Introduction to Next Up Live Music
TikTok and iHeartRadio have joined forces to introduce Next Up Live Music, a live-stream singing contest offering emerging artists a powerful platform. Starting July 28 and running through September, this event grants fans a real-time role in shaping rising stars.
How Next Up Live Music Works
The competition unfolds in three phases:
- Auditions (July 28 – August 11): Open to U.S. creators with eligibility criteria. Judges select the top 50.
- Semi‑Finals (August 25 – 29): These 50 artists compete for a spot in the top 12.
- Finale (September 26): The 12 finalists perform live at the iHeartRadio Theater in Burbank, California.
Artists advance based on user engagement—likes, shares, comments, views—and judges’ scores. Fan interaction and feedback from the panel determine who moves forward.
Who Can Enter Next Up Live Music
To participate, artists must:
- Be 18+ and a U.S. resident
- Own at least one original song
- Have at least 50,000 TikTok followers with consistent engagement
- Be familiar with performing live
- Not be signed to a major label, or have label clearance to compete.
Benefits of Next Up Live Music
Artists gain:
- Livestream training and coaching
- Branding exposure
- Fanbase growth through TikTok visibility
- A chance to perform live at the iconic iHeartRadio Theater
- Access to TikTok creator community networks.
For fans, it offers an immersive experience: follow, support, and shape the artist journey in real time.
Why Next Up Live Music Matters
TikTok has become central to music discovery and launching careers. Next Up Live Music deepens that connection by making talent discovery interactive and community-driven. Through iHeartRadio’s reach plus TikTok LIVE’s participatory power, the competition turns music promotion into a shared live event.
Key Quotes on Next Up Live Music
“TikTok LIVE gives fans the power to engage directly… truly shape their journey to success,” said Shen Gao, Head of LIVE Operations, Americas at TikTok.
Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer at iHeartMedia added, “TikTok and iHeartRadio are powerful engines for artist discovery… turning emerging voices into tomorrow’s headliners.”
Best Places for Internal & External Links
In rewriting, retain original links by highlighting anchor phrases such as:
- TikTok Live singing competition
- iHeartRadio Theater
- official competition page
These anchor phrases should link exactly to their destinations as in the original article.
