How To Find Podcast Intro Music

Are yous looking for podcast intro music? Wondering what are the best places to detect royalty-free music to start your bear witness with?

Licensing songs for podcast intro music is a complex topic that relies on a range of factors. Merely podcasts that include musical elements are often more engaging. Starting off an episode with intro music and using songs to movement a story forrad contributes to a professional sounding podcast.

Hashemite kingdom of jordan Kisner writes, "…a podcast producer has only music and sound blueprint to offset the storytelling vocalization without obscuring it or drowning information technology out." Using music in a podcast intro is a crucial way to initially take hold of an audience'south attention and provide more depth to a story. Withal, the intricacies of correctly licensing podcast music is a hotly debated topic between podcasters.

In this article, we're providing "chance averse" podcast music options to minimize your chances of future disputes. There are exceptions to information provided, but these tips are the rules of thumb you should keep in mind when finding music for your podcast episodes. Although this information is based on the opinions from professional person music industry lawyers, copyright law varies from land to country so this article shouldn't exist taken as legal communication.

Let's commencement with answering the biggest question podcasters have when it comes to podcast music.

Demand aid finding music and creating an intro for your prove?

With Castos' Podcast Launch Service, our team of professional audio engineers, show annotation writers, and marketing pros work with y'all to create marketing assets, map out episodes, and brand sure your podcast is prepare upwardly for success. Enter your information to asking a free consultation.

Why Y'all Shouldn't Employ Commercial Music In Your Podcast

It's important to understand that a musical recording has at least two types of copyrights: the Publishing Rights related to the song itself and the Main Rights related to a specific recording of that song.

When Dolly Parton wrote "I Volition Always Dearest Yous", even before she recorded the song, it was automatically copyrighted when she wrote downwardly the lyrics and the guitar chords. When Parton recorded the song, whoever paid for the recording took ownership of the Master Rights of that specific recorded version.

Dolly Parton owns the Publishing Rights to Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Ever Love You" considering Parton composed the original song. Merely whoever paid for Houston's recording owns the Master Rights to that specific recorded version.

As a podcast creator you need to secure the necessary permissions from all rights-holders. That means licenses for the vocal and the recording (that's two licenses), for worldwide apply (because your podcast is probable to be bachelor globally), and forever (because one time you publish your podcast, y'all likely desire it to exist available in perpetuity).

Then when you "copy" a music recording into your podcast, you demand to accept the permission of whoever owns the Publishing Rights and the Master Rights.

It may be unlikely that you lot'll receive permission to use a commercial song in your podcast in all territories and for the life of the podcast (forever). This is partly because a song volition exist owned by unlike entities in different parts of the world. So, you would have to become permission from visitor "A" in the The states, company "B" in the United Kingdom, and company "C" for Outer Mongolia, etc. to legally use a copyrighted song.

And these companies might not give you lot a license that lasts forever considering your podcast could become a massive hit in future. When that happens, they'll want to charge you more money for using their music!

You may have heard commercial, copyrighted music in podcasts earlier. Why is that?

I've Heard Copyrighted Music In Podcasts. Why Tin They Do Information technology, But Not Me?

If y'all've heard copyrighted music in podcasts, it's probably due to one of the following reasons:

• The podcast is created by a dissemination organization who pays large sums of coin for the right to use commercial music. For instance, BBC pays the UK's Performing Rights Society for the correct to broadcast commercial music on Television set and radio. Equally function of this deal, they may also be able to include commercial music on podcasts they produce.
• In that location are rules that allow a particular per centum of a commercial track to be played for review purposes just caveats may apply and this almost certainly varies between territories – so what may exist immune in the US may not be allowed in the UK for instance. In this case the podcast should be geo-blocked or, in that location is likely to exist a breach in copyright law.
• The podcast may exist illegally using the music.

What Types Of Podcast Music Are Immune?

We know what you lot're thinking, What music am I allowed to apply for my podcast intro? At that place are 4 chief ways to legally use music within your episodes, each with their ain unique restrictions.

Royalty-free music

Time for some proficient news! Royalty-free music, too known equally production, stock or library music, is specifically made for use in podcasts and other content mediums. Companies offer a broad range of tracks in different styles and all stock music is immediately available to employ.

Y'all tin usually utilize the music worldwide and in-perpetuity but information technology will exist a non-sectional licence. This ways other people can license the same music as you.

But not all royalty-free podcast music is licensed the aforementioned style. Some music libraries charge one-time fees to use a song as many times as you'd like. Others charge "per usage". This means y'all purchase a license for every specific application of the vocal. For example, you license Song A as your podcast intro music on a per usage basis. This means you pay a licensing fee every time you release a new episode that features Song A in your intro. For one-off songs, per usage licenses aren't an issue but for music you employ repeatedly, it can get costly very rapidly.

In recent years, some libraries have started to offer a subscription model, meaning that yous pay a monthly or annual fee to use as much music every bit y'all need. This essentially negates the outcome of having to pay for each individual use of the music and is a actually good option if you brand a lot of content and use podcast music ofttimes.

Public domain music

Yous'll oftentimes see people advise "Out Of Copyright" or "Public Domain" music equally a free option for your podcast but this option could still land you in hot water! While information technology is true that copyrights can expire, there are complications to using information technology for free legally. You can't assume that because the composer died over 70 years ago, y'all tin automatically employ their music. The complications are:

1. The rules well-nigh when the copyright expires varies from country to land. And so for instance, although you may legally be immune to use a recording in the public domain in the U.k., the work may remain under copyright in the U.s.a.. Every bit your podcast is likely available in both territories, you would exist infringing copyright constabulary in 1 or more territories.
2. Copyright in the recording and copyright in the composition may expire at different times.
3. To legally use an out-of-copyright recording, it may be necessary to admission the original gramophone recording! This is because new, re-mastered digital versions of the recording may be accounted to have a new copyright that has non expired.

In brusque, do not assume you're safe to employ public domain music simply considering you've seen it on a list of "Out-Of-Copyright songs" somewhere online. If your podcast is available worldwide, we'd advise seeking legal advice to ostend the public domain recording is legal to use without a license. But in reality, if you're trying to use free podcast music, you probably don't want to pay a lawyer!

Moving on…

Artistic Commons Music

Skilful news! With caution, some music covered past particular Creative Commons licenses are viable options for using complimentary music in a podcast.

A few things to be enlightened of when using music under Creative Commons licenses:

1. There are vi types of Creative Commons licenses. Three are for commercial use and 3 are for not-commercial utilise. What amounts to "commercial use" is not specifically defined within the terms and so it would exist safer to interpret this widely. For instance, although you may not accuse annihilation for your podcast, y'all may in future intend to indirectly do good commercially like selling merchandise.Then information technology'southward safest to assume you lot need a commercial CC license.
2. Information technology'southward vital that you comply with all the terms and conditions of the license, otherwise the licensor (music possessor) can terminate the license at whatsoever time. For example, all commercial-use CC licenses require that you credit the licensor (owner of the music). It would be appropriate to do this as audio, spoken at the end of your podcast besides every bit in text course in the prove notes.
3. The licensor (music owner) disclaims all liability for any losses suffered by the user from using the licensed material. This ways that in the event that you were sued for using the music by an bodily rights possessor, considering the licensor did not in fact accept the right to grant you lot the license, in some territories, you may have no recourse against the licensor. Even though this is probably an unlikely scenario and not something to overly worry about, it'south worth being aware of.

So, if you lot are going to license podcast intro music under Creative Commons, make certain that it is a commercial-apply license (unless you are sure that you volition never produce your podcast for commercial gain); comply with all the terms and conditions of the license including attribution; and accept that in that location is an chemical element of "buyer beware" when using copyrights under a CC license.

Licensed music you own the rights to

Whether you compose music yourself or commission a composer, custom recordings are suitable podcast music options because you control the terms of the licence. Another large advantage is the music is typically completely original and will non be used on any other podcast. By creating original music, yous may be able to make it very specific to your podcast such every bit using lyrics to express the title or context of your show.

If you etch and tape original music yourself, yous automatically own and control all the rights. It is not legally necessary simply you may want to register your music with the performing rights arrangement in your area.

If you lot commission a composer to produce music for your podcast, here are some tips:

You tin notice a composer for your podcast music past:

• Posting a request in podcasting Facebook groups like Podcast Movement
• Inquiry and contact a composer you lot've heard on some other podcast.
• Arroyo a local music school or academy
• Search for composers on Soundcloud

Curious how popular podcasts from Gimlet or NPR create their theme music? Luke Gordon from Syncly saturday down with Breakmaster Cylinder for a peek behind the curtain and tips on working with composers.

13 Services To Find Custom & Free Music For Your Podcast

Anything free is smashing, right? If yous tin can find gratis music that y'all love and yous are certain that you are (and e'er will be) legally covered worldwide to utilise the free music, go for it and save yourself some dollars!

For those who are able to pay a fiddling extra for their podcast music, there are great reasons to back up this choice:

• More choices: easily find a broad range of music from one trusted music library source
• Peace of heed: know that you're legally covered and not at risk for infringement notices
• Exclusivity: In the case of paying a composer, know that the music is original to you and your podcast

To become you lot started, here are 13 services to detect royalty-costless and affordable customized podcast intro music:

Best Per Track Based Podcast Music Options

1. Syncly Music: Podcast music library service with unique ability to easily customize tracks to suit your podcast.
2. Audio Jungle: Royalty-complimentary library with music and sound effects. Purchase single tracks or "music packs" based on a genre or mood.
3. Premium Beat: Offers ii flexible licensing options based on your needs. Pay for a license once and you lot can apply the music forever, worldwide.
4. Audio Network: Offers single-use licenses, their licenses are cleared for worldwide, multi-platform use. A great pick for video podcasters.

Best Subscription Based Podcast Music Options

5. Soundstripe: Royalty-complimentary podcast music library with multiple licensing options.
6. Musicbed: Paid music service with affordable subscription plans, single song licenses, and custom equanimous offerings.
7. Audioblocks: A podcast music subscription service offering music, sound effects, and loop tracks. Choice to tailor subscriptions to audio or video licenses to keep costs low.
8. Artlist: Music and sound event subscription packages, all licenses include lifetime and unlimited uses.
9. Epidemic Sound: Primarily a subscription based music library of 30K+ songs and 60K+ sound furnishings that offers unlimited apply in digital ads.

All-time Costless Podcast Music Options

10. Silverman Audio Studios: Music offered by Shane Ivers under Creative Commons license and complimentary to use in podcasts if attribution is provided–or pay a minor fee and you will non have to give credit.
11. Dig CCmixter: Community-based platform offering some music that is completely gratuitous to use under a Artistic Commons license.
12. Costless Music Archive: Similar to Dig CCmixter, FMA provides music under diverse Artistic Eatables licenses–some (but not all) is gratuitous to utilize in commercial projects such as podcasts.
13. Audio Bible: A range of useful sound furnishings nether Creative Commons licenses.

Syncly Music

Syncly offers a wide-range of loftier-quality music from hugely talented, international composers. All the music in the library can exist customized meaning yous tin can adapt the speed of the track and even easily remove instruments to modify the sound or mood to your liking. This also makes the rail more unique to your podcast!

If you intend to employ background music in your podcast, being able to conform the track is useful to brand information technology sound more subtle and fit the tone of the segment.

Syncly also offer all their tracks as stems (the private instrumental layers) so if you work with a sound engineer, they tin can hands adjust the stems in their own digital-audio workstation such as Pro-Tools or Audition to create the perfect mix.

The catalogue features a drove of tracks composed specifically for podcast use by Breakmaster Cylinder and these have been tried and tested in some of the most popular podcasts the earth has ever heard!

Music can be licensed on an annual subscription footing or bought i track at a time.

Sound Jungle

Audio Jungle has a large choice of tracks from a big community of composers. The music quality is reasonable and consistent making information technology easy to observe "typical" styles but non so skillful for "interesting" or unusual tracks. The average price per rail is on the low side but it will be worth checking direct with Audio Jungle that your license will comprehend your podcast.

Sound effects are as well available and they have a subscription option for unlimited usage.

Premium Beat

Premium Beat has a good option of more often than not high-quality tracks. Like Audio Jungle, they lean towards corporate employ so you may not find anything likewise far from the "typical" audio here. Their licensing is simple, offering simply ii options. At the time of writing, you can purchase a license to use ane rails in a podcast for $49 and this track can be used as many times equally y'all like for no additional cost. They currently don't offer sound effects or the choice of a paid subscription.

Audio Network

Audio Network has an excellent collection of music in many styles, from pop to orchestral scores. There is something hither for everyone and with many licensing options to suit your production, although they only sell licenses on a per-runway basis.

Soundstripe

Soundstripe has a skillful selection of music that leans towards pop tracks (mainly electronic and folk) for marketing and corporate employ. You have to subscribe to a paid monthly or annually subscription as they don't offer the pick to license one runway at a time. Their medium and top-tier plans come with a drove of 35,000 sound furnishings.

Musicbed

Musicbed has a premium pick of music from a roster of artists and composers, who ofttimes are signed to record labels. There are more pop oriented songs here than "score" material, but it's all high quality.

They offer subscription plans, single song licenses, and custom music offerings all at different price ranges depending on the type of usage. To license a song for a podcast you must request a quote for an exact price.

Audioblocks

Audio Blocks simply offer monthly or almanac subscription options. Their mid-tier and elevation-tier plans include sound effects. Once over again, the music is of good quality but leans towards a corporate sound.

Artlist

Artlist is a paid, subscription-simply library with a range of music, mainly in a popular way, and a catalogue of sound effects at boosted price. They only offer one type of license that is intended for video use so it's a great option for video podcasters. It is not entirely articulate whether using music in a podcast is covered by this license and would exist worth contacting the company directly to clarify this.

Epidemic Sound

Epidemic Sound is some other paid, subscription-only library with over 30,000 tracks to cull from. Sound effects and podcast usage are included in all plans.

Silverman Sound Studios

Silverman Sound Studios is a nice collection of tracks past ane composer named Shane Ivers. He offers all his music for podcasts completely free nether the Attribution-No Derivatives 4.0 International Artistic Commons licence which ways, as long as y'all give him credit on your podcast, the music tin can be used even in a commercial context (i.e. if you monetize your podcast). You can besides opt to pay a small-scale fee and forego the need to credit the composer.

The principal drawback hither is the lack of search tools so y'all'll need to practise a lot of listening to find what you demand.

Dig CCmixter

With Dig CCmixter, you lot tin can find some music that is completely gratis to use under a Creative Commons license. Remember that y'all always have to requite credit to the composer/artist of the runway and that some CC licenses are but valid for not-commercial projects (podcasts). This tin can be a skilful pick for free music merely the search engine is not very friendly and so it may accept a bit more endeavour to find the song you demand compared with some of the more than sophisticated websites that come up with the paid-licensing music libraries.

Free Music Archive

Similar to Dig CCmixter, Gratuitous Music Archive provides music under various Creative Eatables licenses. Don't assume that all tracks on the site are free to use in a podcast – they are not! You'll also find that the quality of music is rather mixed compared with the curated paid music libraries. There's some very good and quite interesting songs along with some dodgy stuff! But dazzler is in the ear of the beholder, so who am I to say!

Sound Bible

Being avid storytellers, having access to a catalogue of SFX to support your narrative is always going to exist handy. Sound Bible is a costless pick gives you access to a range of the most common audio effects nether a Creative Commons license.

How To Use Music To Better Your Podcast

Music can exist used not just in the intro and outro, merely also in the body of your podcast. Adding melodies and background music tin can assistance tell your story by setting the mood or ascertain episode segments.

However, it's easy to get overboard. Pitchfork writes, "[the] worst affair music can do in a podcast is telephone call attention to itself, or to compete with the voices over it." They write, "at its all-time, [podcast music] amplifies not only what'due south being said but the act of saying it."

 With and so many use cases and nuances, here's a list of iv central means music tin can improve your podcast without taking over.

Set up the mood of a scene or segment of the show

As filmmakers and radio producers know, music is a powerful tool for expressing your story. Every bit podcast producer, Brendan Baker, suggests, "if you take a slice of music that already has a set of hidden imagery in information technology, and match that to a story with particular descriptions…–then something actually cool happens and the image solidifies."

Define sections or chapters of the testify

Answer All features music past The Mysterious Breakmaster Cylinder. They have an intro and outro theme, plus unlike tunes for regular segments of the prove. Using theme music for consistent segments helps to build a show's structure and inkling your audition into the next portion of the episode.

Manipulate time

Sometimes it's useful to use music equally a device to play with the listener'south perception of fourth dimension. By calculation music with a footstep or subtle emotions, the accompanying narrative will maintain the listener's attending and interest in your story.

The opposite of propelling the story forward with music is to create tension and suspense; to literally suspend fourth dimension. You can probably imagine the classic 1950'due south thriller music of tremolo strings but there are many more subtle ways to do this, and it doesn't take to sound overtly scary!

It'southward easy to experiment with this but you don't take to outset from scratch. To play with momentum, here's a rails with a calorie-free, scientific feel from Syncly to test how customizing the runway can assistance move your narratives forward and fit perfectly in your sound mix. Simply adjust the "Customize" slider to experiment.

Draw attention to a key point in the story or dialogue

A change in music can signify an important moment in your narrative. This can be as simple as stopping the music in an obvious style if music was previously playing. Or an abrupt outset of music will all of a sudden grab the listener'south attention and signal an upcoming story arc.

Common Podcast Music Questions, Answered

At that place is a lot of misinformation available about podcast music so let'due south answer some of the most commonly asked questions.

When considering how to apply music in your podcast it's important to understand that:

• Podcasts are distributed worldwide so yous must be legally covered to use the music globally – not only in the country where you created the podcast.
• Yous need permission from all copyright owners for the "Master Recording" and the "Publishing Rights". This is explained more fully subsequently on unders A Brief Introduction To Music Copyright.

Permit's first await at some of the myths you lot may take heard about using music in your podcast without having to pay or get permission:

Is information technology OK if I only employ a few seconds of a copyrighted song?

Unfortunately not. It is indeed a myth that a small corporeality of music is commanded so you lot must seek permission and proceeds the appropriate license to apply any corporeality of music in your podcast–fifty-fifty one second. This also more often than not applies to sound effects and whatever other audio you utilise that has been created by someone else such as a quote or sound-catch.

Can I sample commercial music equally long equally it's not in my podcast intro or outro?

No. A permission must be  obtained for all music used no matter where it appears in your podcast.

If my podcast is well-nigh reviewing songs or artists, can I use their music?

Getting permission to apply commercial music is complicated (see above for more than information on the types of copyrights) but you will still need to do then in a review scenario. In some countries, you may be able to claim "off-white-use" to review music in a podcast merely there is a big issue with this approach. Fair-apply exceptions to copyright law are specific to detail territories simply your podcast is very likely to be available in countries where that fair-apply exception does not utilise.

The only way to be sure that you are legally allowed to play and review commercial music in your podcast is to get written permission for the worldwide right to play the tracks from all copyright holders. This would be a manual process and be likely to involve many unlike stakeholders

My podcast has a pocket-size post-obit and I don't make whatever money from information technology. Can I use commercial music?

Copyright law applies regardless of whether or non you make money from your podcast.

What happens if I receive a copyright infringement notice?

Information technology depends on many things simply possible outcomes are that your podcast is taken out of service or that yous're sued for amercement. At the time of writing, Universal Music Group is suing iBusMedia media company for several 1000000 dollars for alleged copyright infringement.

In short, it's not worth the risk of infringing copyright law. Say you have a small podcast audience at present and think the chances of getting caught are slim. Then your following grows and of a sudden yous're exposed to large infringement penalties to ruin your success in 1 fell swoop.

Too, there are more tools available that can automatically identify illegal music use within a podcast, similar to YouTube's Content ID arrangement. This volition make it more than hard in the future to "get away with" using music without permission.

Finally, to say that yous didn't know you needed a license or that you could not discover the copyright owners is very unlikely to be accepted as a defense force if legal proceedings are taken against you lot.

My podcast represents a not-for-profit organization. Do we need permission to use music in our podcast even if we're a charity?

Nonprofits are not exempt from copyright law and must obtain the necessary permission to use music legally. However, paid music services often give special discounted rates for clemency content.

Do I accept to pay royalties to play music on my podcast?

Royalties are payments made to the music owners for the use of their works over a catamenia of time. Although royalty payments nevertheless use to music used within podcasts, it will exist the distribution service, such as Spotify or Apple that pays these royalties rather than you, the podcast producer.

And then, as long as you have secured the permission to employ the music in your podcast, you volition non have to pay on-going "operation" royalties afterward this.

Legal Tips To Remember For Podcast Intro Music

Music for podcasts tin come from a range of suppliers, in different moods and styles,  under a wide range of terms and at varying costs from free to astronomically expensive.

Here is a list of the central legal factors to consider when choosing and gaining permission to use music legally in your podcast:

• Get permission in writing–usually in the class of a license agreement.
• Make sure that permission covers the Song (publishing) and the Main (the specific recording of the song you lot are using). If you are paying for music from a stock music library, these rights are always bundled together to brand things easy.
• Due to the nature of podcast distribution, you lot volition need permission to apply the song worldwide, in perpetuity. If you are paying for music from a stock music library, this is usually the example but information technology is e'er worth double checking.
• Brand sure that the license covers the music (Song and Master) specifically for employ in a podcast.
• Understand whether the license allows the music to be used once or multiple times. I.eastward. for podcast intro music, practice you need to buy a new license for each new episode you make? This is an important distinction that varies between music providers.
• If you lot are using music nether a Creative Commons license (or any license for that thing), be sure to adhere to the terms and weather condition such as providing a credit to the composer.
• If y'all are dealing with a freelance composer or a local ring, make sure that they own all the rights to the Song and the Master. If in that location are multiple songwriters for instance, you volition need to get signed permission from all of them. Continue in mind that copyright can be so complicated that not even the songwriters know who owns the rights! If the composer or band take a publishing or recording deal, it'south unlikely that they fully ain their rights and therefore won't be authorized to give you permission to apply their song.

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Summary

Using intro music is a keen fashion to bring your podcast to life and grab the attention of your listeners. Music can aid tell a improve story and aid build your brand. At that place is an affluence of music suppliers merely many are non suitable for podcasting due to the nature of its worldwide distribution.

If y'all have no upkeep at that place are plenty of free songs bachelor under Creative Commons. But make sure you lot sympathise the license and be prepared to accept some time on the clunky websites these tracks are typically available on.

If you have a modest budget, there is a huge selection of music available for podcasts on many stock music sites. The licensing is usually easy to understand and the websites make information technology easy to filter downwards to the song you want.

With a larger budget, aught beats hiring a composer to create a bespoke theme vocal for your podcast. This ensures a unique and sectional audio under the terms yous need.

Whichever option you choose, make sure you are legally covered with written permission that covers your podcast worldwide, in perpetuity.

Written by Luke Gordon. By the historic period of 17, Luke was making tea in some of the finest recording studios of London. Later much knob-twiddling he found himself in front end of the controls for the likes of Goldfrapp, The Cure, Pulp, Marc Almond and Stereophonics. Luke moved on to produce his own music, focusing on scoring for documentaries broadcast around the world on BBC and National Geographic as well as TV commercials for brands such as Coca-Cola, Mini Cooper and Tissot.

In 2019, Luke established Syncly Music which brings together a very international agglomeration of composers under one website and provides a 1-stop-licensing-shop for anyone in need of music for podcasts or video.

Source: https://castos.com/podcast-intro-music/

Posted by: thomsensoffeas.blogspot.com

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