While TikTok has established itself as a significant player in the UK music scene with over 30 million monthly users, its role in the upcoming Music Business UK Awards 2025 appears to be limited to a supporting partnership rather than a headline position. The popular social media platform will specifically support the Artist Manager of the Year category, while YouTube maintains its status as the event’s headline partner, overseeing the shortlist and voting process.
TikTok takes supporting role at Music Business UK Awards while YouTube retains headline partnership.
This arrangement highlights the important distinction between TikTok’s involvement in the Music Business UK Awards and its own standalone event, the TikTok Awards UK & Ireland 2025. The latter, scheduled for November 13, 2025, in London with Sky as the headline partner, will celebrate content creators across TikTok’s platform through 12 categories featuring 72 nominees who collectively command an impressive following of over 83 million users.
The Music Business UK Awards, conversely, focuses on recognizing professional achievements within the music industry, including executives and artist managers, with YouTube prominently featured in the presentation and endorsement of these accolades.
TikTok’s supporting role in this industry event represents just one facet of its broader strategy to integrate with the UK music ecosystem. The platform will feature a special performance by British hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks, who will debut their new single “Follow Excitement!” at the ceremony. The award show will also offer interactive experiences from brand partners including Pepsi MAX and e.l.f. Cosmetics.
TikTok’s influence on music trends cannot be understated, having propelled songs like Jess Glynne’s “Hold My Hand” to viral status through its platform. Musicians who gain visibility through TikTok can potentially secure sync deals that place their music in commercials, films, or video games. As the company’s largest European market, the UK provides TikTok with substantial reach for promoting cultural representation through diverse nominees, including Irish creators under the #GaelTok movement. Independent artists can utilize TikTok’s vast reach alongside traditional streaming platforms to maximize their music distribution strategy.
The platform’s collaboration with Sky for its own awards ceremony demonstrates TikTok’s ability to secure major sponsorship alignments, while its more modest role in the Music Business UK Awards reflects the reality of multiple platforms competing for industry prominence.
Through its in-app voting hub, TikTok continues to leverage community participation to enhance fan engagement, regardless of its position in the broader awards landscape.
