Warner Classics to release album of TikTok hits

In a world first, record label Warner Classics has announced the upcoming release of an album of orchestral versions of 18 of the most popular hits shared on mobile video platform TikTok in a campaign designed to show users the possibilities of combining musical genres.

Songs including Oh No, Pieces, Into The Thick of It!, No Roots, and Beggin’ have been classically arranged and newly recorded by Potsdam-based Babelsberg Film Orchestra with 30-second versions available for use by the TikTok community worldwide with the hashtag #TikTokClassics.

Markus Petersen, senior vice president of Warner Classics global operations and business development, said: ‘TikTok has proven to be a platform for music discovery - and TikTok-users are increasingly discovering classical music as well…We want to showcase the possibilities, range and epic sound of a symphonic orchestra in a new context, encourage closer listening and share our passion for orchestral sound with the TikTok community.’

With over 3 billion downloads, TikTok was the most downloaded app of 2021. It is an important tool for promoting new music, with 75% of US users surveyed saying they use the app to discover new music, and it’s active user numbers are over double that of Spotify, the most popular music streaming service.

Michael Kümmerle, head of TikTok’s music operations in Germany, Austria & Switzerland, said: ‘With TikTok Classics, we showcase the musical diversity and a new interpretation of this creativity that can be enjoyed by all our community… Through the new interpretation of TikTok Classics, we hope to bring this genre to new fans in a way that they wouldn’t expect.’

The first of the full-length singles will be released on 8 July, and the full album with Warner Classics will be available to stream and buy in August.

You can find out more about TikTok here.

You can find out more about Warner Classics here.