From the For You Page to the Top Charts: The Rise of the Influencer-Musician

The Hype House, via Forbes

In the 2020s, influencers have begun to take a new shape, thanks to TikTok’s growing popularity. Beginning in late 2019/early 2020, a collective of TikTokers banded together to create “The Hype House”-- a mansion inhabited by various content creators who collaborate on TikTok and, naturally, go viral. The Hype House took over TikTok during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, inspiring other content houses to form and rise in popularity as well. From that point on, these groups of influencers began to take their fame off the platform, releasing reality TV shows, scripted series, and notably, music. 

The TikToker-to-Pop-Star pipeline occurred several times from this Hype House (and adjacent creators) group. However, not every creator’s leap into music stuck. With so many TikTokers trying their hand at music, one can only wonder—why? Are they looking to get more clout? Or do they genuinely have a passion for music?

Let’s take a look at some examples of TikTokers releasing music. 

Jxdn (Jaden Hossler)

Jaden Hossler, by Dolly Faibyshev/WWD via Getty

Debut track: “Comatose” (May 2020) - 86,640,923 total streams as of 7/8/25

Most streamed song to date: “ANGELS AND DEMONS” (June 2020) - 200,223,073 total streams as of 7/8/25

In the early days of the pandemic, Jxdn was the first to transition his influencer career into a music career. His debut, “Comatose,” was first teased on his TikTok in 2019. After its release, the song quickly gained traction, introducing fans to a hard rock/emo sound that Jxdn would stick to for the remainder of his music career. Jxdn continues to release music today and has previously collaborated with artists such as Machine Gun Kelly, ILLENIUM, Amelia Moore, and fellow TikTok alum Nessa Barrett. 

Dixie D’Amelio

Dixie D’Amelio, via Variety

Debut track: “Be Happy” (June 2020) - 107,845,155 total streams as of 7/8/25

Most streamed song to date: “Be Happy” (June 2020) - 107,845,155 total streams as of 7/8/25

Dixie was notorious to the TikTok community for her memeable songs and surface-level lyricism. Once she released “Be Happy,” the song quickly went viral, but was mocked relentlessly on the platform. Between Dixie’s overly enunciated “but-” preceding the chorus and the hook’s bland “sometimes I don’t want to be happy” lyric, TikTok users found a way to ridicule Dixie’s debut for months. Unfortunately, the hate did not stop at her first release. Dixie’s December 2020 single “One Whole Day,” which features Wiz Khalifa, was also ridiculed for its subpar lyrics. The song’s chorus repeats, “One day, one day, I was really, really, really, really sad.” Since 2020, Dixie has released an album and a few singles, but has yet to release any music since 2023. Her most-streamed song to date remains her debut track, “Be Happy.”

Nessa Barrett

Nessa Barrett, via Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage

Debut track: “Pain” (July 2020) - 40,129,808 total streams as of 7/8/25

Most streamed song to date: “die first” (June 2022) - 244,414,508 total streams as of 7/8/25

Nessa is, without a doubt, one of TikTok’s most successful musicians. Upon releasing her debut track, Nessa immediately cemented herself into the emo world, dropping songs about emotional topics like breakups, while also leaning into a grungy/electronic style. Since her debut, Nessa has undoubtedly improved vocally and lyrically and continues to grow as her career evolves. She has since released two full-length albums and has collaborated with artists such as Artemas, Tommy Genesis, and former TikTok alum Jxdn. 

Lil’ Huddy (Chase Hudson)

Chase Hudson, via Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Debut track: “21st Century Vampire” (January 2021) - 27,546,272 total streams as of 7/8/25

Most streamed song to date: “All the Things I Hate About You” (July 2022) - 37,961,970 total streams as of 7/8/25

Huddy (previously Lil’ Huddy) rose to fame on the app for his E-Boy content, cementing himself into the “emo” sphere of the internet. At the beginning of 2021, Huddy followed other Hype House members into the music world, releasing his debut single “21st Century Vampire” and embracing a gritty, punk-inspired aesthetic. Though he still releases music today, Huddy is all over the place in terms of his work in the entertainment sphere. He has previously collaborated musically with Travis Barker and iann dior, he appeared in Machine Gun Kelly’s musical film “Downfalls High,” and he is slated to star in a rom-com with Ginny & Georgia actress Sara Waisglass.

Addison Rae

Addison Rae, via Billboard

Debut track: “Obsessed” (March 2021) - 62,365,539 total streams as of 7/8/25

Most streamed song to date: “Diet Pepsi” (August 2024) - 426,292,723 total streams as of 7/8/25

From narrating other people’s songs (IYKYK) to writing and releasing her own, Addison Rae has recently discovered fame after collaborating twice with Charli XCX and releasing her debut album, Addison. After a rough debut single that received hate for its lyricism and accompanying music video, Addison has worked to rebrand herself into a mainstream it-girl. Recently, she has even gained celebrity fans with Troye Sivan, Charli XCX, and Lana Del Rey all praising her discography and inviting her to join them onstage. Throughout her debut album, Addison has explored themes of femininity, family, fame, and romance, giving fans a window into her personal life and rendering her a relatable figure.  

Alex Warren

 Alex Warren, via Hunter Moreno/Courtesy of Atlantic Records

Debut track: “One More I Love You” (June 2021) - 68,669,661 total streams as of 7/8/25

Most streamed song to date: “Ordinary” (September 2024) - 693,098,289 total streams as of 7/8/25

While Alex Warren was not the most viral TikToker in the Hype House, he has certainly found success in his music career, most recently with his smash hit “Ordinary” reaching over 600 million streams. He also performed the track at the 2025 American Music Awards. Alex’s music tends to be heartfelt and romantic, and he has previously collaborated with acts such as Rosé and Jelly Roll. He is also slated to perform at Lollapalooza at the end of July. With such substantial career milestones hit, one can only predict that Alex Warren will continue to go far with his music career. 

Charli D’Amelio

 Charli D’Amelio, via Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Debut track: “if you ask me to” (October 2022) - 14,998,087 total streams as of 7/8/25

Most streamed song to date:  “if you ask me to” (October 2022) - 14,998,087 total streams as of 7/8/25

Dance-centric TikTok star Charli D’Amelio tried her hand at music and, needless to say, it didn’t last very long. Similarly to her sister, Charli faced lots of backlash on TikTok over her lyrics and delivery of her debut track. Charli did not release any more music following her debut single and has since focused more on her dancing, joining the cast of & Juliet on Broadway. 

So, what’s the deal with TikTokers trying to venture into music?

Well, there are a few possibilities. TikTok created a new type of influencer: one that can gain clout by making 15-second videos, sometimes without even using their real voice. While the transition to music might not seem logical for everyone, releasing music offers another opportunity for creators to showcase their personalities and lives. In other words, it allows them another avenue to connect with their audiences. Perhaps not all of the TikTokers’ songs were meant to be smash hits, but regardless, they were a form of digital emotional expression for these influencers. Of course, it also helps that TikTok allows for easy marketing of a music career, as these TikTok celebrities were able to use their preexisting platforms to share their songs. 

However, for some, music is clearly a passion. Many of these TikTokers had rough starts and received lots of backlash for their debut tracks. However, not all of them were able to bounce back from the hate. Specifically looking at Addison, Nessa, and Alex, these three were able to garner industry popularity by creating a niche they stuck to and improving their lyrics and vocal techniques as they rose in popularity. A continued effort and dedication to growth reveal that these TikTokers care about fostering their music career, and they have found success thanks to these practices. 

What does this mean for the music industry?

The lines between influencer and music artist are now blurrier than ever. As social media continues to evolve, its influence on pop culture in all sectors also continues to grow. Since the beginning of TikTok, our society has witnessed viral stars being created out of thin air more than ever before. With the platform’s high volume of daily viewers, more eyes can land on an aspiring pop star’s new song than ever before on the internet. In essence, it is much more plausible nowadays for ordinary people to become the next celebrities. Looking at viral TikTokers, as mentioned previously, since they already have the platform, why not try out music? However, at the end of the day, what really makes a true influencer-turned-successful-musician is being dedicated enough to push through criticism, stay committed, and grow artistically to earn lasting credibility.