How to license your music on TikTok without NMPA
Image credit: William Recinos
NMPA’s deal ending with TikTok means indie music publishers lose TikTok licensing, but there’s a solution for artists and labels.
The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) have ended their licensing deal with TikTok. The organisation represents the publishing rights for numerous independent music publishers.
The NMPA said in March that they didn’t plan to extend their licensing deal with TikTok when their current deal ends on April 30th. The music of independent music publishers working under NMPA will now have their music unlicensed from TikTok beginning 1st May.
NMPA President and CEO, David Israelite said: “Music is essential to TikTok. As we have said, we are not engaging in an extension of our deal. We are hopeful that the platform comes to the table with music publishers and compensates songwriters properly – their service depends on it.”
This means that music licensed through NMPA will no longer be available in TikTok’s content library for use by creators. This loses huge potential for reach and revenue, as well as the viral potential of music trends on TikTok. Videos currently using music licensed through NMPA may be muted without licensing.
The news comes just as Universal Music Group (UMG) announced a surprise new deal with TikTok. The major label loudly removed their entire catalogue from TikTok at the start of the year over disagreements in their licensing deal. Now all UMG music is returning to the platform under a new deal.
How indie artists and labels can still license music on TikTok
Thankfully, there is a solution for all artists and record labels looking to get their music on TikTok. RouteNote provides Free and Premium distribution to TikTok, allowing artists and labels around the world to add their music to TikTok’s content library.
Every time your song is used you earn revenues from it. TikTok isn’t just a source of revenue, but huge potential to expand your reach through other creator’s content. Artists have found huge success in TikTok trends and viral videos when their music is used in content.
Whether you’re an independent artist or a record label representing numerous artists, you can upload your music to TikTok and beyond completely free. You keep 85% of the revenues your music earns, and can pay a small upfront free to keep 100% of everything your music earns.
Beyond TikTok, you can find success on other video platforms like YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. What’s more, you can distribute your music to the world’s top streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and many more.