TikTok, iHeartRadio Launch ‘Next Up: LIVE Music’ Singing Competition With Live Finale.

TikTok and iHeartRadio are joining forces for “Next Up: LIVE Music,” a new singing competition powered by TikTok LIVE that aims to spotlight rising artists through a fan-driven, multi-phase format. The contest kicks off today (July 28) and culminates in a live finale on Sept. 26 at the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles.

The interactive program invites eligible creators with at least 50,000 TikTok followers to audition by performing original music on TikTok LIVE. Artists will advance through the audition, semi-final, and final stages based on a combination of engagement metrics, including likes, comments, shares, and views, as well as scores from a panel of judges. The audition portion of the competition runs through Aug. 11. The semi-finals (Aug. 25-29) will feature the top 50 competing for a spot in the Top 12, who will perform live on stage at the iHeartRadio Theater in Burbank.

"Together, TikTok and iHeartRadio are powerful engines for artist discovery and showcasing new talent,” Tom Poleman, Chief Programming Officer at iHeartMedia, said in a release. “Together, we’re creating a pipeline that turns emerging voices into tomorrow’s headliners, and with iHeartRadio we have the reach and influence to bring those artists to the masses."

Shen Gao, Head of LIVE Operations, Americas at TikTok, added, “TikTok LIVE gives fans the power to engage directly, support their favorite performers, and truly shape their journey to success. Next Up: LIVE Music builds on TikTok’s legacy of music discovery by turning that process into a shared, real-time experience.”

Open to artists across all genres, the competition offers creators livestream training, high-visibility exposure, and community connection throughout the process. Participants must be 18 or older, U.S. residents, and own the rights to at least one original song.

Fans can follow each round of the competition on TikTok LIVE and @iHeartRadio.