How to Convert a TikTok Account to an Artist Profile

Switching your TikTok to an Artist Account gives you powerful tools to promote your tracks and connect with fans, but the path to getting that official music-note badge isn't always obvious. It’s more than a vanity metric, it fundamentally changes how your music catalog is presented and discovered on the platform. This guide breaks down the eligibility requirements, the exact steps to get your music distributed, and how to officially claim your artist page on TikTok so you can start growing your audience.

What is a TikTok Artist Account and Why Do You Need One?

On the surface, a TikTok Artist Account looks similar to a standard creator account, but with a few game-changing distinctions designed specifically for musicians. It shifts your profile from simply being a place you post videos to a central hub for your entire musical presence on the platform.

Think of it as the difference between being a fan who uses songs and being the artist who provides them. While a Business Account offers general commercial tools, an Artist Account is laser-focused on music promotion and discovery. Once you convert, you unlock a suite of exclusive features.

Key Benefits of an Artist Account:

• The Official Artist Checkmark: Right next to your name, you'll get a verified music note badge. This instantly signals to users that your profile is the official home for your music, building credibility and trust.
• The "Music" Tab: A new tab appears on your profile, housing your entire catalog of songs that are available on TikTok. Fans can listen to clips of all your tracks in one place and easily use your audio in their own creations.
• Song Pinning: Just like pinning a top-performing video, you can pin your latest single or a trending track to the top of your music tab. It’s the first song people see, making it an invaluable promotional spot.
• Claiming Your Sound Pages: This links all the videos using your sound back to your official artist profile, consolidating your influence and ensuring you get credit for your work.
• Faster Music Library Syncing: New releases you upload through your distributor will appear in TikTok’s music library faster, allowing you to sync your promotional efforts with your release schedule.
• Showcase Your Work: Ultimately, it professionalizes your presence. Labels, publishers, and potential collaborators see you're officially recognized by the platform, which can open doors to bigger opportunities.

Before You Convert: Are You Eligible?

Before you begin the process, it's important to understand that not everyone can simply flick a switch and become an official artist on TikTok. The platform has specific criteria to ensure the feature is used by legitimate musicians. Getting this part right is the most common hurdle, so let’s get clear on what you need.

The single most important requirement is that you must have music officially distributed to TikTok. You cannot convert to an artist account if your songs are not already available in the TikTok music library for users to select from. This is a non-negotiable prerequisite.

How do you get your music into the library? You have to use a digital music distributor that partners with TikTok. Think of a distributor as the company that sends your .wav files, artwork, and song info to all the major streaming services and social platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Instagram, and of course, TikTok. You don’t upload your song directly to the TikTok app to make it an "official" sound.

Here’s what you need to have in place:

• You must be a musician or in a band. The profile is specifically for a music-making entity. It is not for curators, fan pages, or music bloggers.
• You must have at least one song officially released through a TikTok-approved music distributor. A few songs is even better.
• You need to use a distributor that officially delivers music to TikTok. Thankfully, most major distributors do. This includes services like:
  • DistroKid
  • TuneCore
  • CD Baby
  • UnitedMasters
  • Ditto Music

If you don't use a distributor and have just been uploading your songs as custom sounds in your videos, you are not eligible. The very first step on this path is partnering with a distributor to get your music properly indexed in TikTok’s system.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Converting Your Account

Once you’ve confirmed you meet the eligibility criteria, you can begin the process of claiming your artist page. Unlike switching to a Business Account, this conversion isn't done with a simple button tap inside the TikTok app’s settings. You’ll need to work through your distributor or a dedicated artist portal.

Step 1: Get Your Music on TikTok (The Right Way)

If you’ve already released music through a service like DistroKid or TuneCore, you're ahead of the game. When you uploaded your track, you likely checked a box to send it to TikTok and Instagram alongside Spotify and Apple Music. If you skipped this step, go back into your distributor’s dashboard and edit the release distribution channels to include TikTok.

If you’re starting from scratch, here's the workflow:

1. Sign up for a music distributor. Choose a service that fits your budget and needs. DistroKid and TuneCore are two of the most popular choices for independent artists.
2. Prepare your music files. You’ll need the high-quality audio file (usually a .wav), your album artwork (a JPG of at least 3000x3000 pixels), and all the song info (metadata), like the song title, artist name, and songwriter credits.
3. Upload and distribute. Follow the distributor's on-screen instructions to upload your assets. During the process, you will be presented with a list of "stores" and platforms to send your music to. Make absolutely sure you select TikTok.
4. Wait for delivery. It usually takes a few days to a week for your music to be processed and appear in TikTok's music library. Your distributor will notify you once it's live.

Congratulations! Your music is now an official "sound" that anyone can use in their videos. Now it's time to claim your authorship of that music.

Step 2: Locate Your Existing Artist Page and URL

Once your music is on TikTok, the platform automatically creates an un-owned artist page and individual pages for each of your songs. Your goal is to find that un-owned artist page and claim it as your own.

1. Open the TikTok app and go to the search bar.
2. Search for your official artist name alongside one of your song titles.
3. Tap on the "Sounds" tab to find your song. Click on it.
4. You’ll be taken to the Sound Page, which shows all the videos made with that specific track. At the top of this page, you should see your artist name listed next to a music note icon.
5. Tap on your artist name. This will take you to your unofficial artist page that lists all your tracks.
6. Tap the "Share" icon in the top right corner and copy the link. This URL is what you will need for the claiming process.

Step 3: Submit Your Claim at an Artist Hub

This is where the path can diverge. Unlike other platforms, TikTok's artist verification process is highly integrated with distributors and labels because they are seen as the verified source for music.

Many digital distributors now offer a direct way to claim your TikTok profile from within your dashboard. This is the easiest and most reliable method.

Using Your Distributor (Recommended):

• DistroKid: Log into your DistroKid account. Click the menu icon (a.k.a. the "Goodies" menu) > Special Access > "TikTok for Artists" option. Here, you'll be able to link your DistroKid account with your TikTok profile name.
• Other Distributors: Check your distributor's "Artist Services," "Tools," or "Marketing" section for a similar feature. It might be called "TikTok Artist Claim" or something of that nature.

Using a Direct Portal (If your distributor doesn't have a tool):

If your distributor doesn't offer a direct integration, you'll have to go through a link provided by music reps or artist support channels. Public artist request forms are sometimes available but change often. The most surefire way is to route your request through a label partner or your distribution service's support team. When submitting your claim, you'll typically be asked for your user handle, the URL of the unofficial artist page you copied in Step 2, and an email address for verification.

Step 4: Wait for Confirmation

Submitting your request does not mean instant verification. Your submission goes into a queue to be reviewed by a human team at TikTok. They need to confirm that you are the legitimate artist connected to the music. This process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the volume of requests.

You’ll know it worked when you see the "Music" tab appear on your profile and the official music note badge appears next to your name. Be patient, as there is often a backlog.

Maximizing Your Newly Upgraded Profile

Getting your Artist Account approved is just the beginning. The real advantage comes from using these new tools to actively promote your music and build a community around it.

• Promote your new music tab: Make a video announcing your new official artist status and tell your followers to check out the "Music" tab on your profile to listen to your full catalog.
• Pin your new single: Immediately pin your focus track to the top of your music tab. Anyone curious about your music will see it first. Change this out as you have new releases to promote.
• Create content using your own sounds: Don't just release music and hope it goes viral. Actively make videos with your tracks. Demos, behind-the-scenes footage, lyric breakdowns, and chill B-roll content all work great to get the ball rolling.
• Launch a trend or challenge: Is there a part of your song that's particularly danceable, memorable, or relatable? Create a simple concept for a video trend and kick it off with a clear call to action asking others to try.
• Monitor your music analytics: Keep an eye on the numbers for each of your sounds. Note which songs are getting the most video creations. That’s a powerful signal telling you what your audience is connecting with, and it can inform your next release or your promotional focus.

Final Thoughts

Converting to a TikTok Artist Account is a simple but formal process that starts with proper music distribution and ends with claiming your official page. By following these steps - getting your music delivered via a service like DistroKid, locating your system-generated artist link, and submitting a claim - you unlock a new dimension of music promotion and discovery on the platform.

Once your new artist profile is live, your focus will naturally shift to building a consistent content schedule for promotion. At Postbase, we built our platform specifically for the artists and creators burning the candle at both ends. We provide a single, clean visual calendar where you can plan and schedule all your video content for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts together. Because we designed for video first, your posts go live reliably without strange errors or quality issues, freeing you up to concentrate on the music itself, not the tedious task of posting it.