In brief

Sound.me is a two-sided creator marketplace: artists, record labels and brands pay creators to make short videos with their sound or product on TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, and creators use the Sound.me app to apply to daily paid campaigns and cash out via PayPal. It has 3M+ registered creators in 61 countries, who have made 90M+ videos with 181B+ organic views for 20K+ advertisers.

Was your application declined, or your video?

These are two different things:

  • Application declined. You applied to a campaign and weren't picked. Each application is reviewed by Sound.me's team or the advertiser to see whether your account fits the campaign's goals. It doesn't necessarily mean there's an issue with your content or profile: the advertiser might have different criteria for that campaign. Not being chosen for one campaign doesn't affect your chances for future ones.
  • Video declined. You were accepted, posted a video and submitted it, and the team found it didn't follow the directions or guidelines. That video isn't paid.

The rest of this page is about declined videos.

Why do advertisers' videos get checked at all?

Advertisers pay for videos that follow their brief. Our team watches every video and makes sure creators follow the directions. If they don't, they don't get paid, and that part of the budget goes back into the campaign for other creators. That check is also why advertisers keep funding campaigns, which is what pays creators.

The checklist to run before you post

The sound

  • Use the sound from the campaign link. When you submit your video in the Sound.me app, use the sound link provided for that campaign.
  • Keep the promoted sound fully audible at 100% volume.
  • No voice-over on top of the sound.

The video

  • At least 10 seconds long, unless the sound itself is shorter.
  • Original: made for this campaign. Reusing old content, or reposting an old video with the new sound, gets declined and can affect future campaign opportunities.
  • A strong start. Many briefs ask you to keep the hook in the first 3 seconds.

The brief

  • Read the directions twice: creative freedom, lip sync, dance, transition, text on screen or the advertiser's own brief.
  • Do exactly what it asks for, such as a specific part of the song, a style or text on screen.
  • Don't showcase products unless the brief asks for it; keep the content personal.

The content rules

  • No political statements.
  • Don't mention payment, and no negative comments about the sound.
  • No dangerous or illegal actions.

Posting and submitting

  • Post within the campaign deadline and submit your video in the app.
  • Keep the video up for at least 45 days from posting.

Is it the same on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts?

The same rules apply on every platform: the campaign's sound fully audible, no voice-over, at least 10 seconds, original and on brief. Each campaign runs on one platform, so post where the campaign asks. Add the sound inside the app you post on so the video links to it: on Instagram, music mixed into a video in another app shows as "original audio" and doesn't link to the song's audio page; on YouTube Shorts, use Add sound or Use this sound in the Shorts camera.

What does a declined video cost you?

The video isn't paid. Creators are paid for each approved video based on the views it gets in its first 72 hours, so only approved videos earn. A single declined video isn't a ban. What can affect your future campaigns is a pattern: incomplete video applications, low-quality content, reposting old videos with new sounds, or deleting campaign videos. Deleting videos, even after 45 days, can affect your profile quality for advertisers.

Accounts are banned for more serious things: buying or altering accounts, reusing copyrighted content, manipulating the system for higher earnings, and impersonation or misrepresentation.

What should you do after a decline?

  1. Read the email. It gives the specific reason for that video.
  2. Match it to the checklist above. Most declines come down to the sound (voice-over, too quiet), the length or the brief.
  3. Fix it for the next campaign. Keep a note of the brief lines you missed.
  4. Ask if something is unclear. Creators can email hello@sound.me about the app, applications, declined videos and payouts.

How do you get more videos approved and more campaigns?

  • Enable GEO location in the app so campaigns for your country can find you.
  • Post diverse content regularly and complete your TikTok, Instagram and YouTube bio.
  • If you commit to a campaign, follow through.
  • Keep your best work up: accounts with high engagement, good video quality and consistent activity can be verified by Sound.me's curators, and verified accounts receive more campaign opportunities (how verification works).

If campaigns aren't showing up at all, read what to do if you're not getting campaigns. For more earning tips, see 6 tips to increase your earnings.

How are approved videos paid?

Each approved video is paid based on the views it gets in its first 72 hours, at a per-view rate tied to your country and audience, with a floor that depends on your country. In the 90 days to September 16, 2026, the average approved video paid creators $4.89. You cash out via PayPal from a $5 balance; payouts are processed within 3–5 working days after the campaign. How Sound.me pays creators has the details.