Choosing Podcast Music
Music can make a huge difference when it comes to your podcast. It can help make it more professional, help fill a void, or even bring in some lightheartedness in some situations.
Either way, incorporating music into your podcast is a great idea and it doesn't have to be a difficult process. Let's look at the legalities, why + where you might need music in your podcast plus places (both free + paid) to actually find tracks!
Legalities to Podcast Music
Not all music is safe to use for podcasting, there are copyrights and legal stuff that you have to pay attention to as you don't want to be caught at the end of a lawsuit. But there is a lot of music that is still safe to use. We are going to cover the most common ones -
Creative Commons Music. This is free copyright-licensed music that you are legally allowed to use. There are "some rights reserved" depending on what the artist decides to do with their work. For example, allowing people to share or add it to podcasts. This license applies to content like music, images, movies, and more. So, when you are looking for music for your podcast this is a great place to start just make sure you check it's approved for your intended use! For more information on Creative Commons Music, check out CreativeCommons.Org.
Royalty-Free Music. Said most simply by SoundStripe, that "no one owns the copyright to said music, and no royalties must be paid". BUT that doesn't mean it's free. So, when you come across this type of music you would be purchasing a license to a song. For example, if you purchased a license to some music for your podcast intro, then you would be free to use this music in your podcast. Then, whoever you purchased your license from would be paying for all the legalities (but again, always double-check that the music is able to be used for your purpose!).
Public Domain Music. This is specifically within the USA copyright laws and is music that no one can own. For Example, all music from 1926 or earlier is in the Public Domain. What happens is either the copyright is no longer valid (i.e. old age) or the artist gave the work to the public (PDInfo). These are great for background music options or just getting music for free!
Understanding Fair Use. This is music you are able to use without permission because you are using a piece of the copyrighted work (not the whole thing) and its use is for a specific reason such as education, parody, review, etc. (Nolo.com). There are multiple factors that you need to consider when using this sort of music.
Didn't take a big chunk of the original song
You made the music something new
You didn't cause money loss for the copyright owner
If you are using this type of music for your podcast, whether reviewing or snippets for something else make sure to take the above questions into account and always check/see if there is a way you can ask permission when using. For more information on Fair Use, check out Copyright.com.
When it comes to selecting music for your podcast, just make sure you are within your legal rights to it!
Why + Where you Might need Music in your Podcast
You do not technically need music in your podcast, however, like I mentioned at the beginning it helps with keeping your audience engaged and interested in what's going on. You may have a blank space that needs some music to keep their attention.
Or maybe you add sound bites to give your stories more of an effect. Depending on your podcast these reasons can vary but adding music no matter what kind of podcast will help give it a boost.
So, where exactly do you want to place it? Well, there are multiple areas throughout your episode where you may want to include music such as...
Intro + Theme. This is the first place that your listeners are going to hear you and decide if they want to keep on listening. This is where you want to catch their attention and keep them wanting to know what your show is about. As well as your current audience, you want something they will recognize and won't be tired of hearing. Think about it just like our favorite TV shows such as Bob's Burgers, Rick and Morty, or even Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Dun Dun)!
Any main content music + sounds. Some podcasts need sound effects and background music. There may be some conversations or a point in time that you want to focus on in your show and these are great for that.
Segment/Ad Spot Transitions. This is another place where you may want to fill in the blank space, sometimes when you go from your podcast to your ad or another segment, there is an awkward pause or just not a smooth transition. This music will help to just fill the void.
Outro. Just like your intro, you want to make a smooth transition into the ending of your episode, help fill the blank space, and give a more professional feel to it.
Free Music for Podcasts
Certain music on SoundCloud
Paid Music for Podcasts
Conclusion
Whether you go for a free or paid option of music for your podcast, just make sure you are staying legal. Now that you understand the type of music you can grab – go out and begin stocking up your podcast with the music you need! If you end up needing any support throughout this process or other podcasting assistance, reach out to us here.
Let us know your favorite place to get music for your podcast in the comments!
On that note, I hope this struck a chord – see you next time.
Aleea
This blog post was updated on November 28th, 2023
