Sneakerheads are seeking fashion tips on Discord. Unemployed individuals are turning to Reddit for support. Boomers are being radicalised by algorithms. Understanding who people listen to and the platforms they prefer underpins the work we’ve done in our Spotlight on Influence and Icons.

Though the Grammys celebrate the best in music, for a real understanding of who’s on the rise in the industry, TikTok may be a better barometer. Why is the platform so integral to Gen Z’s musical exploration? And how is TikTok changing the way they listen to and show love for their idols?

Short-form video is the media of choice for younger generations, which has been pivotal to the success of TikTok. But longer-form content can keep people watching for longer so the platform is upping the maximum possible length of videos to ten minutes, to offer users more room to get creative.

Doja Cat has collaborated with Girls Who Code to create the world's first codable music video, allowing fans to drive the plot of her song ‘Woman’. The interactive experience, DojaCode, aims to encourage young girls and demonstrate how creative and enjoyable STEM jobs can be.