop it off their playlist altogether.

The randomness by which songs get selected is also an oft-cited gripe. Less well-known artists sometimes have their music thrust into the public eye through TikTok videos, and fans who pride themselves on liking obscure music may suddenly feel ostracized. New fans who found the band or song through TikTok are often mocked for “ruining” the fanbase, and old fans feel as though the tight-knit character of their community has been lost.

Some new songs attempt to beat the randomness factor by purposely adding elements that could work on TikTok, like referencing trends or adding phrases that could easily be turned into dance moves. While it might help for getting popular, this technique doesn’t necessarily make for good music.

“I think that it’s fun to hear your favorite songs made into TikTok trends, but I also feel like artists are changing their music because of [TikTok’s] popularity,” senior Ganga Corsaro said. “I don’t think you should only get songs based on trendy songs and sounds on TikTok.”

The artist can come out on top through all of this, however: because TikTok pays royalties (although they’re a pittance), singers and songwriters can directly benefit from their music going viral. And most famous TikTok songs also end up high on the charts, so artists who are enjoying their fifteen seconds of fame can also see more long-lasting benefits.

Regular users reap these rewards, too. “I think it’s fun when underground music blows up on TikTok,” sophomore Emma Krienke said. “A lot of good music is not given the spotlight because it’s hard to get music into the algorithm without social media.”

TikTok’s growth shows no sign of slowing down. In 2020, it was the most-downloaded mobile app, and as of February 2022 it’s the seventh-most used app in the world—even more popular than Snapchat. Its problems will surely continue to grow as its user base does, but so will its benefits. Small musicians will sit in their basements, headphones clamped over their ears, tweaking their newest track until it’s perfect for TikTok and hoping for a miracle.