TikTok is adding features for songwriters to its app

TikTok is enhancing its platform by introducing new features specifically designed for songwriters. Currently in beta, these enhancements include a distinctive 'Songwriter' label and a dedicated tab on user profiles to showcase musical creations. This initiative aims to assist songwriters in marketing themselves more effectively to potential clients. At this stage, access to the new label and music highlight section is limited to a select group of publishing partners and songwriters. Those interested in participating will need to join a waitlist. TikTok conducted extensive research, surveying over 870 songwriters and interviewing several to gain insights into their social media needs regarding profile development and monetization opportunities. According to TikTok, more than half of the surveyed songwriters utilize social media to enhance their visibility, with many relying on TikTok for this purpose. This feedback played a crucial role in the decision to implement these new features. TikTok’s Global Head of Music Publishing Licensing and Partnership expressed a strong commitment to supporting songwriters, stating, "We are passionately committed to supporting songwriters at TikTok, which is why we built these tools to celebrate and elevate songwriters and their work on our platform." The unique capabilities of TikTok allow songwriters to present their musical works alongside their content, enabling them to narrate stories about their music, artistry, and personal experiences, thereby helping them grow their audience on the platform. It's worth noting that other music platforms, like Spotify and Tidal, have been developing similar features for years. Tidal, for instance, launched tools for songwriters to track royalties and manage their credits. Despite having shut down its music streaming service, TikTok continues to play a vital role in music discovery and artist promotion. Earlier this year, the platform introduced TikTok for Artists, a tool that allows artists to track the performance of their campaigns and songs.