TikTok has built a pretty serious infrastructure for musicians. The tools are real. The confusion is real too.
A lot of that confusion comes from TikTok using similar language for things that do completely different jobs. An Artist Account, an Artist Tag and a blue verification check are not the same thing.
So, if you’ve ever applied for one, gotten approved and then wondered why nothing changed, this should help.
Artist Accounts are about music, not status
A TikTok Artist Account, also called Artist Certification, connects your TikTok profile to the music you’ve officially released on the platform.
It is not a popularity badge, and it is not the blue check. Instead, it is basically TikTok confirming, “Yes, this profile and this music belong together.”
Once that connection exists, TikTok can understand:
- who the artist is
- which sounds are official
- which releases belong to the artist
- which music tools should be available on the account
Your catalog is simply the collection of music you’ve released. Connecting that catalog to your profile is what makes the rest of TikTok’s artist tools possible.
What changes once an Artist Account is active
Once TikTok certifies an artist, several music-specific tools can become available.
Music Tab
The Music Tab is the section of an artist’s TikTok profile that displays their officially delivered music in one place.
Current distributor guidance says an artist generally needs to be certified and have at least three tracks delivered to TikTok before the Music Tab appears.
By delivered, we mean the music was sent to TikTok through a music distributor rather than simply added to a video by the artist. A distributor is the company that sends an artist or label’s official recordings and information to services such as TikTok, Spotify and Apple Music.
How you use that delivered music matters too. If your song is already in TikTok’s music library, our guide to making sure your music stays live on TikTok explains why you should use the official audio instead of simply uploading the recording again with your video.
New Release
The New Release feature lets an artist call attention to new music around release day.
Currently, TikTok allows artists to highlight a new track for up to 14 days before release and 30 days after release. During that period, TikTok can also identify it as a new release in other places where users discover the artist’s music.
By Artist
By Artist lets an artist choose a preferred TikTok video to appear prominently on a song’s music detail page.
A music detail page is the page TikTok creates around a particular song or sound, where users can see the song information and videos using it.
As a result, the artist gets a little more control over what people see first when they find the song.
Behind the Song
Behind the Song gives artists a place to explain the story, inspiration or process behind a track.
In other words, it is less about numbers and more about giving the people listening to the song some context for why it exists.
Fan Spotlight
Fan Spotlight lets artists highlight fan-created videos that use their music.
Artists can select up to five fan videos at a time to feature at the top of their Music Tab. So, it’s a simple way to reward fans who are already doing something useful with the music instead of pretending those videos appeared by magic.
TikTok for Artists is another piece of the puzzle
TikTok for Artists is TikTok’s analytics and promotional platform for artists with certified Artist Accounts.
Analytics are the numbers and information that show how your music, posts and audience are performing.
For example, TikTok for Artists can show things such as:
- how many views and posts a song is generating
- how people are engaging with your posts
- information about your followers
- which songs are gaining activity
- how your audience is using your music
Artist teams and labels can also be given access. That is especially helpful if more than one person is working on a release.
Pre-Release
TikTok for Artists also includes a Pre-Release tool for eligible album campaigns.
A pre-release campaign lets fans save an upcoming album to a participating streaming service before it comes out. A streaming service is a platform such as Spotify or Apple Music where listeners can play music on demand. Then, when the album is released, it automatically becomes available in that fan’s music library.
Currently, TikTok supports Pre-Release campaigns with Spotify and Apple Music.
Why the Artist Tag doesn’t always show up
This is where things get confusing.
The Artist Tag is the word “Artist” that can appear underneath an artist’s TikTok username. Basically, it identifies the profile as belonging to a musician.
However, being approved for an Artist Account does not always mean every artist feature appears immediately.
TikTok has changed its eligibility requirements over time, and its public documentation has not always described those thresholds the same way. Current guidance consistently ties the Music Tab to Artist Certification and a minimum amount of officially delivered music. Meanwhile, some current distributor guidance also shows additional catalog and usage requirements before the Artist Tag appears, including more than four delivered songs and more than 100 TikTok videos using the artist’s music.
The important part is this: your Artist Account can be approved and working even if the Artist Tag has not appeared yet.
So, if TikTok shows a specific eligibility requirement inside your Artist Hub, use that as the final word for your account. The feature is changing faster than most articles about it.
How to apply for a TikTok Artist Account
Artist Account applications are handled through the TikTok mobile app.
- Open TikTok and go to your profile.
- Tap the menu in the upper-right corner.
- Select TikTok Studio.
- Look under More Tools for Artist Hub or TikTok for Artists.
- Tap Apply now.
- Search for your artist name in TikTok’s music library.
- Select and claim the correct artist profile.
- Upload the requested proof that you control or represent the music.
- Submit the application.
During the process, TikTok may ask for screenshots from your distributor, Spotify for Artists, Apple Music for Artists or another account that clearly connects you to the artist and releases you are claiming.
After that, TikTok reviews the application before connecting the profile and music. Processing time can vary, so don’t apply the night before you need the feature.
The blue check is a completely separate system
A verified badge is the blue check beside a TikTok account name. It confirms that TikTok has verified the account belongs to the person, business or organization it claims to represent.
However, it has nothing to do with whether your music was delivered to TikTok.
You can have an Artist Account without a blue check. Likewise, you can have a blue check without being an artist. One does not unlock the other.
TikTok says it looks at several things when considering an account for verification:
- Active: The account has been used recently.
- Authentic: It represents the real person, business or organization it claims to represent.
- Complete: It is public and has a username, bio, profile photo and at least one post.
- Notable: The person or organization has been covered by multiple credible news sources. TikTok does not count press releases or paid media as independent coverage.
- Secure: The account has appropriate security in place, including two-step verification and a verified email address.
Importantly, TikTok specifically says follower and like counts are not requirements for verification.
How to apply for TikTok verification
From the TikTok app:
- Go to your profile.
- Open the menu and select Settings and privacy.
- Tap Account.
- Tap Verification.
- Tap Start and follow the application process.
The option is not available in every market or on every account. However, TikTok also provides an online verification request process when the in-app option is unavailable.
Finally, verification is free. Anyone offering to sell you a TikTok blue check is not selling an official TikTok service.
The simple version
- Artist Account: Connects your TikTok profile to your officially released music.
- Music Tab: Organizes your official catalog on your profile.
- Artist Tag: Identifies the profile as an artist account once TikTok’s eligibility requirements are met.
- TikTok for Artists: Gives certified artists analytics and additional promotional tools.
- Blue check: Verifies the identity of a notable person, business or organization.
Artist Certification is infrastructure. Verification is identity.
Neither one creates momentum by itself, though.
Your music still needs to be on the platform. People still need to hear it, use it and care about it. If you need help with that side of the equation, our broader guide to TikTok for musicians covers how artists can actually use the platform to promote music and connect with fans.
These tools give TikTok better information about who you are and give you more ways to work with the activity that is already happening.
Once you think of it that way, the whole thing makes a lot more sense.
