How to Get Paid for Your Music on TikTok
TikTok isn’t just somewhere to promote your music. If your songs are properly distributed to TikTok, you can get paid when creators use your music in their videos.
For independent artists, that means TikTok can potentially generate two different kinds of value: direct music royalties and exposure that drives listeners towards Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other streaming platforms.
So, how do you actually get paid for your music on TikTok?
Here’s how TikTok music royalties work, how to get your tracks into TikTok’s music library, and how artists can maximise their chances of making money from the platform.
Can you get paid for your music on TikTok?
Yes.
Artists and rights holders can earn money when officially distributed music is used in eligible TikTok videos.
The important part is getting your music delivered to TikTok through a music distributor rather than simply uploading a TikTok video containing your song.
Once your music has been distributed to TikTok, creators can search for your track in TikTok’s music library and add it to their videos.
When people create videos using your music, those uses can generate royalties.
How do TikTok music royalties work?
TikTok music royalties work differently from traditional streaming royalties.
On Spotify or Apple Music, royalties are primarily linked to people streaming your track.
TikTok is different.
For music distributed through RouteNote, earnings are generated based on the number of TikTok videos created using your music rather than simply how many views those videos receive.
For example, imagine:
One creator uses your song and their video gets 5 million views.
Another 10,000 creators each use your song in their own videos.
From a music royalty perspective, the number of creations using your music is particularly important.
The 5-million-view viral video could still be enormously valuable, because millions of people may discover your song. But you shouldn’t think of TikTok royalties as a simple “payment per video view” system.
How to get paid for your music on TikTok
The first step is getting your music officially distributed to TikTok.
With RouteNote, you can distribute your music to TikTok alongside platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music and many more.
The basic process is:
- Create a free RouteNote account.
- Create a new release.
- Upload your music and artwork.
- Enter your artist and release information.
- Select TikTok from the available stores.
- Select any other streaming platforms you want.
- Submit your release for moderation.
- Once approved, RouteNote delivers your music to your selected platforms.
Once your release reaches TikTok, your music can become available for TikTok creators to use in their videos.
Can you get your music on TikTok for free?
Yes.
RouteNote allows independent artists to distribute music to TikTok without paying an upfront distribution fee.
With RouteNote Free, artists keep 85% of the revenue generated by their music while RouteNote takes 15%.
Alternatively, RouteNote Premium allows artists to keep 100% of their distribution revenue for the release.
In both cases, artists retain ownership of their music.
That means you don’t need a record label or a large budget just to start earning music royalties from TikTok.
How much does TikTok pay artists for music?
There isn’t one simple universal TikTok royalty rate that can be applied to every song.
TikTok music payments depend on licensing agreements, territories, usage and other factors.
This makes estimates such as “TikTok pays $X per 1,000 views” misleading when talking about music royalties.
Most importantly, TikTok views and TikTok music uses aren’t the same thing.
If you’re distributing through RouteNote, your TikTok reports distinguish between creations, meaning videos that have been created using your music, and streams, referring to views of videos containing that music.
Royalties are generated from usage of your music rather than simply being calculated from the total number of video views.
What happens when someone uses your song on TikTok?
Imagine you’ve released a song called Summer Again.
You distribute Summer Again to TikTok through RouteNote.
A creator searches TikTok’s sound library, discovers Summer Again and uses 20 seconds of it in their video.
Another creator sees that video and uses the same song.
Then another does the same.
If a trend starts developing, hundreds or thousands of videos could eventually use your track.
Those uses can generate music revenue.
But something potentially even more valuable is happening at the same time: people are discovering your artist name and your song.
That can create a funnel that looks something like this:
TikTok video → song discovery → Spotify search → stream → follow → fan
One TikTok use can therefore generate value far beyond the royalty attached to the TikTok video itself.
TikTok can be a huge music discovery engine
This is why artists shouldn’t judge TikTok purely by the royalties it pays directly.
A song going viral on TikTok can cause listeners to search for it elsewhere.
Someone might hear ten seconds of your track while scrolling TikTok, then immediately search for the full song on Spotify.
They might save it.
They might listen to your catalogue.
They might follow you.
They might watch your music videos.
Eventually, they could become a long-term fan.
For independent artists, TikTok can effectively operate as the top of a much larger music discovery funnel.
Make sure your music is available everywhere
If you’re trying to make money from TikTok, don’t distribute exclusively to TikTok.
TikTok discovery works best when listeners can immediately find your music wherever they normally listen.
Ideally, the same song should also be available on services such as:
Spotify
Apple Music
YouTube Music
Amazon Music
Deezer
TIDAL
If someone discovers your song on TikTok at 11pm and searches for it on Spotify 20 seconds later, you want it waiting for them.
This is one of the advantages of using a music distributor like RouteNote: you can distribute the same release across multiple major platforms from a single upload.
How to encourage people to use your music on TikTok
Simply getting your song onto TikTok isn’t enough.
You want creators to actually use it.
Think about sections of your song that work outside the context of the complete track.
For example:
A memorable lyric.
A dramatic beat drop.
A funny line.
An emotional chorus.
A strong instrumental section.
A moment that works with transformations.
A section suitable for travel videos.
A sound that works behind storytelling.
A beat that fits fitness content.
The question isn’t necessarily:
“Which part of my song sounds best?”
It might be:
“Which part of my song gives creators the most ideas?”
TikTok is a creator platform. Making your music useful to creators can be just as important as making it enjoyable to listeners.
Create TikTok videos using your own music
Artists shouldn’t necessarily wait for someone else to start a trend.
Use your own music.
Create multiple videos around different concepts and sections of the track.
Instead of repeatedly posting “stream my new single”, experiment with content that happens to feature the music.
Show how the track was created.
Explain a lyric.
Tell the story behind the song.
Make a funny video around it.
Show the recording process.
Ask people to create something using the sound.
The objective is to give people reasons to interact with your music rather than simply advertising it to them.
Getting one viral video isn’t the only goal
Artists often think TikTok success means getting one video with millions of views.
That can obviously help.
But when it comes to building your music catalogue, getting lots of creators using your music can be extremely valuable.
Imagine two scenarios.
Track A appears in one gigantic viral video.
Track B gradually gets used in thousands of different videos by thousands of different creators.
Both could be successful.
But Track B is being repeatedly introduced to new audiences through independent pieces of content.
The number of people creating with your music can therefore be a useful metric to watch alongside overall views.
TikTok royalties vs TikTok Creator Rewards
It’s also important not to confuse music royalties with payments TikTok may offer video creators.
If you’re a TikTok creator, you may potentially earn money through TikTok’s creator monetisation programmes depending on your eligibility and location.
Music royalties are different.
They relate to rights in the music being used.
That means you don’t necessarily need to be the person who created the TikTok video to earn music royalties.
Someone else can use your officially distributed song in their content and that music usage can potentially generate revenue for the rights holder.
What about TikTok’s Commercial Music Library?
TikTok also operates a Commercial Music Library containing music cleared for businesses to use in commercial content.
This is separate from TikTok’s general music library.
Music distributed to TikTok through RouteNote’s standard distribution agreement is currently delivered to TikTok’s general Sound Library rather than automatically being included in TikTok’s Commercial Music Library.
This distinction is particularly relevant for TikTok Business Accounts, which have different rules around the music they can use.
How do you receive your TikTok money?
If you distribute your music through RouteNote, TikTok earnings are reported to your RouteNote account alongside revenue from other platforms.
You can monitor your earnings and reports through your RouteNote account.
RouteNote currently has a $50 minimum payment threshold, with supported payment methods including options such as PayPal, bank transfer and Payoneer. Store reports are received after the month in which the activity occurred, so TikTok revenue isn’t displayed instantly.
Can independent artists really make money on TikTok?
Absolutely.
But TikTok should probably be viewed as more than simply another royalty source.
You can potentially earn directly when people use your music.
At the same time, TikTok can expose your songs to audiences who may never otherwise have discovered you.
Those listeners can then move to streaming services, follow your artist profiles and explore the rest of your catalogue.
For independent artists, that combination is powerful.
Get your music on TikTok for free
If your music isn’t on TikTok yet, you could be missing both royalty revenue and music discovery.
RouteNote lets independent artists distribute their music to TikTok for free, alongside Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and other major platforms.
Upload your release once, choose the stores you want, and get your music in front of listeners and creators around the world.
Getting paid for your music on TikTok starts with making sure your music is there in the first place.
Frequently asked questions
Do you get paid when someone uses your song on TikTok?
Yes. Eligible uses of officially distributed music on TikTok can generate royalties for music rights holders.
Does TikTok pay artists based on video views?
Not in the same way that a traditional streaming service pays for music streams. For RouteNote-distributed music, TikTok earnings are based on music usage in video creations rather than simply the number of views those videos receive.
How do I get my music onto TikTok?
The easiest option for most independent artists is using a digital music distributor. RouteNote can distribute music to TikTok as well as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music and many other services.
Is it free to put music on TikTok?
RouteNote Free allows artists to distribute music to TikTok without an upfront distribution fee. Artists keep 85% of their revenue on the Free model.
Do I need a record label to earn money from TikTok?
No. Independent artists can distribute their own music and receive royalties without signing to a traditional record label.
Can a viral TikTok increase my Spotify streams?
Yes. TikTok is an important music discovery platform, and people who hear a song on TikTok may search for the full track on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music or elsewhere.
How much money does TikTok pay per 1,000 views?
There isn’t a simple music royalty rate based on 1,000 TikTok views. Music royalties and video views are different metrics. For RouteNote-distributed tracks, music earnings are based on videos created using the track rather than simply the total views those videos receive.