TikTok royalties: how they work and how much artists can earn from the platform

TikTok has quickly become one of the most influential social networks worldwide, especially when it comes to music. Every month, the platform welcomes over 100 million new users who spend hours watching short videos accompanied by a wide range of sounds and music tracks. It’s no surprise that recent studies show 88% of TikTok users consider audio a crucial part of the experience on the app. Simply put, music is the beating heart of TikTok.

However, for many artists, beyond visibility, a crucial question arises: how much can you really earn with TikTok? In the streaming world, royalties, or the lack thereof, are often a hot topic, especially when it comes to platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. But what about TikTok? Are artists paid? And if yes, how does the payment system work? In this guide, we’ll clarify how TikTok royalties are calculated and how you can leverage this platform to promote your music while earning money.

What we're going to explore:

• Does TikTok pay musicians? How do TikTok royalties work?
• Can you earn royalties by uploading your music directly on TikTok?
• How are TikTok royalties calculated?
• How much can you make from TikTok royalties?
• When do TikTok royalties get paid?
• Why should you invest time in TikTok if royalties are low?

Does TikTok pay musicians? How do TikTok royalties work?

The short answer is yes: TikTok does pay royalties to artists. Over recent years, TikTok has signed licensing agreements with most major labels and distributors, officially entering the realm of paying artists for the use of their songs. This means that when your music is used in a TikTok video, you could receive payment.

It’s important to note that although the payments are still relatively modest, this new revenue stream adds significant value to an app that is already one of the most powerful promotional tools, especially among young people worldwide.

Don't you know how to share your track from Spotify to TikTok? We got you: you can find a full guide on our blog!

Can you earn royalties by uploading your music directly on TikTok?

This is probably the most common question among musicians approaching TikTok. Unfortunately, the answer is no: you don’t earn royalties by uploading your music directly to the app.

Why? Simply because TikTok only pays for songs delivered to the platform via official distributors or labels who have licensing agreements. This means that if you want to earn royalties, you need to upload your tracks through a digital distributor like TuneCore, CD Baby, DistroKid, or similar services that send your music to TikTok properly. Uploading a sound directly on the app will not generate any payments.

Matchfy provides artists with a comprehensive platform to both distribute their music across all major digital streaming services and effectively promote it on TikTok through their exclusive VIP Plan. This specialized plan is designed to boost your track’s visibility directly within TikTok’s vibrant community, helping you reach a wider and more engaged audience. By combining music distribution with targeted TikTok promotion, Matchfy empowers artists to maximize their exposure and grow their fanbase in one streamlined solution.

How are TikTok royalties calculated?

TikTok’s royalty calculation works very differently compared to platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. While Spotify pays artists based on total streams, TikTok pays based on the number of videos created using your music, regardless of how many views those videos get.

For example, if 1,000 different users create videos using your song, you get paid for those 1,000 videos, even if some of them have only a few views. This might seem counterintuitive, but it’s what makes TikTok unique.

This also means a viral video with millions of views might pay less than hundreds of videos with fewer views, as long as those hundreds are more numerous.

Each distributor or label has different agreements with TikTok, so percentages and calculation methods may vary slightly, but generally, payment is made per video using your track, not per number of views.

How much can you make from TikTok royalties?

Now, the million-dollar question: how much do you actually earn? The average payment for each video using your song is around 3 cents.

In practical terms:

• If your music is used in 1,000 TikTok videos, you can expect about $30.
• If your track is featured in 1 million videos, the theoretical earning would be around $30,000.

Obviously, hitting those numbers requires an extremely popular and viral track, but many TikTok hits have reached significant usage figures, helping many emerging artists make a big leap in their careers.

When do TikTok royalties get paid?

Another important aspect to know is the payment timing. TikTok reports its revenue to distributors every three months (quarterly).

This means that once the distributor receives these reports, they begin processing payments and send money according to their own schedule. So don’t expect immediate payments, you might need to wait a few months before seeing your first earnings from TikTok uses.

Why should you invest time in TikTok if royalties are low?

At this point, you might wonder: with such small payments, is it really worth investing time and resources into TikTok? The answer is a big yes, for several reasons.

TikTok is one of the most powerful promotional tools artists can use today. Its main feature is how easily users can share videos containing your music not only within TikTok but across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Twitter, Telegram, SMS, and even email.

This multi-platform viral potential means your song can reach a much larger audience, significantly increasing streams on Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming services, while generating new fans and opportunities for gigs or record deals.

Many songs that became viral on TikTok have then turned into global hits, climbing sales and streaming charts, and granting instant fame to their creators.

So, even if TikTok royalties are not yet comparable to Spotify’s, the real value is in the exposure and opportunities that come from being on the platform.

Conclusion

In conclusion, TikTok has revolutionized the way music is discovered, shared, and promoted, giving artists a unique opportunity to connect with audiences on a massive scale. While the direct royalties from TikTok may be relatively modest compared to traditional streaming platforms, the real power of the app lies in its unparalleled potential for virality and cross-platform exposure. A well-timed trend or a catchy snippet can propel a song into the feeds of millions, boost streaming numbers on Spotify and Apple Music, and even open doors to record deals or international recognition.

This is where Matchfy becomes an invaluable ally for musicians. By offering both global music distribution and targeted TikTok promotion through its VIP Plan, Matchfy ensures your tracks don’t just reach the platform, but actually get noticed. It bridges the gap between simply having your music online and actively turning it into a growth engine for your fanbase. In the fast-paced world of TikTok, where a single video can change a career, combining smart promotion with professional distribution can make all the difference. For artists who want to maximize both their earnings and their exposure, TikTok is no longer just an option, but an essential part of the strategy.