How to Get the Artist Tag on TikTok

Seeing that little music note icon and Artist label next to a name on TikTok feels like a big deal, because it is. It's TikTok's official stamp of approval, and it unlocks a set of tools that can change how your music is discovered on the platform. This guide breaks down exactly what you need to do, step-by-step, to get the official artist tag on your TikTok profile.

What is the TikTok Artist Tag and Why All Musicians Need It

The Artist Tag is more than just a cosmetic label on your profile, it's a powerful feature that legitimizes your presence and streamlines your music promotion. When you get verified as an artist, TikTok essentially links your profile page to your official music catalog. This unlocks several game-changing benefits that make it an absolute must-have for any musician serious about growing on the platform.

You Get a Dedicated Music Tab

This is easily the biggest advantage. Once you have the artist tag, a music tab (marked with a music note icon) appears on your profile page, right next to your grid of videos. This tab becomes a one-stop shop for your entire discography on TikTok. Anyone who lands on your profile can instantly see and listen to every song you’ve officially released. They can save sounds, find your top tracks, and use your music in their own videos with just one tap. It removes all friction, turning casual profile visitors into potential listeners and fans who are actively using your sounds.

It Adds a Layer of Credibility

In a world of duplicate accounts and fan pages, the artist tag acts as a form of verification. It tells everyone - fans, industry professionals, and TikTok's own algorithm - that you are the legitimate source of your music. This credibility can build trust with your audience and make your profile stand out. It signals that you're taking your career seriously and have gone through the official process to claim your work on the platform.

It Consolidates Your Music and Data

When someone uploads a video using your music before you have the artist tag, TikTok doesn't always know how to tie that usage back to you. After you claim your profile, TikTok properly syncs your official artist identity with your sound pages. This means all analytics and usage data are correctly attributed to you. You can see how many videos have been made with each of your songs, helping you identify which tracks are starting to trend so you can double down on promoting them.

It Increases Your Chances of Promotion

While not a guarantee, having an official artist account makes you more visible to TikTok's staff and content curators. When they are looking for new artists to feature in official playlists, campaigns, or #NewMusic showcases, verified artist accounts are the first place they look. Claiming your artist tag puts you in the consideration pool for promotional opportunities that are entirely inaccessible to regular accounts.

The Two Essential Things You Need Before You Start

Before you ever open the TikTok app to start the claiming process, there are two foundational pieces you must have in place. Many artists get stuck here without realizing it. If you try to skip these steps, you won't be able to claim your artist tag, plain and simple.

1. Use an Official Music Distributor

This is the most critical requirement. You absolutely cannot get the artist tag if your music is only uploaded to TikTok as an "Original Sound" directly from your phone. Your music must be delivered to TikTok's official sound library through an approved digital music distributor.

These distributors are the services that get your music onto major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and - you guessed it - TikTok.

When you sign up with a distributor, you upload your audio files, artwork, and metadata (like your artist name and song title). They then handle the technical process of distributing it to all the stores. Here are some of the most popular distributors that work well for getting your music on TikTok:

• DistroKid: Known for its affordability and simple, fast distribution. It’s a very popular choice for independent artists.
• TuneCore: Another industry leader that offers robust distribution and publishing administration services.
• CD Baby: One of the original indie distributors, offering both digital distribution and physical options like CDs and vinyl.

When uploading your new release through any of these services, just make sure you select TikTok as one of the platforms you want to send your music to. It's usually checked by default, but always double-check. Paying for distribution through one of these services is the official gateway to becoming a recognized artist on the platform.

2. Have at Least One Song Delivered to TikTok

Once you've used your distributor to send a song to TikTok, you need to confirm it's actually live in their sound library. This process can take anywhere from a few days to a week after your official release date.

To check, simply open the TikTok app:

1. Tap the "+" button to create a new video.
2. Tap the "Add sound" button at the top of the screen.
3. In the search bar, type your artist name and the song title.

If your track appears with the correct cover art, you're good to go. If it doesn’t show up yet, be patient. Sometimes there's a slight delay between when your music hits Spotify and when it's fully indexed in TikTok's library. You have to wait until at least one of your songs is present in the official library before you can move on to the next step.

How to Claim Your Music on TikTok: A Step-by-Step Guide

Once you’ve confirmed your music is officially on TikTok via a distributor, you’re ready to claim your artist page. The process happens entirely within the app and is thankfully pretty straightforward.

Follow these steps exactly:

1. Post a video using your own song. The first step is to create a new TikTok that uses one of your tracks from the official sound library. Navigate to the sound library as described above, find your song, select it, and record or upload any video. Once it's posted to your profile, you're ready to proceed. (Note: You can also find another video, made by anyone, that uses your sound to start this process).
2. Go to your sound page. Open the video you just posted (or found). At the bottom of the screen, you'll see the title of your song scrolling next to a spinning record icon. Tap on that scrolling text. This will take you to your song's official sound page, where you can see all the other videos that have used your track.
3. Select "Claim my music." On your song page, you should see your song title, artist name, and a button that says "Claim my music" or an option within the '...' menu for artist options. The interface can sometimes change, so look around a bit, but it's typically a prominent button on this page. If you see it, tap on it.
4. Follow the Verification Process. TikTok will guide you through a short verification process. Since your song was delivered by an official distributor, they already have you in their system. The steps are usually designed to confirm that the TikTok account you're logged into belongs to the artist associated with that track. Usually, this just takes a couple of clicks to confirm.
5. Wait for approval. After you've submitted your claim, it's a waiting game. It typically takes anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks for TikTok to finalize the verification and convert your profile into an artist account. You'll know it's complete when you check your profile and see the new music tab and the "Artist" label under your name. Done!

Common Problems and Pro Tips to Get the Artist Tag Faster

Sometimes things don't go exactly as planned. If you're running into issues or just want to make the process as seamless as possible, here's some advice based on common hiccups artists face.

What to Do If the "Claim My Music" Button Isn't There

This is the most common issue. You navigate to your sound page, but the "Claim my music" option is nowhere to be found. A few things could be happening:

• It's too soon. If your song just went live on TikTok today, the system might not have indexed it properly yet to allow a claim. Give it a few days for the option to appear.
• It's a regional issue. Artist account features are supported in most, but not all, regions. Make sure the feature is available where you are.
• It's an app glitch. Try the basics: log out of your TikTok account and log back in. If that doesn't work, delete the app entirely and reinstall it. This can often resolve phantom UI bugs.

Keep Your Branding Consistent

The verification process is largely automated. TikTok's system matches the artist name on your distributor's release metadata with the account trying to claim it. Any inconsistencies can throw a wrench in the works. Make sure the artist name you use on DistroKid, TuneCore, etc., is spelled exactly the same as it is on your TikTok profile name. A small difference in capitalization, a period, or a special character can sometimes be enough to confuse the automated system and delay your verification.

Build Your Presence as an Artist

Officially, having an active profile with followers isn't a requirement. But think of it from TikTok's perspective. It helps if your account already looks and acts like an artist's account. Start embracing your artist persona long before you get verified. Use your own music regularly in your content. Shoot behind-the-scenes footage of your creative process. Engage with fans in the comments who are using your sounds. The more you use TikTok as a tool for your music before you claim your profile, the smoother your journey as a verified artist will be afterward.

Final Thoughts

Getting the artist tag on TikTok is a straightforward process when you know the steps. It really all comes down to using an approved distributor to get your music officially into the system, then completing the simple "claim my music" workflow directly from a video that uses your sound.

Once you get that tag, the real work of promoting your music begins. Consistently creating content, engaging with trends, and managing your community becomes the central focus, which can feel like a full-time job. Having managed social for numerous brands over the years, we created Postbase because we knew artists and creators need a tool that simplifies their workflow, not complicates it. Since it was built for short-form video from day one, planning and scheduling your TikToks in our visual calendar alongside your other platforms just feels right. You can brainstorm ideas, manage comments, and see what's actually working, giving you more time back to do what you do best: make music.