π Master the Beat: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Pitching Music to TikTok for Playlist & Banner Features
Keywords: Pitch Music to TikTok, TikTok Pitch Form, TikTok Playlists, TikTok Banner Feature, Music Promotion on TikTok, TikTok for Artists, Viral TikTok Song, TikTok Music Marketing.
TikTok is the undisputed kingmaker in modern music, and landing a feature on an official TikTok Playlist or a coveted Banner Placement is the ultimate goal for artists. But how do you get your song from your distribution service to the desks of TikTokβs music curators?
While TikTok doesn’t have a public-facing, universally accessible pitching form for all artists, they primarily accept submissions through their official distributor partners and specific artist hubs like SoundOn or through direct outreach programs.
This guide breaks down the essential pre-pitch steps and the rumored submission process to give your music the best shot at a viral moment.
Pre-Pitch: The 3 Essential Steps Before You Submit
Before you even think about pitching your music, your song and your TikTok profile must be primed for success. Curators look for tracks that are already demonstrating viral potential and a strong presence.
1. Optimize Your Music for the Platform
Find Your 15-Second Moment: TikTok runs on short-form content. Identify the most catchy, viral-ready 15-second snippet of your song (the hook or a danceable section). Your distributor will often let you select this clip.
High-Quality Audio: Ensure your track is professionally mixed and mastered. TikTok curators expect broadcast-ready quality.
Use the Right Distributor: Your distributor must have a direct partnership with TikTok to ensure your music is available in the TikTok commercial and consumer music library. Check with your distributor (e.g., DistroKid, TuneCore, SoundOn, Ditto) to confirm.
2. Build Authentic TikTok Engagement (TikTok SEO)
The TikTok algorithm and curators reward engagement. You must be an active user.
Create Your Own Content: Use your song in your own videos. Showcase the dance, the challenge, or the concept you want to go viral. Post consistently (daily is best).
Strategic Hashtag Use: Use a mix of:
Niche Hashtags:
#indiepop,#bedroomproducer,#lofihiphop.Broad Hashtags:
#newmusic,#fyp,#musician.Trending Hashtags: Piggyback on current trends, even if they’re not directly music-related, by adapting your song’s theme to the trend.
Engage and Interact: Respond to comments, Duet other users, and join popular trends. This increases your overall visibility and shows the curator you have a growing, active community.
3. Develop a Clear Challenge/Trend Concept
A song is pitched, but a trend goes viral. Curators are looking for songs that are easy for the general user to engage with.
Simplicity is Key: The concept (dance, lip-sync, visual meme) must be easy to replicate by anyone, regardless of production skill.
Memorable Hashtag: Create a unique, easy-to-spell, and catchy hashtag for your song/challenge (e.g.,
#MySongChallenge).
The Pitching Process: Using the TikTok Pitch Form (Via Your Distributor/Hub)
The most common and effective route for pitching your track to the official TikTok editorial team is through your music distributor’s artist portal or an official TikTok partner.
Step 1: Access the Pitching Portal
If your distributor offers a TikTok pitching option (many now do as a standard feature, especially for artists using platforms like SoundOn), you will typically find it in your dashboard under “Promotion” or “Music Pitching.”
Step 2: Fill Out the Key Song Details
The form will require standard metadata, but you need to go beyond the basics to impress the curators.
| Field | Your Strategic Input | Why it Matters |
| Release Date | Must be at least 4-6 weeks away. | Curators need lead time to plan playlists and banner features. |
| Genre/Mood | Be specific (e.g., “Dreamy bedroom pop,” “Upbeat Latin Trap”). | Helps them place your track in the right themed playlist. |
| TikTok Snippet | Link or detail the exact 15-second viral moment. | Shows you’ve done your homework and know the track’s potential. |
| Key Marketing Angle | What is the Challenge/Trend Concept? | This is the most critical part. Detail the simple action users should take (e.g., “The chorus features a simple 3-step dance move, ideal for the #MySongChallenge hashtag”). |
| Current TikTok Performance | Link to your best-performing TikTok video using the song. | Proof of concept. Shows the track is already resonating with the algorithm and users. |
Step 3: Showcase Social Proof and Assets
Curators want to minimize risk by selecting tracks that are already showing momentum.
Link to Current Videos: Provide 3-5 links to your own or other creators’ videos using your sound. This is your “social proof.”
Influencer Strategy (If Applicable): If you have already secured small-to-mid-tier influencers to post the track on a specific date, mention this. A coordinated launch is a huge plus.
High-Res Cover Art: Ensure your artwork is professional, as it will be used for any banner or featured tile.
Step 4: Final Submission and Follow-Up
Once the form is complete, submit it well ahead of your release date.
No Direct Follow-Up: Unlike pitching to blogs or Spotify, you typically cannot email the TikTok editorial team directly. The platform is a black box. Your best follow-up is continued engagement on the platform.
The Curator’s Goal: Remember, a curator’s job is to select music that will perform well and drive user engagement. The more organic activity your song has before they feature it, the higher your chances are.
π Post-Pitch: Maximize Your Feature Potential
Even after you submit, your work isn’t done.
Keep Creating: Continue posting daily. Use your track in different ways. Show that you are fully committed to the platform.
Monitor the Usage: Watch the “Sound” page for your song. If it starts seeing increased usage, double down on creating content that mimics the successful videos.
Cross-Promotion: Link your TikTok profile across all other social media and streaming platforms to drive traffic and consolidate your audience.
By combining an excellent, TikTok-friendly song with a professional pitch and robust on-platform engagement, you significantly increase your chances of landing a spot on a high-visibility TikTok Playlist or a front-page Banner Feature.
