Sped-Up Remixes Ruled TikTok in 2023

Sped-up remixes continue to resonate on TikTok: The four most popular songs on the platform in the U.S. in 2023 were all sped-up, according to TikTok’s year-end report. The leader of the pack was the “more sped-up” version of Justine Skye’s “Collide,” followed by sped-up renditions of FIFTY FIFTY’s “Cupid,” PARTYNEXTDOOR’s “Her Way,” and Toosii’s “Favorite Song.”

U.K. listeners also enjoyed using up-tempo re-works of songs in their TikTok videos. In addition to “Collide” (No. 2 on the platform) and “Cupid” (No. 3), they also favored a sped-up version of George Ezra’s “Green Green Grass” (No. 4), MEYY’s “Pretty” (No. 6), and Raye and 070 Shake’s “Escapism” (No. 10).   

The sped-up remixes that zip around TikTok are usually made first by creators (sometimes funded by label marketing efforts). If they start to perform well, it’s become routine for labels to release their own official versions. 

“Back in the day, we used club remixes to diversify the visibility of a record,” Nima Nasseri, who then served as global head of A&R strategy for Universal Music Group’s music strategy and tactics team, explained in 2022. “The purpose was to bring back visibility to the main version. Now people are discovering the main version from the sped-up or slowed one. Instead of spending $50,000 for a remix from a big-name DJ, you’re spending relatively minimal amounts [on a sped-up rendition] and getting much more return and reach.”

Why have these simple remixes proved consistently effective? Steven Pardo, digital marketing director at Secretly Group, told Billboard in 2022 that “in a video platform that prioritizes catching attention immediately, being able to get the impact of the lyrics across more quickly is advantageous.” 

Scott Plagenhoef, global head of music programming at Apple Music, echoed this sentiment during an interview with Billboard in March: “Sped-up songs allow for more of a track to be heard within the time constraints of a TikTok video and mirror the pace at which users consume content online.”

Increasing tempo can also “make the songs better — it brings out a different emotion,” according to Josh “Bru” Brubaker, a popular TikToker and radio personality for Audacy. 

In the last 15 months, sped-up remixes have spurred chart surges for Thundercat‘s “Them Changes,” Miguel’s “Sure Thing” (actually a resurge, as it first charted over a decade ago), The Weeknd’s “Die for You,” Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary,” Mariah Carey’s “It’s a Wrap,” and more.

Due to TikTok’s popularity and its ability to drive streaming activity, Billboard launched a TikTok Top 50 chart in September, ranking tracks on the platform according to a combination of creations, video views and user engagement in the U.S. “The chart gives a clear picture of the music that is being listened to on TikTok, and consequently starting to trend on DSPs and other services,” Ole Obermann, global head of music business development at TikTok, said in a statement.

Across the first two months of the chart, hip-hop proved to be by far the most popular genre, accounting for more than 35% of chart entries. Pop was next, hovering at 20%, largely thanks to Taylor Swift, who had nine different charting tracks in the first eight weeks. The third most popular genre was R&B (10%).  

U.S. listeners did listen to some music at its original tempo, according to TikTok’s year-end report. PinkPantheress and Ice Spice‘s “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2,” Ohboyprince’s “Bounce When She Walk,” Young Nudy and 21 Savage’s “Peaches & Eggplants,” Ice Spice’s “In Ha Mood,” Jain’s “Makeba,” and Swift’s “Cruel Summer” rounded out the rest of the top 10.