Imagine scrolling through TikTok and stumbling upon a catchy melody—only to wonder, “Who actually wrote this earworm?” For years, the unsung heroes behind the hooks and choruses have remained shadow figures, gathering royalties but rarely recognition. That’s finally changing. TikTok today unveiled a suite of “Songwriter Features” aimed squarely at elevating the profiles of those who pen our favorite tracks—giving them a place in the spotlight right alongside the artists who bring their words and melodies to life.

Songwriters who register for a Songwriter Account will soon see a new “Songwriter” badge displayed under their profile name. Better yet, a dedicated Music tab will showcase all the songs they’ve written or co-written, making it easy for fans, industry pros, and fellow creators to explore their catalog at a glance.

These additions don’t just live in isolation. They build on TikTok’s existing music tools—like the “New” tag on fresh releases and the “Add to Music App” feature that lets users save trending tracks directly to their favorite streaming service. For the first time, a songwriter’s creative portfolio will sit side-by-side with their own content, telling a fuller story of both their craft and their presence on the platform.

This rollout follows several 2023 initiatives designed to pull back the curtain on song creation:

• #BehindTheSong Hub: Launched in 2023, this in-app destination invites songwriters, producers, and artists to share the inspirations, challenges, and anecdotes behind individual tracks.
• Off the Record Series: Debuting mid‑2024, this glossy video series features chart-toppers like Shakira, Charli XCX, and Meghan Trainor discussing the making of their latest albums—offering fans a stadium‑to‑studio glimpse at album ideation and release strategy.

Collectively, these offerings underscore TikTok’s growing emphasis on storytelling—from the seed of a song idea to the first time someone dances to it on For You Page.

TikTok’s push stems from extensive research into the needs of the songwriting community. In a TikTok‑commissioned survey of 871 songwriters and 18 in-depth interviews, the company learned that:

• Over 80% of songwriters use social media to advance their careers.
• More than 50% of full‑time songwriters who post career‑related content do so on TikTok.

Armed with those insights, TikTok’s Global Head of Music Publishing Licensing and Partnerships, Jordan Lowy, explained that these features are meant to “celebrate and elevate songwriters and their work on our platform,” helping them “tell stories about their music, their craft, and their lives”.

It’s no secret that TikTok can make a song soar. Viral dance challenges have pushed tracks like Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” and Doja Cat’s “Say So” to the top of the charts—and introduced the world to fresh voices overnight. Beyond catchy loops, TikTok has:

• Partnered with artists such as Taylor Swift to create promotional hubs around album releases.
• Integrated with SoundCloud last May, letting users save trending tracks directly to their SoundCloud libraries.
• Experimented with its own streaming service, TikTok Music, which launched globally in mid‑2023 before shuttering in early 2024 amid licensing realignments with major labels like Universal and Sony.

Each experiment highlights TikTok’s broader ambitions in music—first as a discovery engine, then as a distribution partner, and now as a platform that formally honors everyone in the songwriting pipeline.

For now, TikTok Songwriter Features are available in a closed beta to a “limited number” of publisher partners and songwriters. If you’re itching to showcase your songwriting credits on TikTok, you can jump on the waitlist here:

• EU / US / Rest of World waitlist forms via TikTok’s own Sign-up portals.