Can a business use trending sounds on TikTok?
The short answer
Usually not the way creators do. TikTok says businesses can't use the general music library for commercial use, and should use its Commercial Music Library instead, which it describes as about 1 million pre-cleared songs free for businesses (TikTok). If a trending sound isn't in that library, a business either needs a proper license or should skip it.
Why "everyone else uses it" doesn't apply to you
You might think a sound that's all over your For You page is fair game. For personal accounts, that's how trends spread. For a business, TikTok draws a line: its Commercial Music Library is meant for all commercial TikTok activity, which it says includes:
- organic posts, including duets, reacts and stitches with other users' videos
- video ads
- branded content
TikTok adds one more warning. If you use original sound from other users or other licensed sounds in organic or paid content, it tells businesses to consult their legal team to make sure they have a proper license. So a sound that went viral from another account isn't automatically safe either.
What a business can use instead
- Commercial Music Library tracks. Pre-cleared songs you can use in business posts and ads.
- Your own original audio. Talking to camera, a real conversation, sounds from your shop or lot. If you recorded it and no copyrighted music is playing in the background, it's yours to use.
- Licensed music you've paid for. Only if the license covers TikTok and commercial use. Check before you post.
What we saw on Kramer Autoplex's TikToks
Our Kramer Autoplex case study features six TikToks from the dealership's account. We checked the sound on each one. Four of the six ran on "original sound" from the Kramer Autoplex account itself, meaning the audio came from Kramer's own videos. Those four included the Camaro SS reveal, at 529K views, plus three others between 184K and 246K views.
What carried those videos wasn't a borrowed song. In our view, it was the people on camera and what happened in each clip: a car reveal, an awkward moment, a shark on the lot, a fan-favorite classic going to its new owner. A competitor can copy a trending song, but not that.
This is a small sample of featured videos, not a study. But it shows a business doesn't need someone else's trending sound to get big views.
How to make original audio work
- Hook in the first line. Our guide to hooking viewers in the first 2 seconds covers how to open.
- Keep it short. See how long a TikTok should be for a business for what TikTok recommends.
- Record clean sound. Our phone filming guide covers getting usable audio on a phone.
- Add a cleared track if you want music. Pick it from the Commercial Music Library under your own voice or scene.
This article is general information, not legal advice. TikTok's music rules can change, so check its current guidance before you post.
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