Can I Earn Royalties From TikTok and Instagram as a Songwriter?

How Your Music Gets on TikTok & Instagram

• You upload your song through a music distributor (e.g., DistroKid, TuneCore, CD Baby).
• The distributor delivers your master recording to TikTok, Instagram Reels, Facebook Stories, etc.
• Users can then add your song to their videos, and your music is monetized per use.

 How Songwriters Get Paid

Royalty Type	Who Pays It?	Collected By
Performance Royalties	TikTok, Meta, etc. via blanket licenses	PROs (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc.)
Mechanical Royalties	Some platforms (if applicable)	The MLC or publishing admin
Sync-style Payments	Sometimes lump-sum licensing deals	Paid to publishers/admins

Note: Payments are often pooled and distributed based on data, not per individual video.

 Key Requirements to Get Paid

• Your songs must be registered with a PRO (ASCAP, BMI, etc.)
• Your songs must be registered with The MLC or through a publishing admin
• You must distribute your music to TikTok/Instagram using a distributor that supports those platforms
• Accurate metadata and songwriting splits are critical

 Distributors That Deliver to TikTok/Instagram

Distributor	Delivers to TikTok & IG
DistroKid	Yes
TuneCore	Yes
CD Baby	Yes
Amuse	Yes
UnitedMasters	Yes

Some also offer Content ID-style tracking for short-form platforms.

 Pro Tips

• Viral TikTok sounds don’t just help with exposure—they can generate real songwriter income
• Use TikTok trends or Reels challenges to boost usage of your music
• Pair your songs with captivating hooks or beats that work well for looping content
• Consider a publishing admin like Songtrust to ensure global collection

Bottom Line:
If your music is properly distributed and registered, TikTok and Instagram can pay you as a songwriter through publishing royalties. With songs going viral in seconds, it’s a fast-growing and important income stream.