TikTok has become one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 1 billion monthly active users as of September 2022. The app allows users to create and share short videos along with music clips. TikTok has licensing deals with major record labels which gives users access to an extensive music library to add to their videos. In August 2022, TikTok announced the launch of a new standalone music streaming service called TikTok Music which will compete directly with Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming platforms.
TikTok’s music integration has been a huge driver of growth for the app. The ability to easily search for and add music to videos makes content creation accessible and fun. TikTok also gives music artists the ability to upload their songs directly to the platform as another avenue for music distribution. As of January 2022, over 175,000 musicians have uploaded original songs to TikTok.
With the launch of TikTok Music, the platform aims to further capitalize on music as a core part of its identity. TikTok Music will include the entire global TikTok music library along with playlists and personalized recommendations. The TikTok community’s engagement with music on the main app will also influence recommendations in TikTok Music. Overall, music has been and continues to be an integral part of the TikTok experience.
Obtaining Music Files
One of the first steps in adding your own music to TikTok is obtaining the music files. There are a few main ways to get music files for use on TikTok:
Purchase and download music files from digital music stores like Apple Music, Amazon Music, or 7digital. These allow you to buy individual song files or entire albums and directly download the files to your device in formats compatible with TikTok.
Download music from free, legal sites like Free Music Archive and YouTube Audio Library that offer MP3 files you can use. Just be sure to check the licensing terms.
Extract audio from CDs you own by ripping or converting them to digital files saved on your computer, phone, or cloud storage. This lets you access your personal music library for TikTok.
The key is obtaining high-quality music files in formats that work with TikTok, which we’ll cover next. This gives you the raw audio to then upload and use in your TikTok videos.
Compatible Audio Formats
TikTok supports standard audio formats like MP3, WAV, and AAC. According to TikTok’s Effect House, MP3 is the recommended audio format for uploading music to use in videos. MP3 files should have a sample rate of 44100 Hz for best results.
Other compatible audio formats include:
- MP3 – The most commonly used format. MP3 compresses audio files to make them smaller without much loss of quality.
- AAC – An advanced format that compresses audio slightly better than MP3. Works well on mobile.
- WAV – An uncompressed format that preserves original audio quality. However, WAV files are large.
- FLAC – An open source lossless format that compresses audio while retaining quality.
For best results, TikTok recommends using MP3 files with 44100 Hz sample rate. This provides good audio quality while keeping file sizes manageable for uploading and streaming.
Uploading Music to TikTok
Uploading your own music to TikTok is a straightforward process you can do directly through the TikTok app or website. Here are the steps:
On the TikTok app:
- Tap the + icon to start a new video.
- Tap the sounds icon at the bottom.
- Tap the upload button at the top right.
- Select a track from your phone’s audio files.
- Trim the length if needed.
- Tap Next.
- Give the track a title and name the artist.
- Tap Save.
On the TikTok website:
- Click Upload at the top.
- Click Upload Sound.
- Select a track from your computer.
- Trim the length if desired.
- Add artist, title, and cover art.
- Click Confirm.
Once uploaded, you can use your sound in any videos. You can also edit the details or delete it later if needed. Uploading direct from the TikTok app or site means your music will be saved for quick access in your sounds library.
Source: https://www.charlescleyn.com/blog/how-to-upload-music-to-tiktok
Music Ownership Rights
When adding your own music to TikTok, it’s important to be aware of copyright laws and ensure you have the rights to use the music legally. According to TikTok’s Music Terms of Service, users need permission from music rights holders to use copyrighted music in their videos. TikTok has licensing deals with major music companies, but these don’t extend to all songs.
If you created the music yourself or have express permission from the rights holder, you can safely use it in your TikTok videos without worrying about copyright claims. However, using popular songs without permission can result in your video being removed and your account being penalized for repeat offenses. Check TikTok’s Intellectual Property Policy for details on how copyright works on the platform.
In general, stick to music you created or have licensed, and avoid uncredited use of commercial tracks. With the proper rights, you can add your own music to complement your videos without legal issues.
Adding Music to Videos
There are a few different ways to add music to your TikTok videos:
1. When creating a new video, select the “Sounds” option at the bottom of the screen after recording your video. This will allow you to browse TikTok’s library of music and sound effects to add to your video.
2. You can also add music from your device by tapping the “Upload” button in the Sounds section. This allows you to select music files from your phone’s storage. Compatible formats include MP3, WAV, and M4A files.
3. To add music to an already existing TikTok video, open the video and tap “Edit video” at the bottom. Then select “Sounds” and choose a song to add from TikTok’s sound library or your own device.
4. When adding your own music file, you can trim or loop sections of the song as needed within the TikTok editing screen. Drag the handles on the soundwave to customize the clip length and playback.
5. Make sure to only use music you have the rights to use on TikTok. Uploading copyrighted material without permission could result in your video being removed.
Trimming/Looping Music
One of the key editing features on TikTok is the ability to trim and loop music clips to customize the length and playback. To trim an audio clip, tap the scissors icon next to the music track. This will open the trimming toolbar where you can drag the ends of the clip inwards to shorten it. TikTok also has a “Loop” function that repeats a section of the music indefinitely. Tap the looping icon, then adjust the start and end points. This is useful for highlighting specific parts like the chorus. According to TikTok’s editing guide, trimming and looping gives more control over the musical pacing.
When uploading your own music, it’s recommended to add some extra lead-in and lead-out time so there’s enough to work with when trimming. The audio editing tools allow creators to customize the feel and flow of music clips for more engaging videos.
Music Effects
TikTok offers several creative effects that users can apply to music in their videos to make them more engaging (https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/immersive-music-creative-effects). These include:
Pitch Effects – Users can change the pitch of the music up or down to create fun audio distortions. This allows changing the tone or mood of a song.
Tempo Effects – The tempo or speed of music tracks can be increased or decreased. Slowing down the tempo can create dramatic effects.
Bass Effects – The bass levels of music can be boosted to amplify beat drops or given a pulsating effect.
Spatial Audio Effects – Music can be panned from side-to-side to complement onscreen visuals. Songs can also be given a “tunnel” effect by adjusting frequency levels.
TikTok provides an array of options to warp and enhance music tracks in creative ways (https://www.tiktok.com/channel/sound-effects?lang=en). Effects like pitch shift, tempo change, and spatial audio help users match music to the tone and pace of their videos.
Visibility Settings
TikTok allows you to choose whether you want the music in your videos to be public or private. By default, music used in videos is set to public visibility. To change the visibility settings for music:
1. Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
2. Tap on the 3-dot menu in the top-right corner and select “Settings and privacy”.
3. Go to “Privacy” and tap on “Video visibility”.
4. Under “Who can view your videos”, tap on “Change” next to “Set default for new videos”.
5. Select either “Public” or “Private” to set the default visibility for music used in your new videos.
Setting videos to private will make the music only visible to you. Public visibility allows anyone to see the music used in your videos. You can override the default on a per-video basis when posting a new video.
Additionally, under the “Video visibility” settings, you can choose options like allowing downloads, reactions, comments, and more. Use these options to customize exactly who can interact with the music in your videos on TikTok.
Best Practices
When adding your music to TikTok, it’s important to follow best practices to increase engagement and reach the right audience. Here are some tips:
Pick sections of your songs that are catchy, upbeat, and have viral potential. Analyze trending sounds and music genres on TikTok to identify what styles are resonating with users [1]. Stay on top of the latest viral trends and challenges where your music could make an impact.
Use strategic hashtags related to your music genre, mood, or lyrics to make it discoverable to people searching those keywords [2]. Participate in hashtag challenges to increase reach.
Post consistently, 1-3 times per day, to build an engaged audience. Keep videos fun, casual, and animated to capture attention quickly in the short format [2].
Interact with fans in comments and duets. Consider going live or posting behind-the-scenes content to give followers a unique look at your creative process.
