• by Colin Kirkland , August 8, 2023

Extending its live in-app music push, TikTok has announced a global competition intended to help users and industry leaders discover new musical talent while also supporting creators working in the app's music ecosystem.

Between August 7-16, users 18 years and older who are interested in being considered for the competition can audition via TikTok Live's dedicated audition page and post a short submission video, hashtagging #gimmethemic.

From there, 30 of the most popular participants from the U.S. will be selected to enter the semi-final, performing and competing in pairs as a series of multi-guest Live videos on @tiktok_live between September 1-3.

Similar to popular talent programs like American Idol or America's Got Talent, those who tune in to watch the performances will have a chance to vote for their favorite performers in real time. Users, the company says, can collect votes when they complete tasks, such as registering for Live events.

The grand finale will take place on September 10 via TikTok Live and will feature the top 10 contestants from the semi-final. In addition to being crowned the U.S. Gimme The Mic champion, the winner will receive 50,000 Diamond rewards (about $2,500), which can be spent in-app or be cashed out.

The champion will also earn a spot in the platform's Live Global Finale, which will feature winners from around the world and will take place on September 22 and 23.

“Gimme the Mic is a chance for contestants to showcase their talent to a wider community. Not only that, global contest winners will receive a trophy, have the opportunity to be featured on official TikTok channels, and receive up to 500,000 Diamond rewards,” the company wrote in a blog post.

Having become a go-to space for music discovery, the ByteDance-owned app has been expanding its music offerings as of late. In July, TikTok expanded its licensing agreement with Warner Music, which not only provides creators access to Warner’s massive catalog but also encompasses TikTok Music, the company’s upcoming premium subscription streaming service.