How to Find TikTok Commercial Sounds

Finding the right sound for your TikTok video is more complicated for a brand than it is for a casual user, but getting it right is a massive part of creating content that connects. This guide breaks down exactly what sets commercial sounds apart, where to find them without getting into legal trouble, and how to pick the perfect audio to bring your brand's content to life. We'll show you how to use TikTok's internal library, explore great royalty-free options, and even find inspiration for your next video.

What Exactly Is a "Commercial Sound" on TikTok?

On TikTok, a "commercial sound" is a piece of audio that is pre-cleared for businesses, brands, advertisers, and creators to use in their promotional or sponsored content without worrying about copyright infringement. This is the fundamental difference between the audio available to a personal Creator Account and a TikTok Business Account.

Why does this matter? Popular music - the stuff you hear on the radio or in trending memes - is protected by complex licensing agreements. Using a top 40 hit in a video that promotes your product or service is a form of advertising, and doing so without the proper commercial license can lead to serious consequences, including:

• Video Takedowns: TikTok can remove your video for violating its intellectual property policies.
• Audio Removal: The sound might be muted on your video, rendering it ineffective.
• Account Penalties: Repeated violations could lead to restrictions or even a ban on your account.
• Legal Action: In rare but serious cases, the copyright holder could pursue legal action against your business for unauthorized use of their music.

To avoid these headaches, TikTok created its Commercial Music Library (CML). This is a collection of over 1 million songs and sound clips that TikTok has pre-licensed for commercial use, making it the safest and easiest option for any brand on the platform.

How to Find Sounds in TikTok's Commercial Music Library

If you have a TikTok Business Account, you automatically have access to the CML. It's built right into the content creation process. Finding a sound is straightforward, but knowing how to navigate the library makes all the difference.

Step-by-Step Guide to Accessing the CML:

1. Start Creating a Video: Open the TikTok app and tap the "+" icon at the bottom of the screen to start a new video. You can either record a new clip or upload existing footage from your phone.
2. Tap "Add Sound": At the top of the editing screen, you'll see a music note icon with the text "Add sound." Tap it.
3. Go to "Commercial Sounds": This is your control center for monetized content. Because you're using a Business Account, the default tab will be "Commercial Sounds." You don't need to switch or look for it, you're already in the right place.

Strategies for Browsing the CML:

Once you're in the library, don't just pick the first sound you see. A great video starts with the perfect audio track. Here's how to find it:

• Use the Search Bar: Have a specific mood in mind? Search for keywords like "upbeat," "relaxing," "corporate," "energetic," or "inspirational." You can also search for genres like "indie," "hip hop," or "acoustic." This is the fastest way to narrow down the selection.
• Browse Themed Playlists: The CML team does a great job of curating playlists for different needs. You'll find collections like "Trending," "New Releases," "TikTok Viral," "Gaming," "Fashion Vibe," and even industry-specific playlists for things like restaurants or real estate. These are treasure troves of pre-approved sounds.
• Check the "Recommended" Tab: TikTok’s algorithm will suggest sounds it thinks will fit your content based on your past activity and video style. It’s not always perfect, but it can surface some unexpected gems.
• Save Your Favorites: Hear a sound you like? Tap the little bookmark icon next to it to add it to your "Favorites." This is incredibly helpful for building a curated library of go-to sounds that fit your brand's style, saving you time on future videos.

The main limitation of the CML is that it won't contain most of the globally trending pop songs you see in viral memes. But it contains more than enough fresh, high-quality music to make standout content that's 100% safe for your brand.

Using the TikTok Creative Center to Find Trending Commercial Sounds

One of the best-kept secrets for savvy marketers is TikTok’s free Creative Center. It's a powerful tool that helps you understand what's currently trending on the platform, and you can filter specifically for sounds that are available for business use.

Here's how to leverage it:

1. Navigate to the Creative Center: Go to ads.tiktok.com/business/creativecenter on your desktop.
2. Select the "Trends" Tab: Click on the "Trends" tab at the top of the page, then select "Songs." By default, this will show you the top trending songs across all of TikTok for your selected region.
3. Filter for Commercial Use: Look for a button or checkbox that says "For Commercial Use." This is the magic filter. When you enable it, the list will update to show only the trending songs that are part of the Commercial Music Library.
4. Identify &, Save: You can now see what's popular *right now* among business-friendly sounds. You'll see breakouts for top songs and "breakthrough" artists. You can’t add the sound directly from here, but you can identify the song and artist, then search for it in the TikTok app's CML when you're ready to create.

Using the Creative Center bridges the gap between just finding *any* commercial sound and finding one that's actively gaining traction on the platform, giving your content a better chance to be seen.

Beyond TikTok: Where to Find More Commercial-Use Sounds

Sometimes you need a very specific piece of music or a higher production quality than what's available in the CML. In those cases, turning to third-party, royalty-free music platforms is your best option. These services provide vast libraries of music licensed for social media and commercial use.

Reputable Royalty-Free Music Services

Platforms like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, and Soundstripe are fantastic resources. They operate on a subscription model, where a monthly or annual fee grants you a license to use their entire music catalog in your content across various platforms, including TikTok.

The Workflow for Using These Services:

1. Find Your Track: Search the platform's library using genre, mood, tempo, or thematic keywords.
2. Download the Music: Once you've found the perfect track, download the MP3 or WAV file to your phone or computer.
3. Edit Your Video Off-Platform: Use a video editing app like CapCut, InShot, or even Adobe Premiere Rush. Import your video footage and the downloaded audio file into the editor. Edit your video to match the beat and tone of the music.
4. Upload to TikTok: Once your video is complete and edited with the licensed music, export it. Open TikTok, tap the "+" icon, and upload the finished video file. TikTok will recognize it as an "Original Sound" attributed to your account.

The big win here is that this "Original Sound" might even be picked up and used by other creators, effectively turning your branded video into a potential content trend, all with audio you know is legally sound.

What About Creating Your Own Audio?

The safest and most on-brand sound you can ever use is one you create yourself. Original audio is a powerful way to stand out, and it doesn't always require professional audio equipment.

Types of Original Audio:

• Voiceovers: Storytelling is huge on TikTok. A narrative voiceover explaining a process, telling a funny story, or sharing a tip can become a sound people reuse.
• Brand Jingles or Sounds: Create a short, catchy jingle or a unique "sound logo" that plays at the beginning or end of your videos. Duolingo's little trumpet sound or Grubhub's delivery dance sound are classic examples of brands creating recognizable audio.
• Repurposing Existing Audio: Do you have a podcast, a YouTube series, or customer testimonials? Snippets of compelling audio from that existing content can be repurposed into highly effective TikTok sounds.

When you upload a video with unique audio, it becomes an official "Original Sound" on TikTok. If it resonates, other users can tap the sound and use it in their own videos, driving discovery back to your original video and your account.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right commercial sound on TikTok comes down to understanding your options: use the built-in Commercial Music Library for safety and convenience, find trending approved songs via the Creative Center, use a royalty-free service for more variety, or create custom audio for a truly unique brand identity. By sticking to these commercially safe choices, you protect your brand from legal risks and open up new doors for creative, effective content.

After you've selected the perfect sound, the work of planning and executing your video calendar begins. A great sound with an inconsistent content schedule won't deliver results. That's why we built a social media tool that makes it easy to schedule your content - especially video - so you never miss a beat. With a simple visual calendar in Postbase, you can plan your TikToks alongside your other content, and trust that our reliable publisher will get your posts live on time, every time.

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