Methods For Finding Songs On TikTok

Many explanations for TikTok’s exponential growth in the late 2010s and early 2020s have been suggested.

Key among them, though, are the landmark deals the social media platform struck with major record labels. Those arrangements enabled the app to provide content creators with the world’s largest online library of trending and popular songs to use in their video productions.

It’s impossible to put an exact number on the songs (called “Sounds” on the app) available in TikTok’s library. The list is constantly growing thanks to new releases, deals with independent artists, and creator-supplied music.

Here’s what is possible, though: finding the perfect song to match just about any TikTok video.

Trending music is usually pretty easy to find on the platform, but locating less-popular Sounds that deal with a specific subject can sometimes be a challenge. If you’ve been searching for a particular type of music and have had no luck, these tips may help.

How to Find Songs on TikTok: The Standard Way

When you’re recording and editing TikTok content directly on the app, there’s an easy solution.

The system will determine the topic of your video and suggest a Sound that may match what you’ve created. If you’re not satisfied, just tap the “x” next to the title of the recommended song, and you can search categories like “Recommended,” “Favorites,” and “Recent.” You can also hit the magnifying glass to bring up a window where you can search for music by any keyword.

If you don’t see (and hear) a suggested Sound for your video, tap “Add sound” at the top of the screen, and you’ll see a popup with all of those same options. If you want to listen to a song before using it, just tap on the title; you also have the option to bookmark a Sound for later use.

How To Find Songs on TikTok: Alternative Approaches

It’s estimated that there are more than a million Sounds available in the app’s library, so a simple search during video creation may not let you discover exactly what you’re looking for. Here are a few other approaches to finding music on TikTok.

• Use the App’s Search Function: You don’t have to be producing a video to search for songs. Hitting the magnifying glass at the top of your home screen will let you search the platform by song title, artist name, song lyrics, or almost any other criteria you can think of. Searching for “trending sounds” will bring up a wealth of songs currently popular on the app.
• Watch Other People’s Videos: As you scroll your feed, be on the looking for TikTok posts that contain music you might want to use in your own videos. You can easily find the name of the Sound in a post by looking at the bottom left corner of the screen; tapping on the title will give you the option to use the song or add it to your favorites.
• Look Elsewhere: Spotify is a great place to find music for TikTok videos, since you can find lots of playlists like “TikTok Hits” and “TikTok Viral” that contain the songs currently trending on the app. Also check Billboard Magazine’s website (where you’ll find the current “TikTok Top 50” chart), or use the Shazam app to identify music you hear elsewhere and want to use in your content.

Choosing the right TikTok Sound for your video is an often-underestimated element in a post’s success. Trending songs, in particular, can bring in lots of random surfers who are searching for videos containing the music — and might never have otherwise found your TikTok account. A few minutes spent searching for the right song can pay huge dividends.