How to Post Music on TikTok

Posting your music on TikTok is one of the most powerful moves you can make to find an audience. This guide walks you through every step of the process, from simply adding a trending song to your video to officially getting your own original music into TikTok's sound library. We'll also cover the strategies you need to actually get people using your sound.

Using TikTok's Sound Library: The Basics

For most creators, the easiest way to add music is directly from TikTok's massive library of licensed songs. This method is straightforward and ensures you're using audio that's clear and permitted on the platform.

Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Music from TikTok

1. Open the TikTok App and Start Creating: Tap the plus icon (+) at the bottom of the screen to start a new video. You can either record a new clip or upload one from your camera roll.
2. Open the Sound Library: At the top of the creation screen, you'll see a music note icon with the words "Add sound." Tap on it.
3. Find Your Song: You'll be taken to the commercial music library. Here, you can:
   • Search: Use the search bar at the top to look for a specific song, artist, or even a genre.
   • Browse Playlists: TikTok curates playlists like "TikTok Viral," "New Releases," and themed collections that are great for finding trending audio.
   • See Your Favorites: Any sound you've previously saved will appear under the "Favorites" tab.
4. Select and Trim the Sound: Once you find a song you like, tap on it to preview it. Tap the red checkmark to add it to your video. A new screen will appear showing the song's waveform. You can slide this waveform left or right to choose the exact part of the song you want to use in your video. Most viral clips are built around a song's catchiest 15-second loop.
5. Adjust Volume Levels: After you've recorded or uploaded your video with the sound, tap the "down arrow" icon on the right-hand menu and select "Volume." Here you can adjust the balance between your "Added sound" and the "Original sound" from your video's audio. This is perfect for voiceovers where you want the music to be quieter in the background.

For Musicians: How to Get Your OWN Music on TikTok

If you're an artist, producer, or band, you can't just upload an MP3 file directly to TikTok and have it appear in the music library for others to use. To get your music officially on the platform, you need to use a digital music distributor. This is the same process you’d use to get your tracks on Spotify, Apple Music, or Deezer.

Working with a distributor is essential for a few reasons: it validates you as the copyright holder, allows you to get paid if your music generates revenue, and makes your music discoverable for millions of creators worldwide.

Choose a Digital Music Distributor

Think of a distributor as the middleman between you and the major streaming platforms. They handle the complex process of getting your music delivered, formatted correctly, and tracked for royalties. Some of the most popular distributors that send music to TikTok include:

• DistroKid: Known for its simple, artist-friendly pricing. You pay an annual fee and can upload unlimited songs and albums. It's incredibly fast at getting music onto streaming services and into TikTok's library.
• TuneCore: Another major player, TuneCore operates on a per-release fee model (you pay for each single or album you upload). They offer robust analytics and publishing administration services.
• CD Baby: One of the oldest distributors, CD Baby uses a one-time fee per release and offers both digital distribution and physical CD/vinyl manufacturing.

When selecting a distributor, consider their fee structure, speed, customer support, and any additional services they offer, like playlist pitching or publishing administration.

Step-by-Step Process for Uploading Your Song

While the interface for each distributor is slightly different, the core process is generally the same.

1. Sign Up and Create a New Release
2. After creating an account with your chosen distributor, you'll start a new release and choose whether it's a single or an album. You'll need to specify that you want your music sent to TikTok, Instagram, and other social platforms (most distributors have a checkbox for this).
4. Prepare Your Audio and Artwork
5. Your audio file must be high-quality. Distributors require uncompressed file formats like WAV or FLAC, not MP3s. Your artwork must also meet specific requirements, usually a high-resolution square image (e.g., 3000x3000 pixels) in JPG or PNG format.
7. Fill In Your Song's Metadata
8. This is all the information tied to your track: artist name, song title, genre, songwriters, and any featured artists. Be meticulous here, accurate metadata ensures you get credited and paid correctly.
10. Select Your Official TikTok Clip
11. This is a big one. TikTok clips are usually 15-60 seconds long. Most distributors let you specify the exact start time for your clip - the default snippet people will hear when they find your song. Choose the most exciting, memorable, or "trendable" part of your song. Think about the hook, the beat drop, or a powerful lyric.
13. Submit and Wait
14. Once you've submitted everything, the distributor reviews your release to make sure it meets all the platforms' guidelines. This can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. Once approved, your music will begin appearing on streaming services and, importantly, will become a searchable sound on TikTok.

Your Music Is on TikTok... Now What? Promoting It Effectively

Getting your sound into the library is just the first step. The real work is encouraging people to use it. Success on TikTok isn't about luck, it's about giving your sound a creative purpose.

Create an Easy-to-Copy Trend

Viral sounds rarely happen on their own. They're almost always attached to a simple, engaging format that anyone can replicate. Your job is to create that format for your song.

• Dance Challenge: Choreograph a simple, easy-to-learn dance to a part of your song. Don't make it too complex, the more accessible it is, the more likely people are to try it.
• Lip-Sync Performance: Act out the lyrics of your song in a creative or funny way. Use relatable situations that resonate with your target audience.
• "Point and Text" Format: Use on-screen text to tell a story or list relatable statements that sync with the beat or lyrics of your song. This format is incredibly versatile and popular. For example, a video might start with text reading "3 things I learned after starting my own business," pointing to new text callouts on each beat.
• Transformation/Glow-Up: Use the climax or beat drop of your song to transition from one look to another. This format works perfectly for songs with a strong dynamic shift.

Whatever you choose, post the first video of the trend yourself. Use a clear caption that encourages others to join in, like "Can't wait to see your videos using this sound!" or by creating a unique hashtag like #YourSongNameChallenge.

How the Algorithm Works with Music

The TikTok algorithm is designed to push content that keeps users on the app longer. When someone uses your sound, all of those videos are linked together. If a few videos using your sound start getting good engagement (high watch time, shares, comments), the algorithm may start showing your sound to more people who are likely to interact with it. It creates a snowball effect: the more people use your sound, the more discoverable it becomes for others.

Engage with Everyone Who Uses Your Sound

Every single video using your sound is a chance to build a fan. Actively search for your sound on the discovery page and engage with the creators.

• Like and Comment: Leave an encouraging comment on their video. A simple "This is awesome, thank you for using my song!" can make a creator's day and turn them into a superfan.
• Duet or Stitch Their Videos: Use TikTok's Duet and Stitch features to react to their creations. This not only shows appreciation but also creates new content for your own profile.
• Share Their Videos: Re-post your favorite videos that use your sound on your TikTok Story or on other platforms like Instagram Stories. This fosters a sense of community around your music.

Use the Right Mix of Hashtags

Hashtags help the algorithm categorize your video and show it to the right audience. A smart strategy uses a mix of different types:

• Broad Hashtags: #fyp, #foryoupage, #viral (Use sparingly, but they help with initial reach).
• Niche and Genre Hashtags: #indieartist, #newmusic, #singersongwriter, #producertok, #hyperpop (These help you find your target audience).
• Branded Hashtags: #yourartistname, #yoursongtitle, #YourSongNameChallenge (These help you build and track your community).

Final Thoughts

Getting your music on TikTok starts with a simple choice: using the platform's extensive sound library or distributing your own original tracks. For artists, working with a distributor is the vital step to make your music available to the world, ready to become the soundtrack for the next big trend.

Of course, a successful launch requires a solid content plan that maintains momentum. We know firsthand how challenging it is to juggle video ideas, schedule posts, and keep everything organized across multiple accounts. That’s why we built our visual calendar at Postbase to make planning out your video content strategy straightforward. Because we are designed for a video-first world, it helps you see exactly what's going live on TikTok and when, letting you focus more on creating killer content and less on the logistical chaos.