With its array of “tricky” tools, TikTok puts you in the driver’s seat of scriptwriting. Often, inspiration strikes from viral trends, especially viral sounds. You find yourself in a world of countless creators, all united by the common desire to create and have fun.
TikTok is once again the focus of today’s blog post. Uploading a TikTok video brings back memories of when my friends and I used to direct sketches and short films as small-time actors! Indeed, TikTok demands direction and encourages you to let loose and “play” with its wrinkles. With its array of “tricky” tools, TikTok puts you in the driver’s seat of scriptwriting. Often, inspiration strikes from viral trends, especially viral sounds. You find yourself in a world of countless creators, all united by the common desire to create and have fun.
I’m giving myself the green light to talk about one of the key features that make TikTok platform culture unique!
Recent studies have shown that nearly 90% of TikTok users report that sound is the game-changer that makes the app the most fun, setting it apart from other social media platforms. Indeed, sound is an integral part of how TikTok works. If you try to remove it, you’ll find that all thecontent loses its meaning. (Just try it and see!) So, music seems to be the key to making a video go viral or trend. Who will discover the most appealing sound in an environment where sound is constantly evolving?
Creating original sound effects challenges users to discover and record the most captivating sound. When such a sound is discovered, it triggers millions of users to create videos using it as the soundtrack. And that’s how it goes, on and on, from one end of the earth to the other!
“Everyone within their own sound library”
As we mentioned, music, sound, and sound effects are vital features of TikTok and are primarily responsible for its viral success. This is because sound is uniquely linked to influence. TikTok allows users to create content with various sounds, including their favorite popular songs and recorded tracks. This starkly contrasts to platforms like Facebook and Instagram, where uploading a video featuring a popular track typically results in automatic copyright removal due to their more intricate copyright systems. But on TikTok, you can access a library of sounds that you are free to use and edit to fit your video.
Although transferring a TikTok sound onto Instagram Reels is technically feasible, it’s typically not the most suitable approach. Instead, it is best to confine your choices to the music available within Instagram’s audio library and exercise some patience. Usually, TikTok trends make their way to Reels a few weeks later.
Copyright
Certainly, TikTok takes copyright seriously. Researching the legality of TikTok will help you create successful content, especially when it comes to avoiding copyright infringement.
There are copyright-related commercial music restrictions, especially when finding sounds for TikTok Business accounts. This can be difficult, but it’s not impossible. The good news is that anything marked “original sound” on TikTok is available for business profiles. Since February 2023, business accounts can use TikTok’s “Sounds for Business,” a library of 10 pre-selected commercial sounds to power organic and paid content.
These sounds, marked in TikTok’s app as “original sound,” can consist of remixes of existing songs, voiceovers, or even random noises.
Commercial Music Library
The Commercial Music Library (CML) is a collection of over 500,000 commercial sounds from emerging artists and leading music labels worldwide in various styles and genres. All sounds in the CML have been pre-cleared for commercial use on TikTok, so users don’t have to go through the process of obtaining licenses themselves, making the platform highly functional.
The CML is enriched daily with new sounds, so you’re always sure to find the perfect soundtrack for your next campaign. Whether you’re looking for a song with lyrics or a catchy instrumental, the CML has you covered.
The TikTok sound library is also organized by genre, popularity, and trends, making it easy to find the perfect sound for your video.
Who can use the Commercial Music Library (CML)?
The CML is for TikTok users who use TikTok for marketing, advertising, sponsorship, endorsements, or publicity purposes, including official brand accounts, affiliates and promotional creators, NGOs, and government agencies. The CML can also be used for organic and paid content.
Currently, the Commercial Music Library is accessible worldwide
Sounds from the Commercial Music Library can be found within the TikTok Sounds library, accessible to all users. Every sound within the Commercial Music Library holds a worldwide license, granting unrestricted use within the TikTok ecosystem.
Additionally, there’s the scenario where creators enhance their videos by incorporating sound, mimicking speech, or singing in sync with a viral sound. This practice is referred to as Lip Synk, involving the act of feigning singing or speaking in perfect harmony with the pre-recorded audio.
Save a song used by another creator
If you know the song you want but can’t remember the name or artist, you can find it through a TikTok video that uses it. You can find the song on your For You page or in any video you watch.
To save the song, simply tap the audio icon on the video you’re watching. This will take you to the audio page. If you’re ready to use the song in a video, tap “Use this audio.” Otherwise, tap the “Save to favorites” icon to save the song for later.
What is Original Sound in TikTok?
The original sound in TikTok is when you record your voice, either singing or speaking, and use it as the audio for your video. You can also create original sound by simply speaking over a recording (voiceover) or by recording your voice after shooting the video. Once you’ve recorded an original sound, you can edit it using the tools at the bottom and right side of the screen. You can add voice effects, change the speed, or make any other changes you need to make the sound perfect for your video.
Original vs. Official Sounds
Engagement
Choosing the right sound is crucial for content creators who want to boost engagement with their target audience. Creating a brand-new sound can help creators stand out and attract more viewers.
Setting a trend
Creating a viral sound can also be a great way for creators to expand their influence. Sounds often carry the original context in which they were used, evoking certain emotions or experiences. Other users can then recreate, add their own ideas and improvisations, or even completely reinvent these sounds in their own videos. Each subsequent video carries the username of the original sound creator upon publication, giving the creator additional exposure and reach.
Advertising
The power of sound is not just for creators. Advertisers, both small and large, can use original sounds for branding purposes. Because original sounds can be named anything, advertisers can create sounds that promote their brand or products. Different creators use these sounds repeatedly over time, so the advertiser gains a potentially limitless marketing source. When mega-influencers use these sounds, it is especially effective, as top creators average millions of daily views
TikTok simplifies these tasks by offering in-app capabilities. Creating a new sound becomes your unique audio asset, available for unlimited reuse in your videos or for sharing with other users!
TikTok Sound Tips
The numbers never lie:
When choosing sounds from the TikTok library, take a moment to look at the numbers. How many videos have used the sound? Was it added recently? Is it still trending?
Sound Title
Creating original sounds is a great way to build your brand and get more exposure. When you create an original sound, be sure to give it a title that it will travel with on TikTok.
Voice or vlog recording
Voiceovers are one of the most popular TikTok features and can help you gain more followers. They allow you to narrate your videos, which can be very engaging for viewers. In fact, reality has shown that voiceover videos often trend and attract a lot of attention.
How to block a TikTok sound
Ever get bored of a TikTok sound so much that you want to block it from your For You page?
The algorithm is here to help!
When you see a video with a sound you don’t like, long-press the screen until a pop-up menu appears. Select “I’m not interested” and the algorithm will try to make sure you never see another video with that sound again (or at least not as often).
Remember, not everyone will like your content. That shouldn’t stop you from making TikTok videos. Just keep learning, experimenting, and using all the stimuli you can find on the platform to your advantage!
With the power of original sound,
Make your own!
