TikTok is making a move to rival YouTube Music and Shazam with its latest feature called “Sound Search.” This new tool allows users to find a sound by singing, humming, or playing it. While the feature is currently only available to select users in certain regions, it offers a unique way to discover songs and understand current trends on the platform.
Similar to YouTube Music’s song detection tool, Sound Search on TikTok goes beyond what Shazam offers. While Shazam can only identify songs when the actual song is played, TikTok and YouTube Music allow users to find songs by humming or singing them. Additionally, TikTok’s tool not only finds songs but also shows videos that use them, offering a more immersive experience.
In testing, it was found that the tool is more likely to recognize popular songs on the app. For example, when humming Rihanna’s “Umbrella” or singing the popular “oh no oh no oh no no no” sound, the tool quickly recognized them and showed popular videos featuring the songs. However, the tool may be glitchy when it comes to songs that aren’t frequently used in popular videos. It may recognize the song but not show any relevant videos.
TikTok claims that the tool is designed to find songs, not TikTok-specific sounds. However, in testing, it was able to detect TikTok sounds and memes, such as the “Oh my gosh, she’s bald” sound and the “Nobody’s gonna know” sound. To access the feature, users can go to the search bar, click the microphone icon, and select “Sound Search.”
This new feature enhances TikTok’s search capabilities and positions the app as a rival to other music recognition tools like YouTube Music and Shazam. TikTok’s focus on sounds is evident, as they drive trends and even lead to chart-topping songs. By boosting the discovery of songs on its platform, TikTok aims to capture more users and compete with established players in the music search space.
It is unclear when TikTok plans to release the Sound Search feature to all users. However, with its growing popularity and emphasis on sounds, it is likely to be a significant addition to the app’s functionality in the near future.
