Aug 8, 2025
·Emily Kho
TikTok isn’t just pushing songs up the charts anymore. It’s reshaping who gets to tour, how fast shows sell out, and which markets light up first. When a 15-second clip lands in millions of feeds, local club gigs can turn into multi-continent runs in a matter of months.
For fans, that means two things:
New artists hit the road earlier than expected, often in smaller rooms where the energy (and value) is huge
Demand can spike unpredictably once the mainstream press catches up
Staying ahead of that curve can help you lock in better seats, lower prices and bragging rights that you saw them “before they blew up.”
Here are six viral artists you should be tracking in 2025—along with how to pounce when tickets drop.
Artemas
If you spent any time on TikTok in the past year, you’ve heard “I Like the Way You Kiss Me.” The moody alt-pop track didn’t just trend; it dominated global charts, hitting No. 3 in the U.K., cracking the U.S. Hot 100, and topping multiple European territories while racking up billions of TikTok views.
Artemas followed the single with his Yustyna mixtape and has since parlayed online virality into full-scale live momentum, including a 2025 Americas run promoted heavily through social clips and streaming overlays, driving fans to ticket links.
SeatGeek Pro Tip
Watch newly added secondary dates. Viral crossover acts often add late U.S. city fills once primary sales prove strong; price alerts plus Deal Score can surface under-face resale when early buyers can’t travel.
Addison Rae
Best known to many as a TikTok megastar, Addison Rae’s pivot into pop is now tour-real. Her first concert run (branded simply The Addison Tour) is scheduled across Europe, the U.K., North America and Australia through late summer and fall 2025, signaling serious intent to convert an enormous social following into ticketed audiences.
Early announcements indicate multi-market routing and likely tiered venue sizes as demand firms city by city, a common strategy when testing how creator fandom translates to live music spend.
SeatGeek Pro Tip
Follow artists on SeatGeek and enable price alerts for the cities you’re willing to travel to.
Knox
Knox Morris (who now records simply as Knox) is the rare case study of doing TikTok right and then doing the actual road work. His 2022 viral moment with “Sneakers” drew millions of views, industry attention and ultimately a record deal with Atlantic Records.
The real inflection point, though, came when The Band Camino invited him on tour, giving Knox crucial stage reps and in-person fan conversion before his own headline runs. It’s a reminder that virality opens the door; touring builds staying power.
Knox’s story has become a template for how creators can ladder into real ticket demand.
SeatGeek Pro Tip
Opening slots for bigger alt-rock or pop tours are often worth their weight in gold. Think lower prices, good sightlines and a chance to see the breakout before venue upgrades. Sort by “Lowest Price” + check Deal Score when Knox is on a support bill.
Lola Young
British singer-songwriter Lola Young’s emotionally raw breakout “Messy” caught fire across TikTok and streaming, vaulting her from festival buzz to major radio events.
She had a headline-making moment at Capital’s Summertime Ball (June 15, 2025, Wembley Stadium), where technical earpiece issues led to an on-stage tearful pause that fans rallied around. This display only deepened her connection with audiences and amplified online discussion of her live shows.
Young has announced a North American tour kicking off in November 2025, tied to her coming album I’m Only F---ing Myself (September 19 release), positioning her for a rapid ticket climb as viral familiarity converts to in-room loyalty.
SeatGeek Pro Tip
Emotional singer-songwriter tours tend to start in mid-size theaters; those sell by city. Set alerts early in secondary markets (not just New York and LA) to catch face-value drops from season-ticket bundles or resellers who can’t attend.
Lay Bankz
Philly-raised Lay Bankz rode social sound snippets, dance challenges, and genre-bending R&B/hip-hop hooks to breakout visibility heading into 2025; she landed on multiple “emerging artist” watch lists at the top of the year.
While her 2025 live calendar is still developing (with some dates posted and others pending), fans are actively tracking when her full routing will appear. That uncertainty can work in your favor: when shows pop up with short notice, early listings are often lightly priced before demand catches up.
SeatGeek Pro Tip
Because Lay Bankz has unevenly announced dates, use SeatGeek’s “Track performer” option so you’re first in line when events load; mobile push + email gives you a jump on low opening prices.
Sam Barber
Country-rooted singer Sam Barber has been quietly building a large grassroots following through TikTok performance clips and emotionally direct songwriting, and 2025 is his breakout touring year.
His North America schedule spans fairs, amphitheaters, theaters and festival fields, a classic expansion pattern for a rising country/folk crossover act. Even better, ticket entry points are often significantly lower than arena prices.
Current listings show broad routing (Idaho, California, Missouri, British Columbia, and more) and strong inventory range, making Barber a high-value play for fans willing to travel regionally.
SeatGeek Pro Tip
Many Sam Barber dates list sub-$25 lawn or GA options alongside premium reserved seats; use the interactive map filters in SeatGeek to compare price vs. view and lean on Deal Score for value picks in outdoor venues.
Quick SeatGeek playbook for viral artist tours
Follow the artist in the SeatGeek app and enable notifications; newly added shows and price drops often surface there before social chatter catches up.
Use Deal Score to spot value, especially when hype drives list prices higher but comparable views exist in nearby sections. This is useful on mixed-demand tours like emerging country (Sam Barber) or developing pop/R&B (Lay Bankz) where seller pricing varies.
Check interactive seating maps to compare sightlines and budget tiers across venues; GA pits vs. reserved seats differ widely in experience for rising artists moving through venue upgrades.
SeatGeek’s Buyer Guarantee backs valid entry or refund/credit if events are canceled and not rescheduled. That safety net is especially helpful when chasing fast-moving viral acts whose routing can change.
Don’t miss the next big thing—track, set alerts and score early
TikTok isn’t slowing down, and neither are the artists rising through it. Whether you're a fan of emotive singer-songwriters like Lola Young or genre-bending newcomers like Lay Bankz, getting tickets early means better seats, better value, and unforgettable live moments.
Use SeatGeek to follow your favorite breakout stars, set custom price alerts, and explore interactive seat maps before shows sell out. Stay ahead of the crowd, and get ready to say “I saw them before they blew up.”
Get started now — search your city and track the artists you love.