TL;DR Quick Answer: How to Upload Music to TikTok for Free
You can upload your music to TikTok for free using SoundOn, TikTok’s official distribution tool.
It pays 100% of your royalties in the first year, then 90% after that. Just make sure your rights are sorted before you hit upload.
That means adding your ISRC, registering with a PRO like ASCAP or PRS, and locking in your metadata. If the track takes off, those details are what make sure you actually get paid.
Why TikTok Matters for Independent Artists in 2025
You don’t need a label to find an audience anymore.
You just need one track, in the right moment, on the right app.
TikTok’s not just for trends. It’s where music breaks.
In 2024, TikTok and Luminate found that U.S. users were 74 percent more likely to discover new music there than on any other short video platform.
That same year, 84 percent of the songs that reached the Billboard Global 200 first went viral on TikTok.
By 2025, the platform had 1.59 billion monthly users. People were spending nearly 35 hours a month in the app. That’s more time than any other social platform.
If you want to see how TikTok compares to other platforms for exposure, check out our full guide to the best music selling sites in 2025.
But it’s not just passive listening. In the U.S., TikTok users are 68 percent more likely to have a paid music subscription, and they spend more on music each month than the average fan.
How to Upload Music to TikTok for Artists: The Two Main Ways
Uploading to TikTok is free, and you can get paid when your song is used in videos.
There are two ways to get your track on the platform:
- Upload directly with SoundOn, TikTok’s official distribution tool
- Work with a distributor like DistroKid, TuneCore, or CD Baby that includes TikTok in their delivery list
Both routes get your music onto the platform. The difference comes down to what you want. If TikTok is your main focus, SoundOn is the fastest path. If you’re looking to release across multiple platforms at once, a distributor may be a better fit.
SoundOn: TikTok’s Free Distribution Tool
What is SoundOn?
SoundOn is TikTok’s own distributor. You don’t pay to use it, and you start earning royalties whenever your track shows up in a video. Since it’s built into TikTok, your music is added to the sound library straight away, which gives it a real shot at being picked up in trends.
If you’re setting up a TikTok artist account, SoundOn is often the fastest way to get your tracks listed and start earning.
It’s not limited to TikTok either. You can push your releases out to Spotify, Apple Music, and a bunch of other platforms from the same dashboard. There are some basic analytics built in too, so you can keep an eye on which songs are moving and where listeners are finding you.
A few things worth knowing about SoundOn:
- You keep all royalties in your first year
- After that, it’s 90% – still higher than most distributors
- Uploads land directly in TikTok’s sound library
- Distribution to streaming services is free
- Artist support and simple tracking tools are included
Before You Upload Music to TikTok: Don’t Skip These Steps
A lot of artists ask how to get my music on TikTok, and the real key is making sure your rights and metadata are locked in before you hit upload.
Before you upload your track to TikTok, double-check these essentials:
- ISRC code assigned and matched to your track
- Metadata complete, including title, writer info, and splits
- Song registered with your PRO (ASCAP, BMI, PRS, etc.)
- Rights cleared with all collaborators. (If you’re not sure how to safeguard your songs legally, check out our guide on how to protect your music.)
- Cover art and file format set to platform standards
If any of this is missing, you risk losing royalties or having your track flagged. Tools like Melody Rights handle these steps in the background, so your uploads are protected from the start. If you’re new to this, you can also check our explainer on how to register your music properly.
SoundOn vs Distributors: Which Upload Method Should You Use?
Both upload routes work, but they serve different purposes. If you’re weighing up whether to go through SoundOn or a distributor, here’s how they compare at a glance:
| Question Artists Ask | SoundOn (TikTok’s Tool) | Third-Party Distributor (DistroKid, TuneCore, etc.) |
| How much does it cost? | Free | Ranges from free tiers to yearly fees |
| How much do I keep? | 100% of royalties in year one, 90% after | Varies by distributor (often 80- 100%) |
| Where does my music go? | TikTok sound library + free streaming distribution | TikTok, plus Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and more |
| How fast is it live? | A few days | 1- 2 weeks on average |
| What about metadata? | Basic setup | Full metadata entry and control |
| Do they cover copyright? | Limited, mostly self-managed | Usually stronger copyright and licensing support |
| Best choice if… | TikTok is your main focus | You want one upload to cover all platforms |
Why Uploading Alone Isn’t Enough
Most guides stop once you’ve picked between SoundOn or a distributor. But uploading is only step one. If your metadata isn’t locked in, if your splits aren’t registered, or if your track isn’t connected to your PRO, you risk missing royalties even if the song blows up.
We break down exactly what those different royalties are in our guide to the 4 types of music royalties.
From what we see at Melody Rights, most indie artists don’t lose money because their music isn’t good enough. They lose it because the admin wasn’t done right.
See the chart below for the most common upload mistakes indie artists make in 2025, based on Melody Rights’ industry insights.
This chart is based on common issues we see independent artists face when preparing uploads in 2025. It’s not a survey, but a reflection of recurring pitfalls that cause royalties to slip through the cracks.
Each of these mistakes can block your royalties, but every one of them is preventable. Melody Rights takes care of the admin that artists often miss, from ISRCs and metadata to splits and sync income. That means whether your track takes off on TikTok or lands in a TV show, you keep every dollar that’s yours.
Common Pitfall
A track goes viral, millions of plays roll in, and the artist is still left unpaid. The reason is almost always the same: no ISRC attached, metadata left incomplete, or splits never registered. These are small steps that get overlooked, but without them, the royalties vanish instead of reaching the artist.
Royalties Artists Forget to Claim
- Metadata not filled in completely
- PRO registration left unfinished (ASCAP, BMI, PRS, etc.)
- ISRC codes missing or mismatched
- Splits not registered with collaborators
- Sync income uncollected
Melody Rights makes sure none of these slip through.
How to Promote Your Music on TikTok
Uploading your track isn’t enough. People find songs on TikTok because of the videos built around them.
Performance clips hit hardest. Play the hook live, film yourself producing, or drop a short vocal take.
Keep it raw. That’s what makes people stop scrolling. Mix those with looser moments too. Show the studio, share a late-night writing clip, or let people in on your process.
Lyrics can carry a track on their own. If you’ve got a line that sticks, put it on screen with a clean visual. No need for heavy edits.
Most important, get the start right. The first 15 seconds decide if TikTok keeps pushing your video. If you can grab attention there, you give the algorithm a reason to keep showing your song.
Getting the content right is one part of the puzzle. The other is knowing how to use TikTok’s trends and sounds so your track keeps moving beyond your own posts.
Using TikTok Trends and Sounds to Grow Your Reach
TikTok runs on trends. When you tie your music to what people are already watching, you boost the odds of your track spreading.
Start by checking the #TrendAlert page. Look for sounds or formats that actually fit your style instead of forcing it. A dance challenge or meme can work, but only if it feels like you.
Encourage fans to make their own videos with your sound. That’s when momentum really builds. One fan post can turn into dozens, and every time someone uses your track, TikTok’s system sees more reasons to push it further.
It comes down to balance. Trends can give you reach, but your music still has to sound like you. When people connect with both, you’re not just pulling views, you’re earning listeners who’ll stay with you.
Final Take: Getting Your Music on TikTok the Right Way
TikTok is one of the fastest ways to put your music in front of new listeners. But uploading is only the start. How you prepare your track, how you promote it, and how you protect your rights will decide if that reach turns into real income.
Keep the essentials tight. Good audio, complete metadata, and a hook that lands in the first few seconds. Add content that feels genuine and you give your song room to spread.
What most artists miss is the admin. If your rights aren’t locked in and your royalties aren’t tracked, your song could go viral without you seeing a cent.
Melody Rights makes sure every right is claimed and every royalty is counted.
For a deeper look at how those royalties actually get paid, read our full guide on how musicians make money.
Your next move is simple: upload with intention, protect your work, and share it in a way only you can.
Because your music deserves more than views. It deserves to pay you back
FAQs
Q1. How to get my music on TikTok?
The simplest way is through SoundOn, TikTok’s own distributor. Your song goes straight into the app’s library and you earn royalties when people use it. If you want it on Spotify and Apple too, go with a distributor like DistroKid or TuneCore.
Q2. What are the requirements for setting up a TikTok for Artists account?
You’ll need four songs uploaded, plus a public profile with a photo, username, and bio. TikTok also wants you to stay active by logging in every few months. Once set, you get the Artist Tag and a Music Tab linked to your releases.
Q3. How long can my music tracks be on TikTok?
Clips need to be between 15 and 60 seconds. Record your full track in good quality, then pick the hook or the part that grabs attention fastest. That’s what works best on the platform.
Q4. How to get paid to promote music on TikTok?
Start with the Creator Marketplace, where artists and brands team up for paid campaigns. Platforms like Playlist Push and SoundCampaign are also options, paying creators who feature your song in their videos.
If you want more on how royalties actually work, check our guide to the 4 types of music royalties.
