What are trending sounds on TikTok?
On TikTok, trending sounds refer to audio clips, songs, or sound effects that gain widespread popularity when used in a large number of TikTok videos. Sounds become “trending” when many users create videos using the same music or audio clip, causing the sound to spread rapidly and go viral across the platform.
Some examples of current and recent trending sounds on TikTok include hits like “About Damn Time” by Lizzo, the “oh no oh no oh no no no” sound, and the viral “Married Life” theme song from the Pixar movie Up. These massively popular sounds can be found in hundreds of thousands or even millions of TikTok videos.
Sounds tend to go viral and become trending for different reasons. Catchy music or recognizable audio clips may quickly grab people’s attention. Funny or meme-worthy sounds inspire users to put their own spin on them. Sounds that pair well with popular dances or effects also spread as more people use them in those contexts. The randomness of viral trends makes it hard to predict what will become the next big TikTok sound.
For more examples of current trending sounds, check TikTok’s Trending Sounds page.
How the TikTok algorithm surfaces trending sounds
The TikTok algorithm is designed to show users personalized content on their For You Page (FYP) based on their interests and engagement. As certain sounds gain popularity and are used in many videos, the TikTok algorithm quickly begins surfacing those videos to a wide audience.
Trending sounds can spread rapidly on TikTok since the algorithm favors content that is getting high engagement and sharing. As more users create videos using the same sounds, the algorithm picks up on that trend and pushes those sounds into more feeds (Source: https://blog.hootsuite.com/tiktok-algorithm/).
TikTok’s algorithm tends to give a boost to videos that utilize currently trending sounds from the platform’s music library. Using a viral sound can help get more views and engagement from the algorithm (Source: https://buffer.com/resources/tiktok-algorithm/).
Finding currently trending sounds
One of the easiest ways to find trending sounds on TikTok is to use the app’s Trending Sounds page. This page showcases the most popular sounds being used in videos at the moment. To access it, simply tap the discover icon on the bottom toolbar and select “Trending”. Then choose “Sounds” from the top menu.
The Trending Sounds page displays the top sounds along with a preview of videos using each sound. You can scroll through and get a sense of which sounds are currently seeing a lot of engagement. Tapping on a sound will show more examples of videos using it.
Another method is searching by hashtags associated with trending sounds. For example, searching #TikTokTrending will surface videos using the latest popular sounds. You can also search specific hashtag variations like #TikTokTrendingSongs or #TikTokViralSounds. Exploring these hashtag results is a quick way to identify sounds gaining traction.
TikTok also has playlists showcasing the top songs being used in viral videos. Go to the sidebar menu and select “Music”. This will display playlists of trending songs and dance challenges. Checking these regularly can help you discover new hit sounds.
In summary, leveraging TikTok’s built-in features like Trending Sounds, hashtags, and playlists makes it easy to stay on top of the latest viral audio clips and songs blowing up on the platform.
Using third-party sites and tools
There are a variety of third-party sites and tools that can help identify trending sounds and audio on TikTok. Some popular options include:
TrendTok – This app tracks TikTok trends by location, category, and more. It provides insights into trending sounds and helps forecast future viral audio.
Socialinsider – Their platform analyzes trending sounds and tracks related hashtags. Useful for monitoring competitor audio and remixes.
Browser extensions like TokTrack can identify sounds playing in TikTok videos. This makes discovering new viral sounds easy while browsing the app.
Sites like TikTokCharts compile lists of top sounds and songs. Great for staying on top of daily trending audio.
Tools like Pentos provide analytics on trending topics, songs, and sounds. Useful for understanding audience interests.
By leveraging these resources, creators can more easily find trending sounds to capitalize on in their own content.
Tips for identifying newly viral sounds
Here are some tips for staying on top of newly viral sounds on TikTok before they become huge mainstream trends:
Follow popular TikTok creators and hashtags. Pay attention when certain sounds start being used by top creators or with trending hashtags. This can be an early indicator of a sound starting to gain traction. For example, you may notice Charli D’Amelio or other top creators using a new song or audio clip in multiple videos. When noticed early, this can signal the sound becoming a bigger trend (https://keyhole.co/blog/tiktok-trends/).
Look for spikes in the use of specific sounds. Using TikTok’s Sounds page, you can view metrics on how often different sounds are being used. Watch for rapid increases in a sound being used, which shows it’s quickly gaining popularity. You may be able to get ahead of the next big trending sound by identifying sounds that display this viral growth (https://www.bazaarvoice.com/blog/tiktok-trends-how-to/).
Check TikTok’s new Sounds page. TikTok launched a dedicated Sounds page that surfaces trending sounds and music. Monitoring this page can help you find rising sounds before they hit peak popularity. The page also shows trending sounds in different categories like gaming, dance, cooking, and more. Focus on categories relevant to your interests.
Capitalizing on trending sounds
Trending sounds on TikTok offer a great opportunity to increase engagement and views, but it’s important to capitalize on them strategically. Popularity of sounds can be short-lived as new trends continuously emerge on the platform. Creators looking to leverage trends should consider making content using trending sounds while their popularity lasts. This increases the chances of getting onto the “For You” page and discovered by new viewers.
It’s also wise to put your own creative spin on a trending sound before it reaches saturation. Adding a twist, whether through a dance, skit, or unique editing, can help your content stand out from the masses of videos using the same track. As noted on Social Media Examiner, brands like the NBA have capitalized on trending sounds like the #OneSecondNBA challenge by putting their own branded spin on it (source).
Finally, latching onto newly viral sounds can be an effective strategy to increase views and engagement. Trending sounds tend to boost the discoverability of videos using them during their popular lifespan. Keeping a close eye on up-and-coming sounds and quickly creating content with those audios can help creators ride the wave of a trend before it crests.
Risks of overusing trending sounds
While it can be tempting to jump on trending sounds, overusing sounds that have become ubiquitous comes with some risks. As Greene discusses in his article on LinkedIn, relying too much on trending sounds can result in a lack of creativity and originality (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dark-side-tiktok-trends-conformity-lack-creativity-fred-greene).
First, oversaturated niches become very competitive. If you are using a sound that has already been done to death, it can be hard to stand out in users’ feeds. Your content may get lost in the mix.
Second, users quickly get tired of hearing the same sounds over and over. If you repeatedly use trends that have been around for a while, your audience may find it annoying or unengaging. You want to keep your content fresh and appealing.
Finally, leaning too heavily on trending sounds will make your content come across as unoriginal or derivative. As the article on CBS News suggests, the popularity of risky TikTok challenges reveals how easily people conform to trends on the app (https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/they-are-terrifying-risky-tiktok-trends-continue-to-put-people-in-danger/). You want to be careful not to lose your uniqueness.
In moderation, viral sounds can be very effective. But it’s important not to let trends dictate all of your content. Find a balance between experimenting with trending sounds and putting your own creative stamp on videos.
Creating original sounds and audio
One way to tap into viral trends on TikTok is to create your own original sounds and audio that others will want to use in their videos. Here are some tips for coming up with compelling original audio content:
Focus on making sounds that are catchy, funny, relatable or evocative. Try using trending memes, sound effects, music snippets or phrases that will emotionally resonate with viewers.
Collaborate with other creators to make remixes or duets using their sounds. This can help cross-promote your content.
Use trend forecasting sites like Viral TikTok Trends to identify upcoming viral content types that you could create audio for.
Promote your original sounds using relevant hashtags so they appear in search. Consider running TikTok ads to boost their visibility.
Analyze your analytics to see which sounds gain traction. Lean into the ones resonating most with your audience. Track which videos use your sounds to connect with creators.
With creative and strategic sound creation, you can kickstart the next big TikTok trend and bring more users to your profile and content.
Understanding TikTok guidelines
When using sounds in your TikTok videos, it’s important to follow TikTok’s guidelines to avoid issues.
First, be cautious about using copyrighted music to avoid takedown requests or strikes on your account. Check TikTok’s Music Terms of Service to understand the limitations around music usage.
Second, follow TikTok’s overall Community Guidelines when creating and sharing content. This covers guidelines around nudity, harassment, dangerous acts, illegal activities, regulated goods, misinformation, and more. Failing to follow these guidelines could lead to content removal or account suspension.
Lastly, be mindful of age-appropriate content. Although TikTok does not prohibit profanity overall, sexually explicit language and content presenting high risks could violate the minor safety policy.
By understanding and adhering to TikTok’s terms, copyright rules, and community guidelines, you can feel more confident creating original sounds and using trending sounds appropriately.
Trend forecasting and predicting viral sounds
TikTok regularly shares insights into trend forecasting and predicting which sounds may go viral in their annual What’s Next Trend Report. The report analyzes rising trends across regions and languages, looking at early uptake and growth of sounds. Sounds that exhibit uniqueness, remixability, and cultural relevance tend to take off on the platform.
TikTok relies heavily on data and analytics to identify sounds that are gaining momentum with a specific audience or demographic. If a sound starts getting significantly more uses, saves, and engagement in a short time period, especially within a localized area or community, it’s likely to keep spreading. TikTok can track sounds with potential to go viral by monitoring their early growth patterns.
Experts recommend listening across genres and communities to notice rising sounds that exhibit originality but also remixability. For example, a distinctive vocal or instrumental hook that gets reused and reinvented across many different videos demonstrates high viral potential. Analysts believe audio trends like multilingual remixes and culturally authentic sounds will continue rising in 2023 and 2024.
