News December 3, 2020

Sia, Jawsh 685 rule TikTok’s year-end lists

Senior Journalist, B2B

Have you done your year-end list? TikTok has.

The short-video streaming platform today (3rd December) unveils its inaugural end-of-year review, with recaps on the top creators, trends and clips across its platform in Australia and New Zealand.

The big winners are — not for the first time — Sia Furler and Jawsh 685.

Adelaide-born, Los Angeles based Sia comes in at No. 1 among the most-followed Australian music acts on TikTok in 2020, followed by Iggy Azalea and City Pop Records signing Mia Rodriguez.

Also cracking the Top 10 are Troye Sivan, 5 Seconds of Summer, The Kid LAROI, Timmy Trumpet, Hobart metalhead Kim Dracula (with 2 million followers) and more.

Media-shy Sia is back in the spotlight in a big way, with a new album Music due out in February, led by the new single ‘Hey Boy.’

Music is the companion piece for a Sia’s upcoming directorial debut, also due out in February.

Also, the superstar singer and songwriter performed via video link at last week’s 2020 ARIA Awards.

Meanwhile, Jawsh was the creator of note from these parts, coming in at No. 1 on the list of Australia’s favourite songs to make TikToks with.”

The teen producer was behind ‘Siren Beat,’ the viral hit which morphed into the ‘Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)’ collaboration with Jason Derulo and, ultimately, a global chart topper.

Jawsh 685

Fellow Aucklander BENEE also cracks the list.

“2020 has been an unexpected and difficult year for everyone and we’ve all faced our own unique challenges, big and small,” comments Lee Hunter, General Manager, TikTok Australia and New Zealand in a blog post.

“While things have been tough in many ways, Australians have joined people from around the globe to share their experiences, find some light relief, have fun and come together on TikTok. We’re overjoyed to have been part of this amazing community and to see Australian creators bringing happiness and inspiration to people all over the world”.

Buoyed by the explosion of BENEE and other acts from the lands Down Under, TikTok launched a recruitment drive in these parts with no less than nine local roles advertised in January.

In the months since, Ollie Wards (Director of Music) and Claire Robinson (Global Communications, Sydney) and others have come on board.

Australian-born, U.S.-based exec Vanessa Pappas is currently running the global business as interim head.

According to market research firm Roy Morgan, TikTok is the “hot new social network,” particularly with young Australians. More than 1.6 million Aussies are said to visit the website or use the app in an average month.