TikTok US creator Awards

Photo Credit: TikTok

Rather than twiddling its proverbial thumbs waiting for the launch of “TikTok USA,” TikTok announces its first-ever US TikTok Awards show.

While the White House promises “TikTok USA” is on its way, the short-form video platform is banking on keeping the lights on in the United States. On Monday, TikTok announced the launch of its first-ever U.S. edition of the TikTok Awards to take place on December 18 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.

Users will be able to vote for their favorite creators on a new portal on TikTok that will be available on November 18, a month before the show. The show will be livestreamed on December 18 on the TikTok app and on Tubi, and will also be available to stream on demand on Tubi the next day.

Awards will include “Creator of the Year,” “Video of the Year,” “Muse of the Year,” “Breakthrough Artist of the Year,” and many more. Other categories include “Storyteller of the Year,” “TikTok For Good Award,” “MVP of the Year,” “Okay Slay Award,” and “TikTok Live Creators of the Year.”

“[T]he first-ever TikTok Awards in the U.S. [is] a celebration of the creators, trends, and moments that make TikTok the heartbeat of culture for 170 million Americans,” TikTok’s announcement post reads. “The trophies presented on stage will beam a colorful glow upon the creators defining this new era of culture encompassing many areas, including fashion, beauty, sports, TV and film, and new forms of entertainment.”

Although this will be TikTok’s first awards show in the U.S., the company has held similar events in other countries, including Mexico, Germany, and South Korea. Launching a U.S. edition of its awards show aims to position TikTok as more of a legitimate force in the entertainment industry. It’s a smart move, as the platform has evolved into a launching pad for emerging talent across the music and acting industries.