TikTok is where contemporary dance moves, modern makeup looks, and musical trends are born. It's the place to be seen – and heard – in 2021 and beyond.
In September, TikTok announced that it now has more than 1 billion active global users (up from 700 million a year ago), more than half of whom create content of their own. This followed the release of a global survey that highlighted the social media platform's growing impact on culture and music. Of the TikTok users surveyed, 63% acknowledged hearing music on the social media app for the first time. Another 75% said they discovered new artists on TikTok, while 67% said they were likely to seek out a song they heard on TikTok on a music streaming platform.
This spells great news for artists and proves that you don't need to be Doja Cat or Dixie D'Amelio to succeed on TikTok. In fact, lesser-known artists have already topped the Billboard charts after their music was attached to a viral trend. But while there is still no formula for achieving fame, there are ways to promote your music and elevate your music career. TikTok's influence on culture is undeniable, so let's dive in and look at how to promote your music on the short-form video app.
Tips For Using TikTok to Promote Your Music
Be Authentic. Be Yourself
It may be obvious, but the best way to gain followers and promote your music on TikTok is by being active on the platform. The more you engage with other TikTok users, the more likely you will make friends and become part of a community. Just remember that TikTok users are particularly good at discerning authenticity, so don't fake it or force yourself into spaces where you may not be welcome. You should always be your authentic self, whether on TikTok, Instagram, or in real life.
Use Hashtags
Hashtags are a kind of metadata that helps people discover relevant content via search. When applying hashtags to your TikTok videos, think of the most accurate words to describe your content, then add them as a caption. You can increase your chances of being noticed by looking at what hashtags are trending on TikTok's "Discover" tab. Adding one of these to your video can help more people discover your content.
Highlight Your Music on the TikTok Platform
TikTok's 60-second time limit means you are unable to share full music videos on the platform. However, it is the perfect amount of time for previewing your latest visual creation. Behind-the-scenes footage or snippets of your full music video make great TikTok content. You can use them to help build up hype ahead of your release day. Then, once your song is available on the streaming platforms, you can create a video to celebrate your achievement and let your fans know where to find your music.
Create A TikTok Challenge That Uses Your Music
Another way to promote your music on TikTok is to create a challenge tied to your music. Some of the most effective ways to do this include coming up with a unique dance routine or lip sync challenge that utilizes a verse in one of your songs (15-second videos work best) or by designing a makeup look styled on your latest music video that can be turned into a tutorial. Try to find a sweet spot in your song with some well-placed lyrics or a melody that people can groove to. Create a hashtag with your artist name (e.g., #songtradrmakeupchallenge) to encourage others to participate in the challenge (this will also allow you to see all of the videos people make in one place). Of course, before you can do any of this, you will need to distribute your music to the TikTok platform.
On the flip side, you can also participate in a current TikTok trend or challenge. Just make sure it fits your music marketing strategy and the other content you posted on your channel. Trends come and go quickly – especially on TikTok – so you will want to evaluate how much effort is needed and whether you will gain much from participating.
Engage With Fans That Use Your Music in Their Videos
If you successfully complete the first four actions on this list, your fans will hopefully start using your music to soundtrack their own TikTok content. This will provide you with an opportunity to engage directly with your audience and display some of that authenticity mentioned above. If they make a video containing your music, go ahead and comment on their video. And while you're there, why not share it to your Instagram Stories? You can see all the videos that contain your song by typing your artist name into the search bar and scrolling to the "Sounds" tab.
Get Your Music On TikTok
I’m really overwhelmed with the email I received from tiktok, about how I can make my song go viral, I thanks a lot I appreciate it
We’re glad you found this article helpful. Thanks, Bola!
Great article! The artists sleeping on TikTok will miss out. It’s really that simple. It’s where the eyes and ears are now.
I’m impressed by All these!
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