How to Get Your Music on TikTok

Getting your music on TikTok can make or break a song, turning an unknown track into a global viral hit in a matter of days. This guide walks you through the official process for adding your music to TikTok’s sound library and then covers the real creative strategies you’ll need to promote it and give it a fighting chance to trend.

Why TikTok Matters for Musicians

Before getting into the "how," let's quickly touch on the "why." Unlike other platforms where visuals come first, TikTok is built on a sound-on culture. Music isn't just background noise, it's the core of the content. A 15-second clip of your song can become the soundtrack to millions of videos, driving streams, Shazam searches, and real-world recognition almost overnight.

Artists like Lil Nas X ("Old Town Road") and Arizona Zervas ("Roxanne") went from relative obscurity to chart-topping stars because their songs blew up on the platform first. For an independent artist, TikTok isn't just another social media app - it’s the single most powerful music discovery tool available today.

Step 1: Get Your Music into TikTok's Official Library

You can’t just upload an MP3 file directly to TikTok and expect it to appear in the sound library for everyone to use. TikTok licenses music through official channels to ensure artists get paid royalties when their songs are used. The good news is, for an independent artist, this process is straightforward. You have two main options.

Method 1: Use a Digital Music Distributor (The Path for Independent Artists)

This is the most common and accessible route for unsigned musicians. Digital music distributors are services that act as a middleman, sending your music to all the major digital stores and streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and - most importantly - TikTok.

Here’s how it works:

1. Choose a Distributor

There are many reputable distributors to choose from, all of which are official TikTok partners. Most operate on a subscription or a per-release fee model, and they take a small commission on royalties. Some of the most popular choices include:

• DistroKid: Known for its simple, annual fee model that allows you to upload unlimited songs and albums. It's incredibly user-friendly and a favorite for beginners.
• TuneCore: One of the original players in the space. It operates on a per-release fee model (you pay for each single or album you upload) but it lets you keep 100% of your royalties.
• CD Baby: Charges a one-time fee per release rather than a recurring subscription. Like TuneCore, it gives you 100% of your streaming royalties and offers physical distribution services as well.
• Amuse: Offers a free tier that lets you release music to major platforms, an amazing starting point, though its paid tiers provide faster releases and more features.

2. Prepare Your Assets

Before you upload, you’ll need a few things ready:

• The Audio File: Your song needs to be in a high-quality, uncompressed format. Most distributors require a WAV file, though some accept FLAC. An MP3 file is generally not accepted for distribution because its quality is too low.
• Album Artwork: Your cover art must be a perfect square and high-resolution, typically at least 3000x3000 pixels. It also needs to be in JPG or PNG format.
• Metadata: This is all the background information about your track, including the song title, artist name, songwriter(s), producer(s), and any featured artists. Be accurate here, as this is how you get paid!

3. Upload and Distribute Your Music

Once you’ve signed up with a distributor, the process is pretty simple:

1. Start a new release: Log into your distributor’s dashboard and select "Upload New Music."
2. Enter the metadata: Fill in all the fields for the artist name, song title, genre, language, and songwriter credits.
3. Upload your files: Upload your high-quality audio file and your album artwork.
4. Select the stores: This is the big one. Your distributor will show you a checklist of all the platforms they can send your music to. Make sure you check the box for both TikTok and Instagram/Facebook. Many distributors bundle them together.
5. Choose Your Snippet: Some distributors, like DistroKid, let you specify which 60-second part of your song should be available on TikTok. Pick the "hook" - the catchiest, most memorable part of your track. If you don't choose, TikTok will often select it for you, but it’s always better to take control.
6. Submit for Review: Your distributor will review your submission to make sure it meets all the technical requirements. This usually takes a few days. Once approved, they will send it to TikTok and all the other platforms you selected. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks for your sound to appear live in the TikTok audio library. Plan ahead!

Method 2: Work With a Record Label or Publisher

If you're signed to a record label or have a publishing deal, this entire process will almost certainly be handled for you. Labels have their own distribution channels and teams dedicated to delivering music to all relevant platforms, including TikTok. This is a perk of being a signed artist, as the label's marketing team will also work to promote the sound, often by collaborating with TikTok's internal music teams and leveraging a network of influencers.

The downside, of course, is that you have less control over the process and receive a smaller percentage of the royalties. For most emerging artists, the distributor path is the way to go.

Step 2: Promote Your Sound on TikTok (Your Music is Live, Now What?)

Getting your music into the library is just the first step. Millions of songs are available on TikTok, so you can't just cross your fingers and hope people find yours. You have to create the initial momentum yourself. This is where your creativity as a marketer, not just a musician, comes in.

Start Creating Videos Immediately

The moment your sound is live, be the very first person to use it. Don't wait. Your first videos set the tone and show people how the sound can be used.

• Create your own trend: Make a video that links your sound to a simple, repeatable action. This could be a dance, a lip-sync, an ironic facial expression, a special effect transition, or even just pointing to text on the screen. The goal is to create a template that others can easily copy.
• Tell a story: Create a video explaining the "making of" the song, the meaning behind the lyrics, or a personal anecdote related to it. This helps connect people to you, the artist, not just the tune.
• Low-effort, high-impact ideas: You don't have to produce a music video every time. Some of the most effective videos are simple:
  • Singing along to your song while driving.
  • Using your song as background music for a "day in the life" clip.
  • Sharing behind-the-scenes studio footage.

Make Your Sound Easy to Find

Pin one of the best videos you’ve made with your sound to the top of your TikTok profile. This acts as a showcase and an invitation for anyone who discovers your profile to click on the sound and see other videos using it. When someone lands on your page, you want to make it obvious what song you're currently pushing.

Engage with Every User

When you start to see other people organically use your sound (even if it's just one or two videos), treat it like a huge event. Your early adopters are your best marketers.

• Comment on their videos: Leave genuine, appreciative comments. "This is amazing! Thanks for using my song!" goes a long way.
• Use Duet and Stitch: Duet or Stitch their videos to react, add to it, or just show them love. This exposes their video to your audience and makes them feel seen.
• Follow them: Follow the creators who are using your sound early on. Building community is powerful.

This social proof encourages other users who might be on the fence to join in. When people see the artist is actively engaging, it creates a sense of community around the sound.

Collaborate With Other Creators

Don't be afraid to reach out to other creators and influencers. You don't need a huge budget to work with macro-influencers. Micro-influencers (those with 5k - 50k followers) often have hyper-engaged audiences and are more open to collaborating, sometimes just for the love of the music.

Find creators whose vibe and content style match your musical aesthetic. A personal DM that says something like, "Hey, I love your content and I'm a musician. I just released this song and I think it would be perfect for one of your videos. Let me know what you think!" feels much more authentic than a sterile business proposition.

Expand Across Platforms

Your song is also available on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts through your distributor. Don't let that opportunity go to waste. Repurpose the TikToks you've made for those platforms. You never know where lightning will strike - a song might take off on Reels even if it starts slow on TikTok. Drive your existing audience from Instagram, X, and YouTube to your TikTok profile and ask them to help you get the trend started.

Final Thoughts

Getting your music officially on TikTok is a technical process, accomplished easily with the help of a digital distributor. But that's just opening the door, the real work lies in consistently creating compelling content, engaging with your community, and giving your sound the push it needs to spark a trend.

At Postbase, we know that managing a consistent content calendar for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts - all while trying to write and record music - can feel like juggling too many things at once. We built our platform to simplify this exact workflow. You can use our visual calendar to plan your music promotion, schedule all your short-form videos across multiple platforms at once, and keep all your community interactions in one unified inbox. It saves you valuable time and headspace, so you can focus less on administrative tasks and more on what you do best: making music.