The 2025 Grammy nominations are out — and once again, music fans are divided.

This year’s Record of the Year category reads like a TikTok playlist — Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, Doechii, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar with SZA, Chappell Roan, and Bruno Mars. Every one of these tracks dominated TikTok over the past year. So, is the app reshaping what we consider “critically acclaimed”?

Take “Anxiety”, for example — a song that blew up thanks to countless trending edits and remixes. Its viral moment turned into streams, streams turned into chart success, and now, it’s reached Grammy recognition.

Newcomers Katseye are another clear case of TikTok’s power. The group — formed from Netflix’s Pop Star Academy — went viral with dance challenges to their tracks “Touch” and “Gnarly”. Now they’re celebrating their first Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Meanwhile, Justin Bieber made a major comeback this year, earning nods for Best Pop Solo Performance with “Daisies” and Best Pop Album. Zara Larsson’s dance-infused “Midnight Sun” also lit up the app before earning its own nomination. And Kehlani’s viral hit “Folded” sparked an entire wave of fan-made remixes across social media.

So maybe it’s time to ask — is TikTok just a marketing tool, or has it become the new A&R department for the music industry? The Grammys might still be about artistry, but in 2025, it’s clear that a viral moment can turn into a golden gramophone.

By Topsy and Rhea