Music 'refugees' from Tiktok tune into fans via RedNote

New generation

With the surge of American "TikTok refugees" flooding onto Red-Note, a new phenomenon has emerged. More musicians are launching their accounts on the platform and finding fresh audiences in China. A new generation of global artists is exploring RedNote as a way to share their music and ideas with a vast, international audience.

Christina Munsey, 23, from Raleigh, North Carolina, said Red-Note has provided her with both wide exposure and connections to diverse cultures.

When Munsey first joined Red-Note in January, she didn't fully know what to expect. Like many foreign musicians exploring new platforms, the idea of engaging with an audience across the globe was both thrilling and uncertain.

"I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. My intention was to reach a broader audience and explore how well my music would play out in different cultures and countries," she said.

She had already built a modest following through other social media apps like TikTok, but was eager to test her music's appeal in China.

The early days on RedNote were exploratory. Munsey wasn't sure how her brand of indie, emotional and often deeply personal music would resonate with new listeners.

"I was curious to see if my sound connects with people beyond my usual reach," she said.

"To my surprise, this journey quickly revealed the global power of music and taught me about 'cat tax'," she said, referring to a quirky trend on RedNote where users post pictures of their pets, often accompanied by music.

After posting just 20 videos, her audience rose sharply.

"In the first 72 hours of posting, I saw my followers grow from a small number to over 100,000. It was an incredible and surreal adjustment," she said. "The response has been overwhelmingly positive."

Munsey's fans have also expressed deep appreciation for her authenticity. "Your music touches my heart. I don't understand all of it, but the feelings come through clearly," one wrote on RedNote.

For Munsey, it wasn't just the large number of followers that impressed her, but the quality of the engagement. As her music reached a wider audience, she found that users weren't just passive listeners — they were active participants in the cultural exchange. They commented on her music, shared their stories, and connected with her in ways that transcended language barriers.

"The most meaningful part has been reading heartfelt comments and seeing how my music resonates with people across the world," she said. "Even when many can't understand the lyrics, they still connect with the emotions my songs convey. That connection is a gift."

Munsey's journey has inspired her to learn Mandarin. "The desire to connect more deeply with my Chinese audience has only grown," she said. "I'm now taking Mandarin classes to understand and communicate better."

Conor Doyle, who lives in Mooncoin, Ireland, has also seen an immediate response to his Red-Note post.

"I have only posted one video and two photos, but I have gotten some lovely messages. China has such a healthy love for music of all types, so I am excited to see the reactions the more I post," said the 24-year-old musician.

"From a musician's point of view, any time a content-based app blows up, musicians tend to want to get there early and be ahead of everyone else, and establish a following," Doyle said.

Doyle began playing music at the age of 15. He said he has never been to China, a country he described as "rich in history, culture and celebration of life".

"Visiting is definitely a goal of mine and I will learn some Mandarin while on this app," he said.