Bopdrop is an app that enables social music sharing through integration with Spotify and Apple Music, where users post one song per day. The platform appeals to Gen Zers who are seeking more human ways to find music, share music, and build their identities as music fans.

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?

TikTok has revealed, via two data studies, the invaluable importance of sound on its platform. Not only for the music artists themselves, but also underlining the importance of sound and music for brands on TikTok, to build familiarity and connection with their users.

Adding to its existing range of personalized offerings, Spotify has launched the Friends Mix. Designed to allow friends, partners, and family members to team up to get the perfect discovery algorithm, the tool taps into a desire for collaboration in a typically solo online space.