How to Get an Artist Account on TikTok

Setting up an official artist account on TikTok isn't about finding a secret button, it’s about strategically building your presence so the platform and its users recognize you as one. The process involves two major steps: getting your music officially into TikTok’s library and optimizing your profile to function as your professional artist hub. This guide will walk you through exactly how to do both, plus strategies for creating content that connects with fans and grows your audience.

What is a TikTok Artist Account, Really?

Unlike Spotify or Apple Music, TikTok doesn't have a specific, separate "Artist Account" type that you apply for. Instead, treating your TikTok profile as an Artist Account means accomplishing three key goals:

• Getting your original music into the sounds library, so anyone can use it in their videos.
• Linking your music directly back to your profile, so when people tap the sound, your page appears as the artist.
• Optimizing your profile and content strategy to convert passive listeners into active fans.

Achieving this status turns your TikTok profile from just another account into a powerful music discovery and community-building tool. Let’s break down how to get it done.

Step 1: Get Your Music Officially on TikTok

The single most important step to being recognized as an artist on TikTok is making your music available for users to add to their videos. You can't just upload a video with your song and hope for the best. To get your music into the official "Sounds" library, you need to use a digital music distributor.

What's a Music Distributor?

Music distributors act as the bridge between you and major digital platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Instagram, and of course, TikTok. You pay them a small fee (either per-release or annually), and they handle the technical process of delivering your music to these services, processing your royalties, and ensuring all your metadata is correct. For a musician, a distributor is an essential partner.

Popular choices for independent artists include:

• DistroKid
• TuneCore
• CD Baby
• UnitedMasters
• AWAL

How to Upload Your Music for TikTok

While each distributor has a slightly different interface, the process is largely the same everywhere. Here’s a general step-by-step guide:

1. Sign Up for a Distributor: Choose a distributor that fits your budget and needs. Read reviews and compare their features. DistroKid and TuneCore are widely used for their simplicity and fast delivery to TikTok.
2. Prepare Your Files: You will need a high-quality audio file of your song (usually a WAV file) and your cover art (a high-resolution JPG, typically 3000x3000 pixels).
3. Start a New Release: Inside your distributor's dashboard, look for an "Upload" button. You’ll be prompted to enter all the song details, including the song title, artist name, songwriter credits, and release date. Be perfectly accurate here, as this is the information TikTok and other stores will display.
4. Select "TikTok" as a Store: During the upload process, you'll see a checklist of digital stores and platforms. Make sure "TikTok" (and usually "Facebook/Instagram") is checked. This tells the distributor to deliver your music to their sound library.
5. Link Your TikTok Profile: Crucially, distributors like DistroKid and TuneCore now have a dedicated field for your TikTok username. Do not skip this step. Adding your profile here is what enables TikTok to connect the sound directly to your page when it goes live.
6. Choose the Timing for Your Clip: TikTok allows users to select any 60-second part of your song, but the default clip that plays is determined here. Most distributors let you specify the start time for the track's preview. Pick the catchiest part - the chorus, a hook, or the drop - to encourage more usage. If you're unsure, they'll often default to the beginning of the chorus automatically.
7. Submit Your Release: After you’ve double-checked everything, submit your music. It can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks for your song to go through the distributor's review process and appear live in the TikTok sound library. Plan ahead before you announce anything.

Once it's live, a quick search for your artist name and song title in TikTok's sound search will bring it up. Congratulations, your music is now officially available to over a billion people.

Step 2: Optimize Your Profile Like a Pro

With your music on the platform, your next job is to transform your page into an engaging hub for your brand. This means choosing the right account type and setting up your bio and links to drive action.

Choose Between a Creator and Business Account

TikTok offers three account types: Personal, Creator, and Business. A personal account is too limited for an artist's needs. The real choice is between Creator and Business.

• Creator Account: This is the best choice for most independent musicians and artists. It gives you access to detailed analytics and creator tools while retaining full access to TikTok’s entire commercial music library. This is a massive advantage, as it allows you to participate in trends using other artists' popular songs.
• Business Account: This account type offers advertising tools and specific business features, but it has a huge drawback: it severely restricts your use of music. You are only allowed to use sounds from a limited, royalty-free Commercial Music Library. Using a trending pop song for a fun video could get your content flagged. Only consider this if you are a larger brand or artist signed to a label with a specific marketing legal framework.

To switch your account type: Go to your profile > Tap the three lines in the top right > Settings and Privacy > Account > Switch to Business Account or Creator Account.

Craft a Perfect Artist Bio

Your bio is your digital elevator pitch. You have 80 characters to tell visitors who you are, what you do, and what they should do next. Follow this simple formula:

[Who You Are] + [What You Do] + [Call to Action]

Here are a few examples:

• Indie-pop singer/songwriter 🎶 Stream my new single "Sunset Ave" 👇
• Abstract Painter based in NYC 🎨 Commissions open! Check my work:
• Touring musician making folk songs 🎸 See upcoming dates below:

Remember to use emojis to add personality and break up the text. State your genre or style clearly to attract the right kind of followers.

Use Your Link in Bio Strategically

The link in your bio is your most valuable real estate for converting TikTok viewers into fans on other platforms. Instead of just linking to your Spotify profile, use a "link aggregator" tool like Linktree, Beacons, or ToneDen. These services create a simple landing page where you can host multiple links.

Your "link in bio" should include:

• A link to your newest single or album on all streaming platforms (a pre-save or smart link is perfect for this).
• Your official website or portfolio.
• Your merchandise store.
• Links to your other social media profiles (Instagram, YouTube, etc.).
• Your tour dates and ticket vendor links.
• Your email list signup form.

Step 3: Create Content That Builds Your Artist Brand

Your profile is set up, your music is live. Now the fun begins. Your content is what will grow your account and connect you with an audience. Here are actionable content strategies for artists.

Show Your Creative Process

People love seeing how art is made. Don't just post the final product - share the journey. This demystifies your work and makes your audience feel like they're a part of it.

• Musicians: Post videos of you writing lyrics in a notebook, creating a beat on your laptop, experimenting with a guitar riff, or recording vocals in your closet. Show the small, messy, unfiltered moments.
• Visual Artists: Post time-lapses of a painting or drawing, "pack an order with me" videos for commissions, or just a quick tour of your studio or sketchbook. Showing progress builds investment from viewers.

Use Your Own Sound Relentlessly

Now that your music is on the platform, use it! Your number one goal for every promotional period should be to get that new song's usage up. Create a variety of videos with your track in the background.

Some ideas:

• Create a simple video with the album art and lyrics on screen.
• Make a video explaining the meaning behind a specific lyric.
• Show behind-the-scenes footage from the music video shoot.
• Start your own trend or a simple challenge related to the song’s theme.
• Put the song over scenic views, montages of your pet, or any aesthetic content that matches the vibe. It doesn't always have to be directly about you.

Engage with Other Creators and Trends

TikTok is a conversation. Don’t just broadcast your own art, participate in the wider culture of the app. This shows you're a member of the community, not just a marketer.

• Duet and Stitch: Use the Duet or Stitch feature to react to other videos, add a harmony to a singing video, or give your take on a popular topic.
• Use Trending Sounds: Participate in trends using a sound that is climbing the charts. This is how you introduce yourself to new audiences. Find a clever way to connect the trend to your life as an artist. For example, use a viral lip-sync audio with on-screen text like "Me writing a song about my ex vs. me running into them in public."

Connect Directly with Your Community

The magic of platforms like TikTok is direct artist-to-fan communication. Your listeners want to connect with the human behind the art.

• Reply to a Comment with a Video: This feature is golden for engagement. If someone leaves a great question or comment, use the "reply with video" function to answer it personally. It makes a fan for life.
• Go LIVE: Set a schedule to go LIVE once a week. You can perform an acoustic set, host a Q&A session, or just work on a painting and chat with people who pop in. Live sessions are an extremely effective way to form genuine bonds with your biggest supporters.

Final Thoughts

Getting your artist account on TikTok is a process of official setup and thoughtful strategy. By working with a distributor to get your music in the system, optimizing your profile into a hub for your brand, and posting content that shares your artistic journey, you can transform your presence from a simple account into a powerful career-building tool.

Once your strategy is in place, the challenge shifts to staying consistent across every platform. At Postbase, we designed our platform specifically for artists and creators who are deep in the world of short-form video. Since we were built for video first, scheduling content across TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts from one visual calendar is incredibly simple. This helps us take the headache out of multi-platform management, so we have more time to stay creative. You can plan WEEKS of content and see your entire strategy at a glance with Postbase.