The Speed of Sound: How TikTok’s Trend of Sped-Up Songs is Redefining Music Consumption

In the era of social media, music has found a new playground. TikTok’s emerging trend of speeding up songs by 25-30% has taken the music world by storm, with creators using these snippets to accompany short viral videos. This phenomenon has not only helped artists climb the charts but also raises questions about the future of music creation and consumption.

The sped-up trend, born from the “nightcore” movement of the early 2000s, has evolved into a mainstream phenomenon, with streaming services like Spotify testing features to allow users to remix tempo and share it. Dr. Mary Beth Ray notes that short-form platforms like TikTok “constrain our ways of listening” but also offer new experiences.

While some artists like Summer Walker and Billie Eilish have embraced the trend, others like Lil Yachty have expressed discomfort with the distortion of their intended pacing and tone. As the trend continues to shape music consumption, one thing is clear – the speed of sound has never been more dynamic.