Grammy's Best New Artist Nominees Reflect TikTok's Music Industry Power

The Grammy for Best New Artist recognizes musicians who have had a breakthrough into the public consciousness, and in 2025, this often meant having a hit song on TikTok.

A Luminate Music Impact report found that 84% of songs that entered Billboard's Global 200 chart went viral on TikTok first.

This year's nominees range from indie artists to former Hype House creators, all leveraging TikTok to boost their careers.

Nominees include Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marías, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young, each with varying degrees of TikTok influence.

Olivia Dean: An English singer who has been releasing music for nearly a decade. Her song "Man I Need" became a TikTok hit, leading to chart success.

KATSEYE: A global girl group formed through a reality TV show, designed for TikTok virality. Their songs and choreography have been widely used on the platform.

The Marías: An indie pop band that gained widespread recognition after a demo of their song "No One Noticed" went viral on TikTok.

Addison Rae: A TikTok sensation who leveraged her massive following to launch a music career.

sombr: A Gen Z rocker who gained popularity through viral TikTok songs like "Caroline," "Back to Friends," and "Undressed."

Leon Thomas: A Broadway and Nickelodeon veteran who found mainstream success after his song went viral on TikTok.

Alex Warren: A former Hype House member who transitioned from pranking videos to releasing a hit romantic ballad, thanks to TikTok.

Lola Young: An artist drawing comparisons to Amy Winehouse, she had already released several albums before her song “Messy” went viral on TikTok.

A:: It recognizes emerging talent who achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and notably impacted the musical landscape.

A:: TikTok has become a leading driver of chart success, with many songs going viral on the platform before entering major music charts.

A:: Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, Addison Rae, and sombr are among the artists who have gained popularity through TikTok.

TikTok is a powerful platform for music discovery and artist promotion.

The Best New Artist nominees at the 2026 Grammys reflect TikTok's influence on the music industry.

Artists are using TikTok to connect with audiences and achieve mainstream success.

The lines between traditional music industry paths and TikTok-driven careers are increasingly blurred.