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TikTok Radio To Premiere Live at SXSW

• by Colin Kirkland , March 12, 2026

Through its strategic partnership with iHeartMedia, TikTok plans to launch TikTok Radio -- an app- and broadcast station-accessible initiative -- live from the South By Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas.

On March 13, listeners will be able to hear TikTok Radio-- a live radio program dedicated to songs natively popular on the video-sharing platform -- as well as creator-led storytelling, on the iHeartRadio app and 28 broadcast stations across the country.

According to the announcement, TikTok Radio will be streaming live on radio stations based in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, Miami, and more. 

“It's a station where listeners will feel like they are scrolling on TikTok, but with their ears,” iHeartMedia wrote in November 2025.

To further build its reputation as a mainstream music =discovery source, TikTok Radio will feature five different talk and music segments focused on counting down “the 10 biggest songs of the week on TikTok,” trending life hacks, hot takes about everyday topics in lifestyle and culture, new music releases, and featured music from emerging artists. 

At its SXSW presentation, TikTok and iHeartMedia will go live from the iHeartPodcasts Hotel in Austin, broadcasting onsite interviews, surprise segments, and more with a variety of visiting TikTok creators. 

“Content captured throughout the event will be featured across iHeart channels, creator platforms and brand partners,” the companies’ announcement notes. Later this month, listeners will be able to follow @tiktokradio within the social media platform for updates to the lineup. 

Ahead of the inaugural live broadcast, TikTok and iHeartMedia have also announced the lineup of hosts for the new TikTok Podcast Network, which will launch in partnership with GEICO, and feature up to 25 new podcasts hosted by TikTok creators on both the iHeartRadio app and TikTok Radio.

In the coming months, the slate of original podcasts will cover culture, fashion, sports, music, media, entertainment and more, hosted by Venezuelan influencer Lele Pons (“Suite 305”); fashion editor and blogger Caroline Vazzana (“Caroline’s Closet”); former college football player and sports creator Clifford Taylor IV (“The Clifford Show”); music executive Carter Gregory (“The Set List”); and more.

TikTok first partnered with iHeartMedia last summer, launching “Next Up: Live Music,” a singing competition in which contestants advanced through a competition based on a combination of engagement from the TikTok community and scores from a panel of judges.