From 'Take a Sexy Picture' to Mainstream Pop: the Evolution of Tiktok Dance Hits
By Marcus Vance
As seductive moves drove millions in downstream revenue for labels, a bitter dispute flared over creator compensation. For years, young Black choreographers originated cultural phenomena in their bedrooms without formal attribution. Prominent white influencers frequently copied these sensual movements, performed them with muted timing, and reaped massive corporate sponsorship contracts.
The cultural rupture culminated in the 2021 creator strike surrounding Megan Thee Stallion's "Thot Shit." Black choreographers refused to create routines for the track, exposing how heavily the platform depended on their uncompensated creative labor. For weeks, the song languished without a dominant visual challenge, revealing that raw music alone rarely drives viral momentum without physical movement attached.
Legal scholar analyses published in academic outlets highlighted how US copyright law historically failed to protect short, vernacular dance steps. Federal copyright offices require full-scale dramatic choreography rather than individual social dance steps. In response, choreographers began teaming up with intellectual property attorneys to register extended movement sequences, establishing digital paper trails and forcing music labels to treat choreographers as contractual marketing consultants.
Marcus Vance is a cybersecurity auditor and technology writer dedicated to educating the public about online safety, data privacy regulations, enterprise security, and emerging cyber threats.
