How to Find and Use Trending Songs for Instagram Reels

10 min read

Scrolling on Instagram (and TikTok) comes with a risk: earworms. We’ve all had a trending audio clip infiltrate our brain and play on repeat until it eventually feels like you’re living inside a 20-second loop.

This phenomenon is exactly why trending audio is one of the most effective tools for boosting your content’s reach. The right song doesn’t just set the vibe; it signals relevance, grabs attention, and taps into the collective moment happening on social media.

If you want to know more about trending songs on Instagram (like how to find and use tracks that are popping off), you’ve come to the right place.

Trending songs on Instagram Reels are audio clips — either full songs or snippets — that are gaining rapid popularity through repeated use in user-generated content (UGC). These aren’t just widely used tracks; they’re sounds experiencing a sharp increase in engagement in a short time.

It’s easy to assume that a song with hundreds of thousands of uses is trending, but that’s not always true. What actually defines a “trending” song is momentum. For example, a song used 5,000 times in the last week might be more relevant to the Instagram algorithm than a song with a million total uses but declining activity.

Also, trending audio clips often carry visual or narrative associations. For instance, a specific snippet might be linked to a dance challenge, a meme format, or a “day in the life” voiceover.

Viral tracks you might’ve heard

Over the past few years, several songs have become archetypes of Instagram audio momentum.

These trending tracks often take off on TikTok — like Ravyn Lenae’s “Love Me Not,” which crossed over to Instagram earlier this year. Some are older songs that re-enter the cultural spotlight, such as Connie Francis’ “Pretty Little Baby,” a throwback tune creators have been pairing with heartwarming clips of babies, pets, and other “aww” content.

ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ “Apt.,” released in late 2024, now boasts over 7 million Reels thanks to its chant‑like hook. Similarly, “Nasty” by Tinashe sparked a meme frenzy, with thousands of dance and comedy edits riding the track’s momentum.

Then there are newer hits like “Te Quería Ver” by Alemán & Netón Vega, which went viral shortly after its January 2025 release and has already featured in over 200,000 Reels.

All this to say: Trending isn’t about decade‑old fame or total plays. It’s about what’s surging right now and how quickly creators jump on it with edits, memes, and challenges.

By all accounts, yes.

According to Instagram for Business, 80% of Reels get viewed with the sound on. That means most people aren’t just scrolling past your content — they’re listening to it. And if your audio is familiar or trending, they’re much more likely to stick around.

Beyond that, using trending audio can give your Reel a visibility boost. Instagram pays attention to which tracks are gaining momentum, and content that taps into those sounds is more likely to get pushed by the algorithm. Reels that encourage others to use the sound (like meme formats or challenges) are more likely to be promoted by the algorithm.

Whether you’re after the next viral dance track or just want your Reels to feel of the moment, here are all the ways to find trending songs and tracks to use in your content.

Browse the Reels Explore page

The Reels Explore page is a curated feed of popular content (and the perfect place to investigate which tracks are taking off).

Start by scrolling through the Reels Explore tab on Instagram. When you see the tiny diagonal arrow icon in the bottom-left corner of the audio label, that means the sound is currently trending.

Tap the audio to view how many Reels have used it and watch how others are using the trend. If it’s gaining traction and aligns with your content, jump on it while the momentum is hot. 🔥

Instagram Stories “Browse Music” feature

When you open Instagram Stories and tap the music sticker, you’ll see a list of suggested songs under categories like Trending, For You, and Saved. These aren’t just random — they’re curated based on what’s gaining steam platform-wide. Keep an eye on songs labeled “Trending,” and use them in either Stories or Reels.

TikTok Discover + Tokboard + cross-check on IG

As mentioned, any trending sounds start on TikTok before crossing to Instagram. Use TikTok’s Discover page to see which audio tracks are popping off right now. Then head to Tokboard or similar tools to track the fastest-growing TikTok sounds by region or category.

Once you spot a rising sound, plug it into Instagram’s search bar or look it up through the Reels audio browser to see if it’s gaining momentum on IG.

Hashtag search for audio cues

Try searching Instagram hashtags like #trendingaudio, #reelstrendingaudio, or #reelsmusic. Many creators tag their content with these when using popular or viral tracks. Tap into the top-performing posts in each tag to see what audio drives views and engagement.

Heads-up: These hashtags are notorious for being slapped onto all kinds of content to boost visibility, so you’ll probably have to scroll through a ton of random posts before you find a Reel that uses a trending track.

Check @creators trend reports

Follow @creators on Instagram. The official account shares regular updates on trending content, audio, and best practices for Reels. Look for their weekly Reels roundups, Trend Reports, or “Sound On” features, which spotlight popular audio and why it’s resonating. This is one of the most reliable ways to stay ahead without digging too deep.

Spotify “Reels Trends” playlists

Spotify has an abundance of Reels playlists to explore; just type in “Viral Reels,” “Instagram Hits,” or “Trending Audio” to find them. These playlists are often updated weekly and reflect audio climbing the charts and social content usage. While Spotify isn’t directly integrated with Instagram Reels, it’s a great pulse-check on what sounds are primed to pop or already going viral.

Instagram’s music library is generally available for personal and creator accounts, so it’s incredibly easy for these users to access and apply trending audio directly within the app. All you have to do is tap on a trending sound from another Reel, hit “Use Audio,” and start creating — no workarounds required.

However, this isn’t the case for business accounts. So, if you’ve ever tried adding a trending tune from a popular artist like Taylor Swift or Beyoncé to your Reel only to get hit with “This audio isn’t available,” you’re not alone.

Instagram restricts business accounts’ access to most licensed music due to copyright limitations. That means your account may be blocked from using popular songs in Reels, even if they go viral.

But don’t worry; you’ve got options.

Option 1: Use user-uploaded “original audio”

When an Instagram user uploads a Reel using a licensed track, it often gets relabeled as “original audio.” This version of the sound is usually still accessible to business accounts.

A few FYIs about original audio:

You won’t see the artist’s name or track like a licensed song does.
Instead, you’ll see “Original audio by [username]” beneath the Reel or on the audio page, like in the example below from Olive Garden.
These versions often come from creators uploading popular audio manually, bypassing music licensing restrictions.

To use original audio clips:

Find a Reel that uses the trending song but is labeled as “original audio.” (Here’s an example.) You’ll see this noted under the account name or at the bottom of the screen where the audio is credited.
Tap the audio label to open the audio page.
Select “Use audio” to apply it to your own Reel.
This should work, even if you’re using a business account.

⚠️ Note: Quality can vary, and original audio clips aren’t always perfect, but it’s a handy workaround when tapping into a trend.

Option 2: Use a creator account

Creator accounts can use Instagram’s full music library, including trending licensed tracks. If you switch from a business to a creator account, you’ll still have access to insights and branded content tools (and Manychat).

To transition:

Go to Settings > Account > Switch Account Type.
Select “Creator.”

⚠️ Note: Switching to a creator account can cause you to lose access to a few features and tools. For instance, not all creators can use Instagram’s native Shopping features. For help deciding which account type makes sense for you, check out Which TikTok Account Should You Use in 2025? (Business vs Creator Breakdown).

Option 3: Switch to an Entrepreneur profile

Another little-known hack is to switch your account to a business profile labeled “Entrepreneur” and then remove or hide the category label from your profile settings.

Instagram’s music licensing seems tied to specific business categories — and “Entrepreneur” flies under the radar. While it’s not 100% guaranteed to work, many creators say this trick works like a charm.

To do this:

Go to your profile > Edit Profile > Category.
Choose “Entrepreneur.”
Toggle off “Display category on profile.”

Jokes aside, adding a trending audio clip to your Reel will help its performance. Reels featuring trending audio have up to 29% greater reach and 42% more engagement than content without audio. So, go ahead and make some noise.

And when the comments start Reel-ing in, it’s time to automate.

✋ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The timing and format of your Reel matter just as much as the audio. Reels that pop often use trending audio early (within a few days of lift-off) and match the visual “vibe” the sound is known for (like memes, transitions, or punchlines).

Yes! And you should. The song boosts reach, and the automation turns that attention into action.

3. What’s the best way to tell if a song is about to trend, not just already viral?

Look for steep growth curves with low total usage. If a track has 2,000 to 10,000 uses and multiple creators post in the same format (especially cross-platform with TikTok), that’s a sign to act fast.

Not at all. Many creators use “original audio” workarounds (sounds re-uploaded by other users) or switch to the “Entrepreneur” business category to unlock more audio. You can temporarily shift to a creator account if music is central to your strategy.

5. How can I use audio trends without feeling like I’m copying everyone else?

Use the same audio, but apply it to your niche. For example, if the trend is “a day in the life” and you’re a fitness coach, try “a day in the life of my blender bottle.” Same sound, different twist — that blend of relevance and originality drives shares and saves.