Meet Sam MacPherson, Your Next Favorite Artist
Once upon a time (okay, like 2008), a 13-year-old kid named Justin Bieber was posting acoustic covers on YouTube, and boom, he became a global superstar. Fast forward to today, and TikTok is doing the same thing, launching fresh new artists into the spotlight. Enter Sam MacPherson, a rising singer-songwriter whose heartfelt tunes are making waves. Could he be TikTok’s answer to YouTube’s Bieber?
Oh, and before we go further—TikTok’s fate is hanging in the balance with talks of potential bans (again). So, is this musical gold rush about to end? Let’s discuss.
Who Is Sam MacPherson, and Why Should You Care?
Sam MacPherson isn’t just another dude with a guitar—he’s an indie-pop powerhouse with melancholy bangers and a voice smoother than your morning oat milk latte. Hailing from Red Bank, New Jersey (Springsteen country!), Sam grew up surrounded by music, with a songwriter dad who probably had cooler taste in music than yours.
He taught himself guitar in college, and before long, he was writing songs that feel like getting hit by a nostalgia truck (but in a good way). His track “Routine” blew up in 2021, and TikTok took it from there, catapulting his music into the ears (and hearts) of millions.
Today he unveils his deeply personal new single, “American Dream Trajectory,” out today on all streaming platforms. The song serves as the title track to his highly anticipated debut album, set for release on May 9th. The release follows MacPherson’s recent signing with TikTok, further amplifying his reach and influence.
TikTok: The New YouTube? Or a Sinking Ship?
Back in the day, YouTube made stars out of bedroom musicians—Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, Alessia Cara. But now, TikTok’s hyper-addictive algorithm is turning everyday users into music tastemakers. One viral snippet? Boom. You’re famous.
That’s exactly what happened to Sam MacPherson. His song “Last Minute” got millions of streams thanks to TikTok, and in 2022, he signed with Elektra Records. Would this have happened without TikTok? Maybe, but it sure sped up the process.
Now, the big question: Is TikTok about to get banned in the U.S.? Lawmakers are eyeing a potential ban (again), which could mean artists like Sam lose one of their biggest platforms. If TikTok disappears, will we go back to discovering artists on… MySpace? (Kidding, kind of.)
So, Where Can You Hear Sam MacPherson?
Sam’s sophomore EP, “Powerlines,” dropped in 2023 and is packed with soulful, gut-wrenching tunes about love, loss, and feeling way too many emotions at once. You can stream it on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or wherever you get your sad-boy jams.
Oh, and if you want to cry in public (or just vibe), Sam’s been touring across the U.S., playing in cities like New York, LA, and Washington, D.C. Check out his latest tour dates.
Final Thoughts: The Future of Music Discovery
Whether or not TikTok survives, one thing’s clear: it’s changed the music industry forever. It’s the new talent scout, the new hitmaker, the new place where record labels go fishing for the next big thing. If it does disappear, artists will have to find new ways to break through, maybe back to YouTube, maybe onto whatever app Gen Alpha is obsessed with next.
As for Sam MacPherson? He’s already got the talent and the fanbase. TikTok helped, sure, but this guy is here to stay.
So, go listen. Fall in love with his music. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll be able to say, “I knew him before he was huge.”
Let’s Listen
