PROBLEM
Aren’t you sick and tired of trying to promote your own music on TikTok but are being told by the system that the music can’t be used because it is copywritten, although it is copywritten by you? I have a solution.
Recently, I experienced a problem wherein I was trying to promote my own music on TikTok but kept getting an error because the music is copywritten. It’s true that it is copywritten; however, it is copywritten by me. There are many music artists on the TikTok platform who have experienced the same problem.
After trying a few different ways to promote my own music - unsuccessfully, I discovered a solution that has been working for me for the past few days. Here are a few MUST do prerequisites you must do to make it work. The process is long, so stay with me.
PRE-REQUISITES – CONTENT CREATION
1. When creating your content, such as a music video or other creative content, ADD YOUR MUSIC VIA THE APPLICATION YOU ARE USING TO CREATE THE CONTENT (e.g., CapCut, FinalCut Pro, Movie Maker, etc.)
2. DO NOT USE THE AUTOCUT FEATURE in TikTok to create your content.
3. Please note, you CANNOT import the music from an application or site that you have distributed to, like iTunes or directly from your CD or download.
a. The reason for this is that each music track, once it has been distributed, it assigned an ISRC. An ISRC is an International Standard Recording Code that is embedded into the track and serves as its digital footprint for copyright detection and monetization.
b. If you still have the original track (e.g., output from the studio session, the mastered copy submitted for distribution, or any other copy that is pre-ISRC, USE THAT ONE when creating your content.
c. If you do not have a copy of the original music without the embedded ISRC, but your music is on YouTube,
i. you can use a YouTube-to-MP3 converter tool, https://ytmp3s.nu/bPwd/, link in the description, or
ii. you can screen record the song while it’s playing on YouTube, import the screen recording into your content creation software, extract the audio, and delete video portion of the screen recording.
iii. This process enables you to use audio that does not have an embedded ISRC.
4. DO NOT USE THE “ADD SOUND” FEATURE in TikTok when uploading your content. I will speak more about this later.
SOLUTION
Now that you have useable content, you are now ready to upload and promote your music to TikTok. If you follow these steps, you will be able to promote your music successfully.
1. Go to the TikTok platform and select the content you would like to upload and promote.
2. When the content appears on the screen, DO NOT USE THE “ADD SOUND” FEATURE at the top of the screen.
3. BEFORE SELECTING “NEXT”, select the SETTINGS icon on the upper right.
4. In the Settings window, select the arrow to the right of “CONTENT DISCLOSURE.”
5. On the Content Disclosure window, turn on “DISCLOSE POST CONTENT.” It allows others to know that the post promotes a brand, product, or service.
6. If you are promoting your own music, select the checkbox for “YOUR BRAND.”
7. If you are promoting another brand or third party, select that checkbox instead.
8. Select “CONTINUE” when prompted, and you will be returned to the Settings window.
9. “X” out of the Settings window.
10. On the content’s description window, select “…MORE OPTIONS.”
11. On the More Options screen, select the arrow to the right of “CONTENT DISCOLSURE AND ADS.”
12. On the Content Disclosure and Ads screen, turn on “AD AUTHORIZATION.” This allows the video to be promoted and that you agree with the Advertising Content Terms of Service.
13. On the Select Available Period screen, select the desired number of days for which you authorize the video to be available for ad promotion. Options range from 7 days to 365. Press “AUTHORIZE.”
14. When you are returned to the Content Disclosure and Ads screen, select “SAVE” and you will be returned to the More Options screen.
15. “X” out of the More Options screen.
16. Complete the content description, to include any hashtags, mentions, location, etc., and select “POST.”
17. Once your content has been uploaded and posted, you should see an text on the bottom left of the post indicating that the post is “PROMOTIONAL CONTENT.”
18. On your TikTok artist profile page, select the “TIKTOK STUDIO” icon.
19. Scroll down to the More Tools section and select “PROMOTE.”
20. Select the “MINE” tab at the top of the screen to see if you have any rewards or promotional discount options available in the Success Center.
21. If you have rewards or promotional discounts, select the respective “TRY PROMOTE” or “PUBLISH NOW’ option to apply the discount.
22. On the Promote page, in the Select Your Content section, select the arrow to the right of the auto-populated content. You will be taken to the Promotable Videos page.
23. On the Promotable Videos page, select the content you posted for promotion by clicking the respective “PROMOTE” button.
24. You will be taken back to the Promote page. Scroll down and select your desired budget and number of days to promote.
25. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the Promote page and check the checkbox in the Terms section.
26. Finally, press “PAY” to pay for your promotional ad.
27. After payment is processed, you’re all set. Click “OK” and provide feedback, if desired.
28. You will be returned to the Order Details page, where you will see the status of your content ad as “UNDER REVIEW.”
29. It usually takes a few minutes for the review process to be completed, and your promotion activated.
30. To check the activation status, return to your artist profile page and select “TIKTOK STUDIO.”
31. On the Promote page, select the “DASHBOARD” tab.
32. In the Order History section, you will see a list of the content you have posted for promotion, and if your content has been approved, you will see the status marked as “ACTIVE.”