If you're looking to make your Instagram Reels stand out, using trending audio is a must. But with so many songs and sounds out there, it can be tough to know where to start. Fortunately, there are a few ways to find out which sounds are currently trending on Instagram, and we're here to walk you through them.
- Look for an arrow next to a song If you're searching for audio on Instagram, keep an eye out for arrows next to some songs. This arrow denotes trending audio, and you can find it on the song's info page. Simply tap on the Explore tab, type in your search terms, and tap the blue "See all results" option. Then, tap the Audio tab to see all the songs that match your search, and look for the trending arrow next to any that interest you.
- Check the suggestions when creating a Reel When you create a Reel on Instagram, the app will suggest trending sounds for you to use. If you tap "See More" near the top of the audio selection screen, you'll see several suggestions of trending audio to include in your Reel. While these suggestions won't include any arrows or numbers, you can safely assume that Instagram is recommending you use trending audio.
- Scroll through Reels and look for repetition One easy way to spot trending audio is to browse through Reels on Instagram and keep an ear out for songs used repeatedly. If you hear a song more than once, it's likely trending. You can tap on each individual song to see if it has a trending arrow, or you can simply keep scrolling and trust your instincts.
- View the Trend Report Instagram's @creators account offers a monthly Trend Report that documents some of the month's most successful Reels. This report may highlight popular challenges or dances, but it also includes the sounds used in these Reels. If you want to stay on top of the latest trends, this is a great resource to check out.
- Check the numbers When you search for a song on Instagram, the number beside the song shows how often it has been used in posts on the platform. Popularity doesn't always equate to trendiness, but songs with a high number of uses may still benefit your content. You can also browse your feed or Explore page for Reels that include music or sounds, and tap on the sound's name to see if it's trending.
- Look at Spotify playlists Several playlists on Spotify are dedicated to trending audio on Instagram. Just search for "Instagram trending" on Spotify and select Playlists to see which songs are currently trending. Once you find a trending song on a Spotify playlist, you can cross-reference with Instagram by searching for it there. If you see a trending arrow on its info page, you can confirm that it's a trending sound.
