TIKTOK LAUNCHES EMERGING ARTIST PROGRAM: ELEVATE
TikTok has announced the inaugural class for its first-ever emerging artist program, Elevate. The artists from around the globe that TikTok handpicked for its 2023 Elevate class are CHINCHILLA, Sam Barber, Omar Courtz, Isabel LaRosa, Kaliii and LU KALA.
Through Elevate, TikTok will identify the next wave of emerging stars poised to break out in the music industry, providing them with meaningful support both in-app and out in the world to build careers beyond a single trending hit. Elevate will showcase the remarkable, diverse and global talent found on TikTok—celebrating each artists' unique story and sound.
“Elevate speaks to the heart of TikTok and our commitment to honor and empower the diverse talent on the platform,” said TikTok North America Artist Partnerships Lead Rachel Dunham. “As the destination for music discovery, we are so excited to provide artists with meaningful support on and off TikTok to help them find long-term success in the music industry.”
Elevate’s inaugural program will run through October. Learn about the 2023 class below and visit the Elevate hub here.
- CHINCHILLA | @chinchilla_music: Unapologetic in embracing her individuality and mega talent, Chinchilla is rewriting the rules of the music industry following the independent release of her single "Little Girl Gone." Chinchilla made history as the first female soloist to debut at #1 on Billboard's Emerging Artists chart, with Little Girl Gone reaching over 1B views and over 850k videos on TikTok.
- Sam Barber | @sambarber_music: Raised on a farm in small town Southeast Missouri, Sam's passion for music began at an early age after picking up his great grandfather's five-Gibson. With 782k followers on TikTok, Sam is set out to share with the world the types of songs that people can feel in their soul.
- Omar Courtz | @omarcourtz: A Puerto Rico native with over 86k followers on TikTok, Omar Courtz continues to make a splash with collabs with icons like Daddy Yankee, Yandel and Tainy, as well as preparing for the release of his new album LA MUSA due later this year.
- Isabel LaRosa | @official_isabellarosa: Inspired by the musical influences around her, LaRosa began songwriting with her brother Thomas in elementary school and from there, the creative duo was formed. LaRosa’s sound mixes different styles of pop music, from bedroom electric-pop to hyper-pop to indie pop and more.
- Kaliii | @kaliyaashley: Kaliii had a landmark 2022 following the release of her highly acclaimed EP Toxic Chocolate. Known for her thrilling freestyle and cypher performances, she is continuing to make a name for herself including dropping recent RIAA-certified gold single "Area Codes" and several peer-assisted regional remixes.
- LU KALA | @igobylu: A gift for creating striking pop tracks, the fiery voiced songstress and Toronto native is redefining what a pop star sounds and looks like. LU KALA’s "Pretty Girl Era" is trending with over 226K videos on TikTok.
