TikTok Commercial Music Library explained

What it is

TikTok describes the Commercial Music Library as "a global music library of 1 million songs". Its terms call the tracks Commercial Sounds, and say they "are the only sounds made available on TikTok for Commercial Uses."

What counts as commercial use

The library's terms define it. Commercial use includes "the association of a Commercial Sound with a brand, logo or trademark" and "advertising, marketing, endorsing, sponsoring or publicizing" a product or service on TikTok, paid hashtag challenges included.

The general Music Terms say the same from the other side. You should not use a song from the general library "for any commercial purpose, including associating the music with, or promoting, a brand or business, unless you have obtained the necessary rights."

This is about the video, not only the account. The terms cover "individuals" who "may be using the Platform for commercial purposes". A personal account posting a sponsored video is making commercial use.

Who is limited to it

Business Accounts. TikTok's help page says "If you use a Business Account, when you start a new video and click on Add Sound, you will only see sounds from the Commercial Music Library."

Business Accounts also lose the Unlimited Sound Library, and TikTok's Music Terms tell commercial users not to use an Original Sound uploaded by another user.

Switching is in Settings and privacy, under Account, with "Switch to Business Account". Think before you tap it. If your channel is you making videos for fun, a Personal account keeps the full sound library. One more consequence is that only Personal Accounts are eligible for the Creator Rewards Program.

The catch

Videos made with Commercial Sounds have to stay on TikTok. The terms say "You may only post or share videos that include Commercial Sounds within TikTok", and list "posting videos on third party digital platforms" among the uses that are not permitted.

If you plan to post the same video to Shorts and Reels, do not build it on a Commercial Sound. Use music you license yourself, and read the reposting guide first.

Tracks can disappear

The terms allow TikTok to act if it loses the rights to a Commercial Sound. It "may take down any videos" using it "or mute the audio". A video that was fine on the day you posted can go silent later.

Using your own licensed music for commercial posts

The Music Terms let commercial users upload their own audio if they own the rights or have "permission from all necessary rights holders". Subscription libraries build on that. Epidemic Sound, for example, says commercial posts on TikTok need its Pro plan and a TikTok Business Account, and that "TikTok will prompt a checkbox confirming permission to use the music."

Outside music can still be muted by TikTok's audio recognition. The guide to what gets muted covers that.