Before topping the Billboard Global 200, Alex Warren was sleeping in his car.
Today, the former Hype House member turned pop powerhouse is in the middle of a sold-out global tour, while his breakout single “Ordinary” soundtracks millions of TikToks. Even Lana Del Rey is a fan. “Every time I hear it, I think, ‘Why can’t we hear more like this?’ because it takes you to church,” she said.
With over 2.3 million TikTok videos featuring “Ordinary” and 10.2 billion views on those videos alone, Warren’s success is a masterclass in the new rules of the music business, where fan engagement fuels real-world impact.
“Hype House was like my college, but for social media,” he told Variety. “It helped me learn how to create content that resonates with an audience and can captivate people. Also, being homeless was a great motivator.”
Daniel Brown
He understood TikTok’s potential as a career-builder early on—and he knew how to use it. Warren, who is deeply embedded in the app’s music ecosystem, doesn’t stop at posting his own music. He leans into trends, responds to fans, and plays an active role in shaping the narrative around his songs.
And fans have responded—500M+ streams, #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the UK Singles Chart, and #5 on the Spotify Global Top 50 all speak to the massive cultural moment “Ordinary” has become. He even broke a 70-year record held by Elvis Presley, as “Ordinary” marked its ninth week at Number 1—the longest run by a U.S. male solo artist in decades.
But even more telling is the way the song has been adopted by TikTok creators: it’s now a go-to soundtrack for wedding montages, emotional tributes, and relationship content.
TikTok’s ability to turn passive listening into participation is what sets it apart. The scrolling video platform is transforming how artists connect with fans, build momentum, and break into the mainstream.
Warren’s story is highlighted in TikTok’s new content series, Behind the Breakthrough—a docu-style spotlight on artists who first found their audiences on the platform and are now shaping the global charts. Like Gigi Perez and Malcolm Todd before him, Warren used TikTok not just as a launchpad, but as an incubator for creativity and authenticity. It’s that honesty—his openness about mental health, heartbreak, and resilience—that makes him resonate so deeply.
Daniel Brown
Following the success of “Ordinary,” Warren’s full-length debut You’ll Be Alright Kid (Chapter 1) cemented his standing as more than a viral artist. Songs like “Carry You Home” (with nearly 500 million streams globally) showcase his emotional range and songwriting depth. He’s not chasing trends—he’s building a body of work.
And the industry is taking note. Named one of People Magazine’s “Talented Emerging Artists,” an iHeartRadio “On The Verge” artist, and featured in Tidal and Amazon’s artists-to-watch lists, Warren is positioning himself for long-term impact. His Cheaper Than Therapy Global Tour is hitting 47 cities, bringing the vulnerability and connection of his songs into the real world.
Still, he credits TikTok with giving him the tools and audience to launch his second act.
TikTok, for its part, continues to redefine how music is promoted, discovered, and loved. In 2024 alone, the platform drove over 200 million creations tied to the Global Top 10 Songs—resulting in over 8 billion Spotify streams. And with tools that blend organic reach with strategic promotion, it’s helping artists build sustained momentum—beyond fleeting virality.
The takeaway? Artists today don’t just release songs—they create moments. And TikTok is where those moments start.
For Alex Warren, what began as a personal outlet has evolved into a global stage. His story is proof that with vulnerability, vision, and the right platform, the ordinary can become extraordinary.
Watch Alex Warren reflect on how TikTok fueled his success by checking out ‘Behind the Breakthrough’ here.
