This article explains the mandatory compliance standards and automated screening processes for content delivered to ByteDance (TikTok). It outlines the specific acoustic filters and metadata rules that, if violated, could result in ingestion blocks or the removal of your content from PGC (Professional Generated Content) and UGC (User-Generated Content) libraries.
Unique Audio and Asset Restrictions
ByteDance enforces automated acoustic filters on track audio. The following file types will trigger immediate platform removal:
Blank Audio and Silence: Tracks consisting of total silence are prohibited. Files will be removed if they contain more than 20 seconds of silence at the start or end, or if silence constitutes 50% or more of the total duration.
Result: Removal from TikTok PGC and UGC libraries
Sound Effects and White Noise: Tracks consisting entirely of generic sound effects or static white noise are not accepted.
Result: Removal from TikTok UGC scanning
Hidden Recordings: Audio featuring messy editing, obvious splicing, or abrupt, forced cuts between different songs is blocked. This includes audio containing full or partial content from two or more distinct musical works. Derivative or transformative works are not considered Hidden Recordings.
Result: Removal from TikTok PGC and UGC libraries
Excessive Speech (50%): Tracks where spoken word makes up 50% or more of the runtime are blocked. Exceptions include music album intros, a cappella songs, religious chanting, theater/opera, or comedy/spoken-word albums that are properly split into individual, short tracks.
Result: Removal from TikTok UGC scanning
Viral Mixes and Mashups: Smoothly blended mashups of multiple songs are permitted for standard delivery but are restricted on UGC layers.
Result: Removal from TikTok UGC scanning
Cover Art Restrictions: Artwork must be square (1:1 aspect ratio). The recommended size is 3000 × 3000 pixels (and never below 750 × 750), resolution must be greater than 72 dpi, and the format must be JPEG or PNG.
Result: Ingestion Block
Cover Info Restrictions: Cover art must not include URLs or unrelated product/brand references.
Result: Ingestion Block
Key Metadata and Formatting Rules
While your metadata must align with FUGA's general Artist Name Metadata Guidelines for DSP Delivery via FUGA (which cover artist-name conventions such as "aka" usage, compound/duo names, band-member formatting, generic names, and extraneous information in name fields), ByteDance enforces a few distinct rules where certain violations will trigger an ingestion block. Each rule below specifies the resulting action:
"Various Artists" Usage: ByteDance applies several rules to product- and track-level artists:
Single-track releases ("Singles") must include all Main Artist(s) at the product level (R0); "Various Artists" is not permitted at product level for Singles.
The main product-level artist may only include artist(s) who appear as a Main Artist on every track in the release.
If no Main Artist is shared across all tracks, the main product-level artist must be set to "Various Artists".
If more than four (4) Main Artists appear across the tracks of a release, the main product-level artist must be set to "Various Artists".
For a "Various Artists" release, the main product-level artist may only be "Various Artists".
Any variation of the term "Various Artists" is not permitted unless it is a translated version consistent with the content's language or country of origin.
"Various Artists" must never be used as a track-level artist.
Result: No Action Taken
No Explicit Instrumentals: You cannot apply an "Explicit" lyrics flag to a track designated as an instrumental.
Result: Ingestion Block
Unusual ICPN/ISRC: Identifier formats must be valid. Universal Product Code (UPC)/ICPN (International Code Product Number) values should be 12–24 digits, and ISRC (International Standard Recording Code) formats should follow the "CC-XXX-YY-NNNNN" format (hyphens are not required).
Result: Ingestion Block
Parental Warning Accuracy: "Explicit" version information must be included for any song containing explicit lyrics or subject matter. If a release contains even one song marked as "Explicit", the product itself must also be marked as "Explicit".
Result: Ingestion Block
Song/Album Title Accuracy: Product and track titles must not contain unnecessary product version information (e.g., "Exclusive", "E-Release", "Digital Only", "1967", "Limited Edition") or generic SEO (Search Engine Optimization) terms (e.g., "Yoga Music", "Sleep Music", "Music for Concentration", "Chill", "Chillout").
Result: Ingestion Block
Artist Name Conventions: These follow FUGA's general Artist Name Metadata Guidelines. In short: use full official artist names only; do not use "aka" unless it is part of the official name; do not combine artists with "&" unless they are an officially recognized duo or group; do not list band members alongside or in place of the official band name; do not use generic/SEO-style names; and do not include URLs, brand references, or other descriptive or extraneous content in the Artist Name field. ByteDance applies an Ingestion Block to violations of these conventions.
Result: Ingestion Block
Artist Role Accuracy – Instrumentals: When a song's type is set to "Instrumental", the lyricist field must be empty.
Result: Ingestion Block
Artist Role Accuracy – Album: Main Album Artist(s) must only include artist(s) who are credited on every track within the release. Any artist listed as a Main Album Artist who does not appear across all tracks will result in a violation. For Singles, all <DisplayArtist> values, including artist names, ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier) codes, and proprietary IDs, must remain fully consistent across the Resource (A1), Album Release (R0), and Track Release (R1) levels. Any inconsistency in <DisplayArtist> values between these three levels will trigger a violation.
Result: No Action Taken
Copyright & Prohibited Content
ByteDance maintains strict policies regarding copyright integrity and prohibited themes:
Direct Copying (UGC/PGC Copy): Duplicating or extracting fragments of another creator's master recording without clear transformative use is prohibited.
Result: Removal from PGC library and UGC fingerprint scanning system upon confirmation (via email)
Litigation Redelivery: You are strictly barred from re-shipping tracks that were previously taken down due to a copyright dispute, lost lawsuit, or rights revocation.
Result: Removal from TikTok PGC and UGC libraries upon identification
Prohibited Themes: Product titles, track titles, artist names, and artwork must not contain any references or imagery related to pornographic, violent, hateful, or racially sensitive content.
Result: Ingestion block upon identification
If you encounter issues with delivery or have further questions regarding platform-specific blocks, contact your FUGA representative or reach out via our support channel.