TikTok continues its reign as one of the top apps of 2020

TikTok, the viral video-sharing app, is popular among Generation Z teens, with more than 2.3 billion all-time downloads and 100 million users throughout the U.S., says the Business Insider.

Despite its popularity, the fact that TikTok was owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance resulted in the Trump administration threatening to ban the app if it could not be sold to an American company. The uncertainty of how much access the Chinese government had to user data on the app was one of the biggest motivations behind the ban, as they believed the app was a threat to national security.

The Trump administration continued its efforts to move forward, but the creation of a new U.S.-based company called TikTok Global stopped the app from being banned. TikTok Global includes American companies in the ownership of the app, says CNBC. The board for TikTok Global includes five seats, in which Americans hold four of the seats, and ByteDance’s CEO holds the fifth. The Oracle and Walmart are two of the companies that now own a portion of TikTok Global.

TikTok continues its reign, with the sharing of current news that the app struck a new licensing agreement with Sony Music, says Techcrunch. In fact, earlier this year, TikTok had struck short–term licensing deals with Sony, Warner and Universal. The new licensing agreement with Sony Music will allow TikTok to continue offering the use of songs by Sony Music artists to creators on the app.

This agreement also includes both companies partnering to promote Sony artists and TikTok spokespeople said the partnership will drive “new and forward-looking opportunities for fan engagement with SME’s artists and music,” according to Techcrunch. The sound clips will include a variety of music from current hits to even classics by none other than the “King of Pop” himself, Michael Jackson.

Although TikTok had to increase its payments to music labels like Sony to secure such partnerships, the app is not without its own power. According to Techcrunch, TikTok has helped drive more hits by Sony artists than any other app, such as one, Doja Cat’s “Say So.”

Since many artists had to cancel in-person concerts because of the pandemic, TikTok has helped artists reach fans and promote new music. With more songs being introduced to the video-sharing app, it will continue to climb in popularity as more users click the download button. For all the TikTok users out there get ready for more viral dances outside of the Carol Baskin. Now you can open up the app and get your “Thriller” on. You may also want to consider looking at this SocialBoosting post here to learn more about Tiktok!