Not all music or audio files are suitable for distribution on TikTok—or other user-generated content platforms that rely on content-matching systems. Using ineligible content can lead to false claims, strikes, or even account penalties.
Why Certain Content Is Ineligible
Platforms like TikTok, Facebook Rights Manager, Snapchat, and YouTube Content ID use your distributed audio to match and identify your music in user-generated videos. If the recording you distribute is not original, unique, and fully owned, you risk flagging content that isn’t yours.
Content Categories That Are Not Eligible
1. Third-Party or Unclear Rights
Beats, loops, or samples from third-party sources — unless you hold an exclusive license.
Production music, AI-generated tracks lacking clear licensing, or public domain content.
2. Not Sonically Unique
Covers, sound-alikes, remixes, karaoke, classical music, ambient or meditation tracks.
Pitch-shifted, sped-up/slowed versions, remasters, DJ mixes, mashups, or compilations.
3. Non-Musical Content
Podcasts, speeches, audiobooks, ambient noises like rain, applause, or nature sounds.
Quick Self-Check: Is Your Track Eligible?
Ask yourself: “Does my recording sound too similar to existing audio elsewhere?”
If yes, it likely isn't eligible for TikTok's content-matching tools.
What You Can Do Instead
If your track isn’t appropriate for TikTok’s audio matching system, you can still share it by uploading it directly via your own TikTok artist account—with your artist name and track title clearly labeled. This helps others discover your music without triggering automated claims.
Summary Table
Content Type | TikTok Eligibility | Notes |
Original, exclusive music | Eligible | Clean, unique recordings are safe for automated matching |
Third-party samples/remixes | Not Eligible | Risk incorrect claims or policy violations |
Covers or sound-alikes | Not Eligible | May confuse the matching system and cause misidentification |
Spoken word, ambient, SFX | Not Eligible | Non-musical content usually fails to meet matching criteria |