TikTok has announced the beta launch of “Songwriter Features,” a suite of tools designed to highlight songwriters’ contributions and increase their visibility on the platform. The features allow songwriters to showcase their work alongside personal content, creating new opportunities for discovery and engagement.

The suite includes a “Songwriter Account Label,” which identifies users as songwriters on their profiles, and a “Songwriter Music Tab” that showcases tracks they have written or co-written. Lauren Christy, Toby Gad, and Justin Tranter are among the first songwriters participating in the beta launch.

These additions complement existing tools such as the #BehindTheSong campaign, “New” tags on releases, and the “Add to Music App” feature, which enables users to save TikTok-discovered songs to their preferred streaming services.

Jordan Lowy, Global Head of Music Publishing Licensing and Partnerships at TikTok, states that the company is “passionately committed to supporting songwriters,” with tools that help them “tell stories about their music, their craft, and their lives.”

The “Songwriter Features” launch aligns with findings from MIDiA Research, indicating that many new music creators are prioritizing platforms that offer direct fan interaction over traditional streaming services.

MIDiA’s global music creator survey revealed that a quarter of music creators now upload directly to user-generated content platforms, such as TikTok, without using a distributor or label. This trend is particularly prominent among creators with less than five years of experience.

The research also found that more than 80% of songwriters use social media to advance their careers, with nearly one-quarter identifying building a social media brand as a top goal. Among full-time songwriters who post career content on social media, 53% do so on TikTok.

Industry Response

Music industry executives have responded positively to the “Songwriter Features.” Derek Cournoyer, SVP of Global Digital Business at Kobalt Music, noted that “fans are increasingly fascinated not only with the artists they follow, but also with how songs are written, who’s behind them, and the creative journey.”

Laura Willoughby, Director of Global Creative Services at Warner Chappell Music, called the launch “a significant step toward boosting songwriter visibility on TikTok,” noting a “growing trend of music fans wanting to discover and follow the creators behind their favorite songs.”

The features are currently available as a small-scale, closed beta with limited publisher partners. Interested songwriters and publishers can join a waitlist for future access.

Influence on Music Discovery

The initiative arrives amid TikTok’s expanding role in music promotion. According to a TikTok-commissioned Luminate study, 84% of songs entering the Billboard Global 200 in 2024 achieved viral status on the platform before charting, with an additional 12% going viral simultaneously with or after charting.

The platform’s “Add to Music App” feature has generated over one billion song saves since its launch in 2024. Research indicates that TikTok users spend 48% more time streaming music than the average U.S. listener and are 68% more likely to subscribe to paid streaming services.

Recent high-profile album launches on the platform include Miley Cyrus’s “Something Beautiful” and the collaborative project “I Said I Love You First” from Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco, both of which feature custom in-app experiences.

Effectiveness for Music Promotion

A study published in Scientific Reports found that TikTok’s short video format offers significant advantages for promoting musical content compared to traditional platforms.

The research shows TikTok videos featuring musical cultural heritage achieve an average interaction rate of 12.3%, substantially higher than YouTube’s 4.8%. Additionally, 78% of TikTok users engaging with this content fall within the 18-30 age bracket, compared to 52% on YouTube.

Multiple regression analysis confirms that effect appeal and interactive features significantly impact user engagement, suggesting that audiovisual effects and interactive design elements drive audience participation.

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