Welcome to our February Bulletin!

Read on for a look into TikTok’s new streaming update, some major industry moves, our Artist of the Month and Laid Bare Selections playlist, a returning legend in our Laid Bare Heroes spotlight, and, of course, some incredible live shows coming your way this spring...

WHAT’S TRENDING

TikTok is testing a new feature that could change how we discover and listen to music on the app. In partnership with Apple Music, TikTok is trialling a "Play Full Song" feature that lets users stream entire tracks without leaving the app, not just the short clips we’re used to hearing.

If you have an Apple Music subscription, you’ll be able to listen to full songs directly within TikTok, with an Apple Music label displayed during playback. The two platforms are also testing a "Listening Party" feature that would let groups of users stream music together in real time.

This builds on TikTok’s existing "Add to Music App" tool, which has already helped save over 3 billion tracks to streaming services since launch. For independent artists, it’s another reminder of how central TikTok has become to music discovery, with reports showing that 84% of songs that reached Billboard’s Global 200 last year first went viral on TikTok. Read more here.

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

This month's Artist of the Month is Vijay Strickland ✨

Vijay’s song "You're So Distant" caught our eye as a moody, emotionally raw track that explores the quiet ache of feeling disconnected from someone you care about. Blending smooth R&B with atmospheric production, the song captures themes of longing, miscommunication, and vulnerability, allowing Strickland's expressive vocals to take centre stage.

If you're into artists like Daniel Caesar or Giveon, Vijay's soulful delivery and introspective songwriting will definitely resonate. He's definitely one to watch with a strong organic social media strategy, a growing catalogue, and consistent releases that are building a dedicated fanbase.

Let's celebrate rising talent and support the artists shaping the future of independent music! 🎶

MUSIC NEWS

It’s been a busy few weeks for industry news, with several notable partnerships and product launches shaping the music landscape:

AWAL x Artist First: Sony Music-owned AWAL has announced a strategic partnership with Milan-based distributor Artist First. The deal will give Italian artists access to AWAL’s global distribution and services, while AWAL artists will benefit from Artist First’s local marketing expertise in the Italian market. Read more here.

SeatGeek x Spotify: SeatGeek has launched an integration with Spotify, enabling fans to discover and purchase tickets directly within the Spotify app. When browsing an artist’s page, users will now see ticket links for concerts at participating venues, making it easier than ever to go from streaming to seeing their favourite artists live. Read more here.

UMG x EVEN: Universal Music Group has entered a multi-year agreement with EVEN, a direct-to-fan platform that helps artists connect with their most dedicated supporters. The partnership will allow UMG artists to offer early access to music, exclusive content, and merch, highlighting just how important superfan engagement has become across the industry. Read more here.

Google Lyria 3: Google has launched Lyria 3, its latest AI music-generation model, within the Gemini app. Users can now create 30-second tracks from text or image prompts. Google says the tool is designed for personal creative expression rather than professional production, and all generated tracks are watermarked to clearly identify AI-generated content. Read more here.

LAID BARE HEROES

We're celebrating the return of a true legend this month: British singer-songwriter Labi Siffre, who has announced Unfinished Business, his first new album in 28 years, set to arrive later this year via Demon Music Group.

At 80 years old, Siffre's voice and songwriting remain as powerful as ever. His new single, "Far Away," is a beautiful piano-led ballad that showcases the emotional depth that has defined his career. To mark the announcement, he performed a rare live session for BBC Radio 2's Piano Room with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Siffre's influence on modern music runs deep. His songs have been sampled by Eminem ("My Name Is"), Kanye West ("I Wonder"), and Jay-Z, while his anti-apartheid anthem "(Something Inside) So Strong" remains one of the most powerful protest songs ever written. More recently, his music has found a new audience on TikTok, with younger generations discovering his timeless catalogue. A fitting return for a true artist. 💛

ALL ABOUT US

We update our playlist every month with the best new tracks we discover from talking to so many wonderful independent musicians, and we'd love to hear from you too!

Save and follow ‘Laid Bare Selection’ on Spotify to discover fresh talent alongside us. If you're an artist, drop your song in the comments on this post to be considered for next month's update. We're always excited to discover new favourites 💛

New additions this month include tracks from fletchr, Finn Forster, Ellur, Fiona Lee, Sophia, Talia Rae, Bea Elmy Martin, and Charlotte Clarke.

👉 Listen along here!

LAID BARE LIVE

Make sure to follow us on Instagram and TikTok — 2026 is shaping up to be huge!

We'll be bringing you more label releases, more live events, more ways to support independent artists, and more of that sweet community feeling.

With love, from the Laid Bare Family x