How to promote your music on TikTok: a complete guide for musicians and emerging artists

In recent years, TikTok has become one of the most powerful platforms for discovering new music trends and up-and-coming artists. Its influence on the music industry is undeniable, and today, for an independent musician or producer, overlooking TikTok means missing out on one of the best opportunities to grow your fanbase and reach new listeners. With over one billion active users each month, TikTok is the ideal place to share your music, build a loyal audience, and go viral.

If you’re an emerging artist looking for an effective way to get your music heard, this guide will help you understand how to make the most of TikTok with actionable strategies, creative content ideas, and useful tools.

Here's what we're going to talk about:

• Why TikTok is a game-changer for music promotion
• Effective strategies to promote your music on TikTok
• Optimize your TikTok artist profile
• Helpful tools to boost your music on TikTok

Why TikTok is a game-changer for music promotion

TikTok has completely rewritten the rules of music marketing. Unlike other social platforms that often require an established follower base to gain visibility, TikTok’s algorithm is designed to reward creativity and engagement. This means that even a video from a relatively unknown artist can go viral and reach millions of users within hours.

Another key factor is authenticity. On TikTok, real and spontaneous content tends to perform much better than overly polished or staged posts. People want to feel a connection and music is one of the most powerful tools to build emotional bonds with an audience.

Moreover, TikTok is home to a wide range of musical genres: pop, trap, indie, electronic, folk, experimental—you name it.

Whatever your style, there's a niche audience waiting to discover you.

Do you know the right way to share your music from Spotify to TikTok? Don’t worry—we’ve created a super simple guide to help you do it. Find out more by reading the article on our blog!

Effective strategies to promote your music on TikTok

Promoting your music on TikTok takes more than just uploading clips. You need to be consistent, creative, and adaptive to how the platform works. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Create engaging videos with your songs

TikTok videos typically perform best when they're between 15 and 30 seconds long. Choose the most memorable part of your track—like the chorus, drop, or a catchy lyric—and build content around it. This could be a live performance, an aesthetic visual, a funny skit, or a dance. The key is to grab attention in the first few seconds and keep people watching.

2. Jump on trends or start your own challenge

TikTok is built on trends. Participating in trending challenges using your own music is one of the fastest ways to increase your reach.

Even better? Launch your own original challenge.

It could involve a dance, transformation, or emotional reaction tied to your song. If your idea catches on, thousands of users might create videos using your audio—giving your track massive organic exposure.

3. Share behind the scenes moments

Users love seeing the creative process behind the music: studio sessions, songwriting clips, bloopers, or even your thoughts about a new track. This kind of raw, behind-the-scenes content humanizes you and helps fans feel more connected to you as an artist. It also builds a deeper emotional investment in your music.

4. Engage with the TikTok community

TikTok isn’t just about broadcasting—it's about interaction. Reply to comments, duet with fans, engage with other creators, and react to videos that feature your song. The more you interact, the more visible and relatable you become. Building a real community will lead to loyal followers who support your journey.

5. Use the right hashtags

Hashtags help users discover your content. Use relevant, genre-specific, and trend-aligned hashtags. Instead of flooding your post with random tags, focus on 3 to 5 that are truly aligned with your song and video. Examples include #NewMusic, #TikTokMusic, #IndieArtist, #MusicDiscovery, #UnsignedHype, #ProducerLife.

We also created a guide for you about some types of content you can create effortlessly, go check it on our blog!

Optimize your TikTok artist profile

While a single video can go viral, a well-crafted profile helps convert casual viewers into long-term followers. Here’s how to set up your profile for success:

• Professional profile picture: use a clear image that reflects your music style and personal brand. If you have a logo or visual identity, incorporate it.
• Concise and catchy bio: explain who you are and what you do in a short, impactful sentence. Include a call to action and, if possible, a link to your Spotify, YouTube, or artist website.
• Consistency is key: try to post regularly. You don’t need to upload elaborate videos every day, but showing up consistently with content—whether it’s music previews, updates, or ideas—will help you stay relevant.

Helpful tools to boost your music on TikTok

In addition to organic strategies, you can use several platforms and tools to support your TikTok music promotion.

• Music distribution services: platforms like Ditto Music, DistroKid, and TuneCore allow you to upload your music to all major streaming services, including TikTok’s internal music library. This means your songs become available for other creators to use in their videos.

We also created our distribution service on Matchfy: you have the freedom to release your music on over 150 streaming and download platforms worldwide, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, YouTube Music, and many more, keeping 95% of your royalties.

• Influencer marketing tools: services like SoundCampaign can help you connect with TikTok influencers who promote your music to their audiences in exchange for a fee. This can be a powerful way to expand your reach beyond your current followers.

On Matchfy you have the possibility to start promoting your music on social media too: with our VIP Plan you can choose between different platforms like Spotify, Youtube TikTok and Instagram. It's the ideal personalized solution for artists and music creators looking to expand the visibility of their new songs on the most influential digital platforms.

• Track your performance: use TikTok’s built-in analytics to monitor the performance of your posts. Look at views, watch time, shares, and follower growth to understand what works best. This data will help you refine your strategy and create better content.

TikTok is the stage your music needs

TikTok has proven to be a game-changing platform for artists who want to break through the noise and connect with real listeners. But to truly maximize your visibility and growth, your promotional strategy needs to go beyond a single platform. You need the right tools, the right network, and a smart, integrated approach.

That’s where Matchfy comes in.

Whether you're launching a new single, building your presence on streaming platforms, or looking to grow your audience on TikTok, Matchfy offers everything you need to promote your music like a pro. From personalized distribution across 150+ platforms—where you keep 95% of your royalties—to targeted playlist placements and social media campaigns, Matchfy is designed to help independent artists rise in today’s competitive music landscape.