Table of Contents
On TikTok, the word “sound” is essentially used to mean the music used in TikTok videos. The app is estimated to have a collection of tens of millions of songs (perhaps even 100 million) that users can choose from.
Using a TikTok sound is optional for content creators, of course, but it’s certainly advisable. Almost 90% of TikTok users say that music is crucial to their experience on the social media platform — and trending songs play a huge role in that experience.
Well over two-thirds of all songs that hit Billboard’s Global 200 in the last few years first went viral as trending sounds on TikTok, and sounds that go viral on the app see dramatic increases in streaming exposure on Spotify and Apple Music. In short, TikTok is where an enormous number of artists and songs get the widespread exposure that drives their success.
Trending sounds can drive TikTok creators’ popularity, too. They act as audience magnets for TikTok content, with millions of users searching for videos containing the app’s most popular songs. That means using a trending sound may get your video trending as well, and might even send it viral.
But where do you find them?
TikTok Search
Opening the TikTok search function (by tapping the magnifying glass at the top of your home screen) and typing “trending sounds” into the search bar will bring up the top three sounds that are currently trending on the app.
Click “View all” in the search results or “Sounds” in the top menu bar, and you’ll see a full list of songs that are trending at the moment.
The TikTok Creative Center
If you have a business account (they’re easy to sign up for with your TikTok or Google credentials), you can visit TikTok’s Creative Center and check out their extensive trending sounds list. The charts show rankings, trends, and analytics and can be broken down by countries, geographic regions, and demographics.
The Creative Center is located online, at ads.tiktok.com/business/creativecenter.
For You Page
This option requires a little more work, but it’s entertaining work.
By scrolling through your For You feed, you’ll keep hearing the same sounds over and over again. Those are the trending songs that other users have chosen for the same reason you’re searching: they help videos build larger audiences. Picking one might eventually land you on the For You page as well.
Just look at the bottom of a video using the sound you’ve chosen, tap on the song title, and you’ll be able to favorite it to use in your own video.
The TikTok Sound Library
If you’re already starting to create a new video, just click the “Add sound” button at the top of the Create screen. You’ll be taken to TikTok’s sound library, where you can find almost any song you might want to use in your content.
The screen that opens will show “Recommended” songs, which the TikTok algorithms have determined are the best matches for the video you’ve recorded or other content you’ve made. You can also use the top navigation bar to look at sounds you’ve favorited in the past or ones you’ve checked out recently.
Tapping the magnifying glass in the sound library will let you search for music by specific artists, titles, or lyrics, but here’s a secret many creators don’t know. Right under the search bar is an option called “Discover more sounds.” Tap it and you can scroll down to see all sorts of playlists, including current TikTok viral songs.
Trending sounds can make a huge difference in your video’s popularity; it’s worth the effort to find the perfect song for your new content.
About the Author
Peter Hasselworth is a contributor at iDigic, sharing valuable insights about Instagram growth and social media marketing strategies.