Big Tech arms race never seems to stop, so it was only a matter of time till TikTok, following in the YouTube's footsteps, will release its own hum to search feature.
TikTok is reportedly testing a new functionality called Sound Search, which allows users to identify songs by singing, humming, or playing them right within the app. This feature, currently available only to a limited number of users in selected regions, can be accessed through a microphone icon on the app’s search bar. While TikTok continues to grow in popularity (even a search engine of sorts), the addition of Sound Search could help artists gain more visibility from trending sounds and songs used in popular videos.
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The motivation behind Sound Search is clear: TikTok wants to make it easier for users to find music without needing to leave the app or use a separate music identification tool like Shazam. TikTok’s Sound Search feature is similar to YouTube Music’s song detection tool, allowing users to find the name of a song by singing, humming, or playing it, unlike Shazam that only requires the actual song to be played. This new tool identifies songs and directs users to popular, trending videos that use the identified track. Additionally, Sound Search can recognise other sounds, including fresh memes.
TechCrunch has already tested the new TikTok feature and concluded that Sound Search is primarily effective at identifying popular tracks but is less consistent with more obscure or older songs.
How do I know if I have the hum to search TikTok feature?
Go to your search bar in the TikTok app, click the microphone icon, and select “Sound Search.”
There is no confirmed timeline for a wider release, but we're expecting to see Sound Search to be available to all users in the coming weeks or months.
