- What the Commercial Music Library is for
- What counts as promoting something on TikTok
- Who can use the Commercial Music Library
- Using music from outside the CML: the Music Usage Confirmation
- TikTok music rules for promotional posts at a glance
- How to turn on content disclosure
- Promotional content vs Paid partnership labels
- Branded content, Content Suite and Spark Ads
- Why disclosing is worth it
- My advice for brands and creators
- Frequently asked questions
TikTok's Commercial Music Library (CML) is the collection of music TikTok has pre-cleared for commercial use, and TikTok recommends you only use music from it in posts that promote a brand, product or service. That's because the licences TikTok holds for music outside the CML don't cover commercial use at all.
Plenty of brands and creators assume that if a sound is on TikTok, they can use it in any post. The moment a post promotes something, that stops being true. Here's what TikTok's help says, as of October 2026, and how to stay on the right side of it.
What the Commercial Music Library is for
The CML exists so that businesses and creators have music they can use in promotional content without worrying about the licence. TikTok describes it as pre-cleared for commercial use. The library itself, with its search and browsing, is documented in TikTok's separate Business Help Centre, but the rule that matters is in TikTok's main help: if you're promoting something, use CML music.
What counts as promoting something on TikTok
TikTok's definition is wider than most people expect. A post counts as promotion if you're:
- Promoting yourself or your own business.
- Promoting a third-party brand, or its products or services, in exchange for payment or any other incentive.
That second line covers free products and other perks, not just paid deals. And the first line means a coach, consultant or shop owner talking about their own offer is promoting, even with no brand partner involved.
Who can use the Commercial Music Library
Here's the bit people miss. TikTok's account types article says General (Personal) accounts have access to music and sounds from both the general music library and the Commercial Music Library. So the line that matters isn't whether you have a business account. It's whether the post promotes something. If you're still deciding which account type suits you, I've compared them in TikTok personal vs business accounts.
Using music from outside the CML: the Music Usage Confirmation
If your promotional post uses an original sound, or any music from outside the CML, TikTok makes you agree to its Music Usage Confirmation when the content disclosure setting is on. By agreeing, you confirm one of two things:
- There's no copyright-protected music in the post, or
- You've obtained and paid for all the licences you need.
In other words, the responsibility moves to you. TikTok's licences for non-CML music don't cover commercial use, so if you tick that box, you're saying you've sorted the rights yourself. If you want to build a sound that's entirely yours, see my guide on how to make your own sound on TikTok.
TikTok music rules for promotional posts at a glance
| Situation | What TikTok says |
|---|---|
| Post promotes a brand or product | Use CML music and turn on content disclosure |
| Music from outside the CML | Agree to the Music Usage Confirmation: no protected music, or you hold and paid for the licences |
| Promoting your own business | The label shows Promotional content |
| Another business pays you or gives an incentive | The label shows Paid partnership |
| Label wrong after posting | It can't be edited; remove the post and make a new one |
How to turn on content disclosure
Promotional posts also need the content disclosure setting switched on. TikTok says that if you don't display the right disclosure, it may remove or restrict your posts. In the app, from the post screen:
- Create your post and tap Content disclosure and ads. If you're not part of TikTok One, tap More options (the three dots) first.
- Turn on Disclose commercial content.
- Pick Your brand or Branded content.
- Tap Save, then Continue, then Post.
For a post that's already live, go to your profile, open the post, tap More options, then Ad settings, turn on Disclose commercial content, pick the type, then tap Save and Continue. In a web browser, tap Upload, select your videos, tap Show more, turn on Disclose post content, pick the type and post. For a LIVE, tap Add post, then LIVE, then Settings, Content disclosure, turn on Disclose LIVE content, pick the type, then Save, Continue and Go LIVE.
Promotional content vs Paid partnership labels
The type you pick decides the label viewers see. Promoting your own brand shows Promotional content. Branded content for another business shows Paid partnership. TikTok says turning disclosure on doesn't affect how your post is distributed in feeds, so there's no reach penalty for being upfront.
You can turn disclosure on before or after posting, and when you go LIVE. But once a post is published, you can't change which label it has. If you picked the wrong one, TikTok's answer is to remove the post or LIVE and make a new one.
Branded content, Content Suite and Spark Ads
When you tag a brand partner on branded content, the post shows up in Content Suite, where brands can find it and use it as Spark Ads. You can grant ads authorisation, which lasts 60 days by default, and anchor authorisation, which lets a brand add links. The brand also gets the post's insights through Content Suite. I've explained the ad side in my guide to TikTok Spark Ads.
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TikTok says Spark Ads authorisation through Content Suite pays on performance, monthly, into your TikTok One wallet, usually on the 15th for the previous month's ad results. Its own example: an ad that starts on 1 December is paid on 15 January. You can turn authorisation off for videos that aren't actively running as ads.
Why disclosing is worth it
Beyond keeping your posts up, TikTok lists the practical reasons to disclose: it organises your brand partnership analytics, makes it easier to share results with brands, simplifies Spark Ads approval, and keeps you compliant with FTC and TikTok guidelines.
Creators who go live with music should read how TikTok LIVE recordings work.
My advice for brands and creators
Keep it simple. If a post sells anything, including your own services, pick the music from the CML and switch on disclosure before you post, so you don't have to delete and start again. Only use outside music if you've paid for the rights and could show it, because the Music Usage Confirmation puts that on you. For everyday posts that aren't promoting anything, the rest of TikTok's library is there as normal.
To see how other brands use sound in their ads, try the TikTok Ad Library.
Frequently asked questions
What is the TikTok Commercial Music Library?
It's the collection of music TikTok has pre-cleared for commercial use. TikTok recommends you only use music from it in posts that promote a brand, product or service.
Can personal accounts use the Commercial Music Library?
Yes. TikTok says General (Personal) accounts have access to both the general music library and the Commercial Music Library.
Can I use any TikTok sound in a promotional post?
TikTok says the licences it holds for music outside the CML don't cover commercial use. If you use outside music, you must agree to the Music Usage Confirmation that you hold the rights.
What is the TikTok Music Usage Confirmation?
It's what you agree to when you use an original sound or non-CML music with content disclosure on. You confirm there's no copyright-protected music or that you've obtained and paid for the licences.
Can I change the Paid partnership label after posting?
No. Once published, the label can't be changed. TikTok says to remove the post or LIVE and make a new one with the right selection.
