Next Up: TikTok & iHeartRadio Team Up For Live Music Competition

TikTok and iHeartRadio are teaming up to discover the next wave of music stars with Next Up: LIVE Music, a brand-new, interactive singing competition that puts the spotlight—and the power—into the hands of the fans. The multi-phase competition will unfold entirely on TikTok LIVE and culminate in a high-energy, in-person finale at the legendary iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles on September 26th.

Designed as both a talent incubator and a real-time entertainment experience, Next Up: LIVE Music invites TikTok’s massive community to play an active role in artist discovery. Fans can follow rising artists throughout the competition, tune in to their live performances, and engage directly—liking, sharing, commenting, and voting to help decide who advances to the next round.

“This program builds on TikTok’s legacy as a launchpad for musical talent,” said Shen Gao, Head of LIVE Operations, Americas at TikTok. “With TikTok LIVE, fans get to be more than just viewers—they become part of the journey, shaping the future of the artists they believe in.”

Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer at iHeartMedia, added: “TikTok and iHeartRadio are powerful engines for artist discovery. Together, we’re creating a pipeline that can turn emerging voices into tomorrow’s headliners.”

The Road to the iHeartRadio Theater

The competition will be streamed live in three key phases:

Auditions (July 28–August 11): Open to eligible artists across all genres. The top 50 will be selected based on community engagement and judges’ input.

Semi-Finals (August 25–29): The top 50 will compete for a coveted spot in the top 12.

Finale (September 26): The top 12 finalists will perform live at the iHeartRadio Theater in Burbank, California.

Each round will combine fan interactions—likes, views, shares, and comments—with scores from a panel of expert judges. Every performance counts, and every fan interaction can help shape an artist’s path to the spotlight.

The competition is open to unsigned or label-cleared artists in the U.S. who are ready to perform live and engage with a real-time audience. Entry requirements include being a U.S. resident, 18 years or older, having at least one original song with rights, 50,000+ TikTok followers with consistent engagement, being comfortable performing live on TikTok, and the ability to attend the live finale if selected. All genres are welcome—from pop and hip-hop to indie, R&B, and even classical crossover.

Next Up: LIVE Music is designed to do more than crown a winner—it aims to fuel long-term success for emerging artists. Participants will gain access to livestream training, visibility through a creator-first competition, and the chance to build real fanbases while performing on one of the industry’s biggest stages.

For artists and fans alike, Next Up: LIVE Music turns music discovery into a dynamic, community-driven experience. It’s not just about watching a performance—it’s about being part of the story.