How to License a Song for Commercial Use on TikTok

Using that viral sound trending on TikTok seems like a no-brainer for your brand, but stop before you hit post. For business accounts, tapping into the latest audio trend isn't as simple as it looks and can lead to serious legal headaches. This guide will walk you through exactly how to license music for commercial use on TikTok, breaking down the process so you can get creative without risking takedown notices or worse.

Why Can't Your Business Just Use Viral TikTok Sounds?

You've probably noticed that when you switch to a Business Account on TikTok, your audio selection suddenly shrinks. That's not a glitch. TikTok purposefully restricts Business Accounts to its Commercial Music Library (CML), a collection of over a million songs and sounds that are pre-cleared for promotional and marketing content. Viral hits from major artists like Taylor Swift or Drake are almost never in this library.

The distinction boils down to copyright law. A Personal Account is for individual, non-commercial use. TikTok's agreements with music labels generally cover this kind of use - people making fun videos in their living rooms. However, when a business uses a song to promote a product or service, that's commercial use, which requires a totally different set of rights. Using a popular, unlicensed song in your branded content is a form of copyright infringement.

What are the risks? They range from minor annoyances to major problems:

• Video Takedown: TikTok's algorithm or the copyright holder can have your video muted or removed entirely.
• Account Penalties: Repeat offenses could lead to a temporary suspension or even a permanent ban on your account.
• Legal Action: In serious cases, the rights holders (the record label and music publisher) could pursue legal action against your company for damages, which can be incredibly expensive.

The bottom line is simple: if you're using TikTok to make money in any way, you need to treat music licensing seriously.

Understanding Music Rights: The Two Licenses You Absolutely Need

Before you can license a song, you need to understand what you're actually paying for. Legally using a piece of recorded music in video content requires securing permission from two different sets of rights holders. You must obtain both of these licenses to be fully compliant.

1. The Synchronization (Sync) License

Think of this as the license for the song itself - the melody, the lyrics, the arrangement. It's the songwriter's intellectual property. This right is controlled by the music publisher (or sometimes the songwriters directly if they're self-published). A sync license gives you permission to "synchronize" their musical composition with your visual media, which is exactly what you're doing with a TikTok video.

2. The Master Use License

This license is for the specific recording of the song you want to use. While a publisher owns the rights to "All I Want for Christmas Is You," Sony Music owns the rights to Mariah Carey's iconic recording of that song. If you wanted to use that specific version, you'd need a master use license from Sony. This right is controlled by the record label or whoever financed the recording (which could be an independent artist).

Imagine you're making a lasagna. The sync license is permission to use the family recipe. The master license is permission to use the lasagna that Grandpa Tony already cooked. In nearly every case for social media, you want to use a specific, well-known recording, so you need permission for both the recipe and the finished dish.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Licensing a Major Song

So, you have your heart set on using a specific, popular track for your next big campaign. Be prepared: this process can be long, complex, and expensive. But it is possible. Here's a breakdown of the steps involved.

Step 1: Identify the Rights Holders

First, you need to find out who to even contact. This requires a bit of detective work.

• For the Sync License (Publisher): Start by searching the song title in the databases of Performing Rights Organizations (PROs). These organizations help songwriters and publishers collect royalties. The major ones in the U.S. are ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and GMR. Their public databases will list the songwriters and publishers associated with a song.
• For the Master License (Record Label): This is usually easier to find. A quick look at the song's credits on Spotify, Apple Music, or even its Wikipedia page will typically list the record label that released it.

Step 2: Reach Out with a Formal Request

Once you've identified the publisher and the label, find the licensing or business affairs department on their official websites. It's time to draft your outreach email. Be as detailed as possible to get an accurate quote and a quick response.

Your request should include:

• Who Are You?: Your company name and what you do.
• Which Song?: The song title and artist.
• What's the Video?: A brief description of the TikTok video or campaign concept. Will it be an organic post or a paid ad?
• How You'll Use the Music: What portion of the song you intend to use (e.g., "15 seconds of the main chorus").
• Where It Will Live: Specify it's for your brand's official TikTok account. Be clear if you might also post it on other platforms like Instagram Reels.
• How Long You'll Use It: This is the "term." For a social media post, you might ask for one year.
• Territory: For social media, this should always be "worldwide."

Step 3: Negotiate the Fees

If the rights holders are interested, they will come back to you with a quote. The cost of licensing music varies more than almost any other creative asset. It can range from a few hundred dollars for a song from a small indie band to well over six figures for a global hit song from a superstar artist.

Several factors will influence the ultimate price:

• The fame of the artist and song.
• How you plan to use it (an organic post is cheaper than a paid ad).
• The length of a campaign (a one-year term costs less than an "in perpetuity" license).
• Your company's size and reach.

Don't be afraid to negotiate, but be realistic. A globally recognized track is a premium asset, and the labels and publishers know it.

Step 4: Get It All in Writing

Once you agree on a price, you will receive two separate license agreements - one sync license from the publisher and one master use license from the record label. Never proceed based on an email exchange alone. A formal, signed contract is non-negotiable.

Review the agreements carefully to ensure the terms (term, territory, approved usage) match what you discussed. For high-value licenses, it's always a good idea to have a lawyer, preferably one who specializes in entertainment or intellectual property law, review the paperwork.

Simpler, Saner, and Cheaper Music Licensing Options

Feeling overwhelmed by the direct licensing process? That's a perfectly normal reaction. Luckily, for the vast majority of businesses, there are much better and more accessible ways to legally find music for promotions on TikTok.

Option 1: Royalty-Free Music Platforms

This is the go-to solution for most content creators and businesses. Royalty-free doesn't mean free, it means you pay a one-time fee or a recurring subscription for a license that allows you to use music without paying ongoing royalties to the creator.

Platforms like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, and Soundstripe are fantastic resources. They offer massive, high-quality libraries of music created for this specific purpose.

Benefits:

• Clear, Easy Licensing: Their terms are designed for commercial content on social media, so there's no confusion.
• Affordable: A monthly subscription is a tiny fraction of the cost to license a single pop song.
• Highly Searchable: You can filter tracks by mood, genre, beats per minute (BPM), and instrumentation to find the perfect vibe for your video.

Option 2: TikTok's Commercial Music Library

It's easy to dismiss the CML because it lacks the big hits, but it's a valuable and completely safe tool for any brand on the platform.

Benefits:

• 100% Free and Pre-Cleared: Every track in the CML is cleared for commercial use on TikTok. You don't have to worry about a thing.
• Constantly Growing: While it may not have household-name artists, TikTok continuously adds new tracks from emerging and production music artists.
• Good for Background Music: It's perfect for finding audio to run under tutorials, product showcases, or voiceovers where the music's job is to set a mood, not be the star of the show.

Option 3: Commission Custom Music or Work with Indie Artists

Want a sound that's uniquely yours? Partner directly with an independent musician or producer to create a custom track for your brand. This can be more affordable than a famous track and allows you to build a unique sonic identity.

You can find up-and-coming talent on platforms like SoundCloud, Bandcamp, or even right on TikTok. This approach not only provides you with bespoke audio but also creates an authentic opportunity to support aspiring artists.

Just remember: even in this scenario, you need a straightforward written agreement that grants you the rights for commercial use in exchange for your agreed-upon payment.

Final Thoughts

Navigating music licensing is an essential skill for any brand that wants to succeed on TikTok. While directly licensing a famous song is a complex and expensive process, sticking to safer alternatives like TikTok's Commercial Library or royalty-free platforms will keep your content engaging and your business protected.

Creating great social media content consistently is a massive challenge, and sorting out legal details like music licensing is just one part of the puzzle. We built Postbase because we believe your tools should make your life easier, not add another layer of complexity. With a visual calendar designed for modern content like TikToks and Reels, we help you plan your schedule, get a clear view of your strategy, and ensure you're always posting consistently without the stress.