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Understand TikTok sound type labels

Tell Catalog Sound, UGC Original Audio, and UGC Contains Music apart when researching a TikTok sound.

Reviewed 17 July 2026

Tokchart uses three sound type labels to distinguish sounds selected from TikTok's library from sounds created through user uploads.

Catalog Sound

A Catalog Sound is a track available in TikTok's sound library. Creators select it from TikTok's sound picker when making a video. The sound is connected to its catalogue title and artist.

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Catalog Sound

UGC Original Audio

UGC Original Audio is sound uploaded or recorded as part of a user's video rather than selected from TikTok's sound library. UGC means user-generated content.

The audio might be speech, ambient sound, a performance, a sound effect, or music. Original Audio describes the TikTok sound created from the upload, not a particular kind of audio.

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UGC Original Audio

UGC Contains Music

UGC Contains Music is audio created through a user upload in which TikTok has identified music. The music might have been added during editing, captured in the background, or recorded during a live performance.

TikTok may show a Contains music from credit for the identified recording. In Tokchart, the Matched song column can provide more information about the song behind the sound.

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UGC Contains Music

Compare the labels

Label Where the sound comes from What the label tells you
Catalog Sound TikTok's sound library The audio is connected to a catalogue track
UGC Original Audio Audio uploaded or recorded with a user's video TikTok treats it as the upload's original audio
UGC Contains Music Audio uploaded or recorded with a user's video TikTok has identified music within the upload

Next steps

Learn how TikTok sounds differ from matched songs, or explore the trending sounds chart.