Apple Music and TikTok Launch 'Listening Party,' Merging Social Buzz with Full-Length Albums

Apple Music and TikTok have formed a major partnership, introducing a feature that lets users host live, shared listening sessions inside the TikTok app. The move directly connects Apple's vast song library with the social platform where many young people first hear new music.

The new 'Listening Party' tool allows creators with over 1,000 followers to play full albums or playlists from Apple Music. Participants can chat and react in real time. For Apple, it's a direct line to Gen Z listeners, a group that often uses TikTok as a discovery tool. For TikTok, the deal provides a licensed, stable way to offer full-track playback after past licensing fights with major record labels.

During tests in late 2025, sessions hosted by artists like SZA and Bad Bunny drew tens of thousands of simultaneous listeners. Apple Music subscribers hear songs in full, while others get previews. The partnership includes a revenue-sharing model on new subscriptions and offers a paid promotional option for labels.

The alliance puts pressure on rivals like Spotify, which lacks a comparable social media integration. It also creates a novel, communal way for artists to launch music, though some independent labels worry sponsored events could favor major artists with bigger budgets. As both companies face regulatory scrutiny, Apple states no personal listening data will be shared with TikTok without clear user consent.