Adding Music to Podcasts: Options and Considerations

Music can be a powerful addition to podcasts, helping set the tone, transition between sections, and keep listeners engaged.

However, incorporating music into podcasts also requires following copyright rules and considering technical logistics.

In this article, we’ll explore the main options for adding music to podcasts and the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Royalty-Free Music Libraries

One of the easiest ways to legally add music to podcasts is through royalty-free music libraries. These online libraries allow you to purchase licenses to use their music in your podcasts. Typically, a royalty-free license gives you the rights to use the track as many times as you want in perpetuity, without owing further royalties.

Here are some of the top royalty-free music libraries for podcasters:

AudioJungle – Owned by Envato, AudioJungle has over 150,000 professional, royalty-free tracks in every genre imaginable. Licenses start around $1.
PremiumBeat – Focusing on high-quality, unique tracks, PremiumBeat licenses music starting at $49.
Storyblocks – Offers unlimited downloads with an annual subscription, which starts at $199. Good for podcasters needing lots of variety.
Incompetech – Provides music by composer Kevin MacLeod under Creative Commons licenses, meaning tracks can be used for free with attribution.

The major advantage of using royalty-free music libraries is the ease and affordability of licensing a wide variety of high-quality music legally. You also avoid any complicated copyright issues. The main downside is that the selection may feel generic or overused at times if relying too heavily on common libraries like AudioJungle.

Commissioning Original Music

For a podcast with a substantial budget, commissioning original music is an excellent way to give it a unique, signature feel. You can hire composers and musicians on sites like Fiverr and Upwork, where prices start around $50 per minute of music.

Alternatively, you may be able to find talented local musicians looking for exposure to collaborate on original podcast theme and transition songs. The investment involved with original music pays off in exclusivity and a more customized, on-brand sound. Just be sure to have a clear contract in place specifying that you own the full rights to the commissioned music.

The major advantage of commissioning original music is exclusivity, as it will be a unique track made just for your podcast. This can strongly reinforce branding. However, it requires a music budget and more effort to coordinate with musicians compared to simple music library purchases.

If you commission original music then ensure you receive complete ownership of the copyright as part of the delivery from the creator.

Licensing Popular Songs

If you want to feature recognizable hit songs in your podcast, you’ll need to obtain what’s known as a “synch license,” which grants recording rights. Depending on the artist, these licenses can cost anywhere from $100 to $10,000+ for a popular track. Generally, you must license the master recording of a song as well as the publishing rights.

Smart producers may be able to negotiate discounts or waived fees in exchange for promotional considerations, especially if you have a hit podcast. Licensing well-known songs can help attract a wider audience. But the costs are prohibitive for most podcasters. You also must carefully follow the terms of synch licenses, which restrict how long a song clip can be used.

In summary, licensing popular songs can bring attention and credibility but requires negotiating complex licenses and paying hefty fees beyond most podcast budgets. Indie artists are often more affordable options for licensed music.

Using Music from Media Hosting Platforms

Many media hosting platforms—including Spotify, YouTube, and SoundCloud—allow you to easily access music to add to podcasts through their own music libraries. For example, Spotify for Podcasters provides the rights to use any song in the Spotify catalog.

However, there are limitations when using music provided by your media host. The licenses typically only allow the music to be heard on that platform itself. If you plan to distribute your podcast widely across multiple platforms, then music sourced from one platform likely cannot be included. Also, if you ever decide to switch platforms, you may lose licensing rights and have to remove all platform-supplied music entirely.

In short, media hosting platforms provide affordable access to vast music libraries, but often with licensing restrictions limiting use to that particular platform only.

Public Domain Music

Music in the public domain provides complete freedom to use in podcasts without any licensing required. Please check the laws in your region but here are some examples of Public domain music in the USA (please double check this is still current before using):

Classical music where the composer has been dead 70+ years.
Traditional folk songs and spirituals.
US government-produced music.
Music where copyright wasn’t renewed after the original 28-year term.

While public domain music can be freely added to podcasts, the downside is that selections tend to be older, classical, and less recognizable than contemporary songs. Resources like the Musopen classical music library are available to search public domain music. Performance quality can also vary wildly with public domain recordings.

Overall, public domain music offers free-to-use options but typically not the modern feel most podcasters want. Contemporary cover versions of classics may offer one workaround.

Creative Commons Music

For more current options, Creative Commons licenses provide a middle ground between full copyright and public domain. Musicians can choose to publish original songs under CC licenses, which allow others to use the music in certain approved ways, like in podcasts, as long as attribution is provided.

Useful resources for finding Creative Commons music include:

Free Music Archive – Offers CC-licensed songs and sound effects.
Dig CC Mixter – Musicians contribute tracks under CC licenses.
ccMixter – Source for CC-licensed remixes.
SoundCloud – Look for tracks with Creative Commons licenses (but triple check with the creator).

The advantage of CC music is podcast-friendly licensing with a more modern selection than public domain. It takes more effort to find quality tracks than commercial libraries. But used strategically, Creative Commons music can provide podcasters great free options.

Copyright and Fair Use

Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows the use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright owner under certain circumstances, such as for criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

However, fair use is not a blanket defense that can be used to justify the use of copyrighted music in podcasts. Using copyrighted music in podcasts without permission can lead to legal issues and financial penalties.

Here are some dangers and wrong assumptions of using copyrighted music in podcasts under a claim of fair use:

Fair use does not provide a clear, universal protection for podcast music. Fair use is determined on a case-by-case basis, weighing factors like the purpose, character, and amount of music used. Even educative or non-commercial podcasts have no guarantee of qualifying as fair use.
Many podcasters wrongly assume that short snippets of songs (e.g. 30 seconds) automatically fall under fair use. But there are no strictly defined “safe” limits. Even very brief, unlicensed uses of music can still attract copyright complaints and takedown notices.
Podcasters often assume fair use applies if they give commentary or criticism on the music itself. However, this does not automatically make the use fair, especially if substantial portions of the song are played versus short samples.
Giving attribution to the artist does not replace the need to get actual permission and licensing. Many wrongly think crediting solves the copyright issue.
Podcasters assume that just because a song can be found online or embedded from YouTube, it’s automatically fine to use. But third-party postings don’t override copyright, and YouTube licenses don’t extend off the platform.
Deleting episodes after getting a takedown request does not cancel infringement retrospectively. Podcasters are liable as soon as unlicensed music is published.
Fair use only provides a potential defense after you get sued for copyright infringement. Relying on it is extremely risky compared to proactive licensing of podsafe music or direct permission from rights holders.

In summary, fair use can be highly uncertain in podcasting. Overreliance on it involves serious legal and financial risks. The safest approach is to only use music you have direct permission or licensing for, avoid unlicensed uses of popular songs, and work closely with musicians on original music for optimal podcast-friendliness.

When in doubt, it is always best to consult with a legal professional to ensure that your use of copyrighted material is legal and does not infringe on the rights of the copyright owner.

Final Thoughts

Whether you prefer royalty-free music libraries, original commissioned theme songs, licensed popular music, or free public domain/Creative Commons options, the key is choosing an approach that fits your podcast’s budget and brand. Once you find musical options with suitable licensing, the technical logistics of adding music to your podcast depend on your recording workflow. Most audio editing software makes it simple to mix in theme songs, background music, and transition sounds. Just be sure to mind the volume balance so music complements your voice instead of overpowering it. With the right music licenses secured and some quality editing time invested, integrating music can take your podcast to the next level.