TikTok has exploded in popularity in recent years, becoming one of the most widely used social media platforms globally. As of December 2022, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide (TikTok Statistics You Need to Know). A key part of TikTok’s appeal is the central role of music, with users creating short videos set to songs, often lip-syncing or dancing along. Music is deeply intertwined with TikTok’s culture, playing a major part in trends and viral videos. Identifying the songs used in TikTok videos can be an important part of understanding references and participating in the platform’s musical community.
Shazam app
One of the most popular ways to identify a song in a TikTok video is by using the Shazam app. Shazam is an app that listens to music playing around you and identifies the song title and artist. As of 2022, Shazam has over 225 million monthly active users worldwide[1]. The app can identify songs in just a few seconds, making it a very quick and convenient way to find the name of that catchy TikTok tune.
To use Shazam to identify a TikTok song, simply open the Shazam app while the TikTok video is playing. Hold your device near the source of the music and Shazam will listen and analyze the song. In a matter of seconds, it will display the song title and artist. You can then tap through to see lyrics, playlists, videos and other information about the song. Shazam makes it incredibly easy to satisfy your curiosity every time you hear a new song on TikTok that you just have to know the name of.
TikTok Sounds Page
The TikTok Sounds page features many of the top trending sounds being used on the platform. As explained on the TikTok Creators portal, “The Sounds page features a highlighted selection of Playlists, which feature songs by artists like you. You can click ‘All’ in the upper right-hand corner to browse every Playlist available on TikTok.” (https://www.tiktok.com/creators/creator-portal/en-us/music/playlists-sounds-and-trends-music-on-tiktok/)
The Sounds page contains a collection of viral sounds and music being widely used in videos on the platform. It allows users to discover trending sounds they may want to use in their own videos. By browsing the curated playlists and selections, you can find the most popular sounds that are taking off in TikTok videos.
Checking Video Captions
Many TikTok creators include the song name and artist in the video’s caption to properly credit the music. Since captions are displayed on screen, viewers can easily check them as the video plays to identify the song.
According to research by Social Insider, TikTok videos with shorter captions (under 10 words) average 10.25% view rate, while longer captions between 10-20 words average 12.0% view rate. This indicates captions boost viewership and engagement [1].
Studies also show that videos with captions have higher completion rates. A Verizon and Publicis Media study found up to 80% of people are more likely to finish watching a video with captions versus without [2]. So adding a caption crediting the song can help keep viewers interested.
Overall, checking a TikTok video’s caption is one of the simplest ways to identify the soundtrack. Creators often include song and artist details there to properly attribute the music.
TikTok Song Recognition
TikTok has built-in AI that can automatically recognize songs playing in videos. The algorithm listens to the audio in videos and matches it against a database of over 50 million songs to identify the track, artist, and album (Source: NY Times). This makes it easy for users to find music they hear on TikTok. The song recognition is very accurate and can identify both popular hits and obscure tracks.
According to an NPR article, TikTok’s algorithm and music recognition capabilities have been a major driver of music discovery and viral hits, capturing the attention of major record labels (Source: NPR). The app has the ability to propel both new and old songs to fame.
Some reports indicate TikTok’s song recognition algorithm is over 98% accurate at detecting human-created music versus AI-generated tracks (Source: Music Business Worldwide). This allows the app to correctly identify real artists and songs trending on the platform.
Searching lyrics
Searching distinctive lyrics from the TikTok audio can be an effective way to identify the song. The key is to listen closely to pick out a unique phrase or verse that stands out. Try catching at least 3-5 words in a row. Then enter the lyrics into a song lyric search engine like Chosic or Find Music By Lyrics. These sites allow searching by partial lyrics to find matching songs.
The more distinctive or unique the lyrics, the better chance you have of the search engine matching it to the correct song. Avoid common lyrics like “baby” or “yeah” as these will return too many broad results. Focus on catching a distinctive verse or chorus. With just a few correct words in sequence, these lyric search engines can often pinpoint the exact song source.
Artist and song tags
Many TikTok creators will tag the artist and song name in their video captions or comments. This makes it easy to identify the song. Look for hashtags with the artist name, song title, or lyrics. Hashtags help label the music source and make it easier for others to find the sound.
For example, #DojaCat or #Woman might be used for Doja Cat’s song “Woman.” You can search hashtags directly in TikTok or use third-party sites to find trending music hashtags. Trending TikTok hashtags and tiktokmusic hashtags can reveal songs gaining popularity.
Asking the creator
One way to identify the song in a TikTok video is to simply ask the creator directly. You can comment on their video to inquire about the song. The creator may respond in the comments or on their TikTok profile page with the song name and artist.
For example, you could comment “What’s the name of this song? It’s a bop!” or “Love this track, who is the artist?” This gives the creator a chance to reply with the song details.
According to TikTok, commenting and replying helps drive engagement. Creators are often happy to respond, as it keeps viewers invested in their content.
So don’t be shy about asking the source directly. Commenting takes little effort, and the creator’s response provides the definitive answer to identifying that catchy song.
Third-party apps
If the built-in TikTok features don’t help you identify a song, there are third-party apps designed specifically for this purpose. One of the most popular is TuneFind, which has a dedicated section for finding TikTok songs and sounds. TuneFind listens to the audio clip and matches it against its database of music to return the correct song title and artist. The app also provides direct links to listen to the full song on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
Other apps like Musixmatch and Shazam have similar TikTok identification features. You simply play the audio from the TikTok video and the app listens before telling you what song it is. These third-party solutions are quite accurate and can save you time guessing what the song might be called.
Conclusion
TikTok has become a hotspot for music discovery, with many songs going viral on the platform. If you come across a catchy song in a TikTok video, there are several methods you can use to identify it. The most straightforward is using identifying apps like Shazam or checking the TikTok sounds page. You can also look for captions, lyrics, artist tags, or ask the video creator directly. Third party apps that analyze TikTok songs are another option.
Being able to identify songs is an important part of the TikTok experience. It allows you to find new music to enjoy, learn the artists behind viral hits, and expand your musical tastes. With all of the options available, you should be able to easily find the name and artist of almost any song featured in a TikTok video.
