TikTok for Musicians: 5 Expert Tips For Boosting Your Music

Over the last several years, TikTok has dominated as the fastest-growing social media platform, and it’s no surprise why. TikTok has completely revolutionized how creators can organically reach new audiences thanks to the platform’s unique algorithm and sense of community, opening up more opportunities for smaller creators - particularly musicians.

Just think of all the musicians that grew their careers thanks to TikTok’s help. 

PinkPantheress 

Loren Gray

Ashnikko

Lil Nas X

Tai Verdes

CKay

These artists kickstarted their fame by releasing music on TikTok and consistently posting content around it. Now, it’s time you did the same. 

Tip #1: Document Your Journey

Unlike many popular social platforms, TikTok and its users gravitate towards authenticity. According to the Nielsen Study, users around the globe find TikTok content authentic, genuine, unfiltered, and trendsetting. Not only do users feel like they can be themselves, but they also trust others to be authentic and genuine.

It’s crucial to really leverage that sought-after authenticity within your TikTok content, mainly when documenting your music journey. Showcase the highs and lows of creating new music, preparing for an album drop, going on tour, or just trying to make it as a musician in what can feel like an oversaturated market. This kind of content effectively gets your followers invested in your life and career and will encourage your viewers to check back into your page every so often. 

Tip #2: Deconstruct Your Song 

Give your viewers an inside look at the construction of your song by deconstructing your song. 

You can do this in several ways:

• If you’re a producer, strip down your song layer by layer as you explain to your listeners how you arrived at your final beat. 
• Analyze your lyrics and give insight into how you came up with your song’s hook. This can be broken down into how you felt while writing, what you were trying to convey, and any inspiration you may have tapped into to arrive at your finished product. 
• If you used a popular (and cleared) sample in your song, compare your piece to the original song sampled. Make it extra interesting by getting your viewers to guess which song was sampled through hints and clues before revealing the answer at the end of your video. 

Tip #3: Open Verse Challenges 

If you’re looking for a way to show off your skills or collaborate with other creators on TikTok, then keep your eyes peeled for Open Verse Challenges! These challenges encourage artists to duet and sing over an open verse of a beat with their own lyrics or hook, often coming with cash prizes to the winner. 

One Open Verse Challenge that went viral involved American rapper Russ, who launched a challenge to promote his track “Remember (Remix).” This gave other artists the spotlight to showcase their work and resulted in Russ being particularly impressed with 22-year-old TikToker @HaileyKnox’s verse. Russ loved Hailey’s verse so much that he incorporated her verse into his remix and dropped the track a week later. 

While these challenges are a great way to encourage audience interaction, they also open doors for future collaborations and connection building. 

Tip #4: Share Your Playlists 

There is an entire side of TikTok that is just the sharing of playlists, and it’s POPULAR. Meet Sam Weisband, a playlist curator specializing in sorting music into playlists labeled by color. One of her videos has racked up over 1.3 million views, and her following sits at over 140k. Sam uses her channel to share the artists and songs she’s added to her playlists with the world. 

Another playlister on TikTok that goes by the username @Musicpluggg999 has amassed millions of views on his playlist videos and acquired over 400k followers.  All of that to say, it pays off to share your curated playlists on TikTok. Plugging your own music into the playlists you share definitely can’t hurt either.

Tip #5: Choreograph a Dance 

It’s no secret that TikTok LOVES a good viral dance routine. Creating a simple dance routine for one of your songs is a surefire way to get fans to use your sound and circulate your dance. Indie turned viral popstar Caroline Polachek did a simple choreographed dance to her song, ‘So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings,’ which quickly took off amongst TikTokers. To date, the song has hundreds of thousands of choreographed videos, including a viral take of the dance by Riverdale’s Camila Mendes. 

As you create content and work towards a larger following on TikTok, it’s crucial to remain consistent, patient, and authentic during your journey. Going “viral” on TikTok can happen, but it ultimately takes time, trial-and-error, and patience. 

Get Your Music on TikTok

TikTok has proven itself as a game-changer for musicians seeking organic growth and widespread exposure. The platform's emphasis on authenticity and genuine connections with users sets it apart from others, making it an ideal platform for sharing your music journey and building direct connections with old and new fans.

Venice Music makes it easy for you to seamlessly get your music on TikTok and all major streaming platforms, starting at only $19.99/year. 

Distribute Your Music To TikTok