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The first question that music marketers and people in the music industry ask is this:
The answer to this question is a definite yes if you’re to look at these stats:
And most importantly:
70+ artists who broke on TikTok in 2020 signed huge label deals.
This brings us to the next question, but first:
Why TikTok is Ideal for Musicians?
How to Promote Music on TikTok
How to Make Your TikTok Music Go Viral
Monetizing Music on TikTok
TikTok is addictive—that’s why so many people create videos and engage with other people’s video content. Many aspects contribute to this addiction, such as:
Now that we caught your attention, let’s see how you can promote music on TikTok.
First, your goal would be to increase your following and views on TikTok. That means you have to create an artist account and find new ways of growing that account.
Thus, your first step is to understand this social network and the type of content users crave. Remember, you want to drive more TikTokers to your music, which you can’t do by just posting snippets of your tracks.
Instead, here are the factors that help you leverage TikTok’s algorithm.
Any algorithm loves consistency, and that’s why you should choose a theme that feels representative to you. And remember, that theme can’t be music; it should be something else you’re good at but also related to your music, like:
When picking this theme, try to understand how music fits your life and how it influences it, then show it to your potential audience.
Hashtags are another feature that helps algorithms sort content and determine which content is relevant to a specific audience. As a result, using the correct TikTok hashtags means that the platform will feature your videos in the “Discover” and “For You” sections.
Pro tip: Before choosing those hashtags, take a peek at TikTok’s Discover section to find some popular tags.
TikTok has a substantial viral potential because once people discover a particular video, they’ll create memes and challenges, which snowball that original video’s virality. Hop on the challenge wagon to get more views your way!
But remember not to stray too far from your original theme. Instead, give your personal touch to the new video you’re creating based on that trend while keeping your initial strategy in mind.
Pro tip: Don’t forget to add the corresponding hashtags for each challenge.
If you’re a music artist, ensure everyone knows that without being obvious or pushy. You don’t want to spam your audience with new track announcements, but we encourage you to use your music as soundtracks for the challenges or other videos you’re creating. If you do want to use your own music in videos that have nothing to do with soundtracks, download some royalty-free stock tracks from websites like Videvo and experiment with blending them together!
Also be sure to use a mobile app like Distrokid to get your tunes out in front of audiences efficiently, covering platforms from TikTok and Tidal to Spotify and YouTube.
TikTok Pro lets you track:
These indicators will help you understand who gets the most kick out of your videos, who shares them, and who doesn’t. Thus, TikTok Pro’s excellent insights into the minds of your consumers allow you to adjust your video content strategy according to your goals.
That’s (literally) the million-bucks question. Once you make your TikTok music go viral, the sky’s the limit in terms of your winnings.
While there’s no bulletproof strategy that will guarantee that your tracks go viral, you should understand the elements that contour the right approach. And once you have the correct mindset, your job’s half done.
But until then, try to:
Spend time on this platform, test how it works, analyze which videos you like. Check out popular videos and try to decipher their pattern or the things they have in common.
TikTok advises users that 9-15 seconds is the best length for in-feed ads. So, go back to your tracks and identify those 15 seconds of glory that fit the platform. Think of a memorable jingle or a unique drop—something that encourages repetition in a diverse audience.
Did you know that some digital distributors don’t work with TikTok? If your content strategy relies on this platform, it’s wise to see who can help you get there.
TikTok thrives on challenges and vice versa. So, once you’re done taking part in other people’s challenges, create one of your own. Just remember that this competition has to be:
Hashtags are essential to viral videos because it’s the name your audience uses to find that challenge and play with it. Consider that this hashtag you’re choosing now will be connected to your tracks forever—and that’s why you should select an inspired one.
You should understand who your audience is before anything else, so figure out:
Next, pick the influencers that address this audience, preferably with the help of an expert agency. Think of it this way: once you post the wrong type of content on TikTok, you’ll be permanently identified with it. As a result, you could short-circuit your entire professional journey based on just one mistake.
You don’t want to be the Nicolas Cage or Jim Carrey of TikTok—aka you don’t want the audience to see you as that person who creates excellent TikTok content. Remember that you’re on TikTok to sell your tracks.
That means getting your TikTok public on platforms like Spotify or Instagram. You need to create that loyal community that listens to your songs and takes you seriously as an artist.
Of course, that community ultimately buys your albums and concert tickets.
Pro tip: Make sure that your TikTok account includes links to your other social media accounts, including wherever you’re selling your tracks (e.g., Apple Music).
Making your videos viral starts from understanding what hooks your audience and what makes them want to repeat your content. So do your research with this keyword in mind: versatility.
E-40’s “Choices (Yup)” is the perfect personification of an audio meme that allows people’s personalities to take center stage. And when you think about it, all it does is show people lip-syncing “yup” and “nope.”
But here’s the key: these questions reflect a funny or profound or complicated reality that many other people can relate to. That’s why the cornerstone of your endeavours should be versatility.
Or here’s another solution that works:
A shortcut to success is to create a cover of an already existing song, as it will make it easier for people to pick up. Covers are the essence of versatility.
Also, when creating a sound in TikTok, make sure to mention your music artist/band name to allow people to find you on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube.
Dancing, using the right tone, hand or face gestures are an intrinsic part of any high-viral potential challenge. You want gestures that are easy to reproduce, addictive, repetitive, but also fun and versatile.
Once you create this short, entertaining dance routine, be sure to post the tutorial so that your audience can easily create their videos.
These tools are excellent ways to create your videos and encourage your fans to create their own. For example:
Some people, like Austin Giorgio, can produce larger-than-life videos that look exaggerated but don’t feel false. If you have similar personalities, consider using this trope in your content.
Localized content is popular on TikTok, and you can leverage it to build a reputation in your region. After all, that’s most likely where your starting audience is. Thus, use:
Help the audience find that song and look for it on other social media platforms by:
Once you have that excellent TikTok content, don’t keep it private. Instead, share it on other social media channels, like Instagram.
According to Business Insider, you can make money from music on TikTok because the overwhelming majority of TikTokers search the songs they originally heard on this platform. That’s why many marketers thought to leverage this tendency by:
Warning: You can apply some rules, but you can’t predict with 100% accuracy which video will become the next big thing on TikTok. So, if you want to sell your music using this platform, you need to:
Pro tip: If you decide to use influencers to sell your music on TikTok, choose micro or nano-influencers. The platform has already become over-saturated, so it’s better not to throw the big bucks at a premium celebrity. Instead, working with many micro-influencers will help you cast a wider net so that you can reach millions of views at a minimal cost.
Remember, inBeat is just one click away.
