Music is one of the easiest ways to set the tone of your show, establish your brand identity, create emotional connections, and keep listeners engaged.
From intros and outros to in-episode breaks, great music can elevate your podcast dramatically.
In this post, you’ll learn:
- Why it’s essential to use music you have the rights to
- Different types of music you can use in your podcast
- Your best options for royalty-free podcast music
- Creative ideas from podcasters for finding music
- Technical tips for mixing music properly
Let’s dive in! 🎵
Watch: How to Find the Right Music for Your Podcast
Finding the right podcast music is about more than just picking a catchy tune – it’s about setting the right tone, creating consistency, and legally protecting your show.
In this video, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know, from choosing intro music to licensing tips, and even using AI tools!
Why You Should Never Use Licensed Music Without Permission
Adding music to your podcast that you don’t have explicit permission to use can result in:
- Loss of credibility
- DMCA notices
- Copyright strikes
- Removal from your podcast host or directories
- Lawsuits and fines
Common Myths:
- You can just use a song for “seven seconds or less.” You cannot legally use even a few seconds of copyrighted music without permission.
- Purchasing a song or album gives you the right to use it commercially. Buying a song only gives you the right to listen. It does not give you permission to use it in a podcast, video, or other project commercially.
Companies like Universal Music Group use music recognition software (like BMAT) to scan podcasts for unauthorized use. Spotify and others can receive an infringement claim and pull your show if you’re caught (see above image).
Always ensure you have the right licensing. For more information, you can check out Spotify’s copyright resources here.
But not to worry. The great news is that there are plenty of music resources available for the podcaster on a budget!
Types of Music You Can Use in a Podcast
Knowing how to use music in your show is as important as knowing where to get it. Here are the key types:
- Intro/Outro Music: First and last impressions for your show; sets the tone immediately.
- Transition Music / Stingers: Brief musical breaks between segments.
- Background Music: Light audio under storytelling or solo segments (be careful during interviews).
- Ad Bumpers: Short sounds or musical cues to signal commercial breaks (important for clarity and legal compliance).
Pro Tip: Music also replaces visuals in podcasts. It’s your audio cue to signal change or emotion.
Understanding Royalty-Free and Licensing Terms
When you first start searching for free podcast music, there are a few key phrases you need to be on the lookout for.
What Does “Royalty-Free” Mean?
Royalty-free does not mean free. It means you pay once (or subscribe) and can use the music multiple times without paying ongoing royalties.
- Subscription Services: Pay monthly or annually for unlimited downloads.
- One-Time Purchases: Buy a track and use it forever.
Royalty-free music is ideal for podcasters because it saves you from paying per download, stream, or episode.
Single Use vs. Multi-Use Licenses
- Single Use: Licensed for only one project (e.g., one podcast).
- Multi-Use: Can be used across multiple projects or platforms.
Commercial vs. Non-Commercial Use
If your podcast makes money or supports a business, it’s considered commercial use. Always double-check that your license covers commercial usage.
Attribution Requirements
Some licenses require that you credit the creator. Others (like certain Music for Makers tracks) don’t require attribution. Always read the terms.
Creative Commons Licenses
There are six creative commons licenses. These are the ones you want to look for in order to use the music in your podcast:
CC BY
With this license you must give credit to the original creator (you can include your attribution in your podcast episode description). This content allows commercial use – meaning if your podcast makes money, you’re still safe to use the content. You can also remix, distribute, build upon, and adapt the material.
CC BY-SA
Again you can remix, distribute, build upon, and adapt the material. However, in this case, you must share the content under the same license
This content also allows for commercial use, and requires attribution to the original content creator.
CC BY-ND
The content allows for commercial use, and requires attribution. However, you may not adapt, remix, build upon, or alter the sound in any way. It must be used explicitly as it was created.
CCO (Public Domain)
Your best bet if you want free podcast music without restrictions is to find music licensed as CC0 (also referred to as CC Zero).
CC0 content is considered the holy grail because you can do almost anything you want with it – with no conditions.
Music with a CC0 designation is safe for commercial use and can be distributed, remixed, adapted, cut, altered, and more.
And because this content is considered “in the public domain,” you don’t have to attribute it to anyone, anywhere.
Now that we’ve discussed why it’s so important to only use music you have the rights to, here are some of the best places to find songs and royalty-free music you can use commercially.
Best Places to Get Free Podcast Music
1. CC Mixter
CC Mixter is a community of more than 45,000 musicians from around the world.
Here, you’ll find samples, remixes, and acapella sound bites that you can use in your show.
If you choose to use music from this website, you’ll need to provide attribution to the artist.
2. Free Music Archive
Free Music Archive has an open-source approach to music. As the website explains, “All songs on FMA are free to access and download.”
However, be sure to review their licensing terms and conditions carefully before downloading any music, as some tracks are not approved for commercial use and can’t be used on a monetized podcast.
There’s also some gray area around whether a podcast is considered commercial if it doesn’t directly generate revenue.
Our recommendation: err on the side of caution and stick with music that’s approved for commercial use or that’s in the public domain if your podcast generates any income, either directly or indirectly.
3. Musopen
Musopen is an open-source, non-profit organization that provides “free music recordings, sheet music, apps, and educational materials.”
With their free plan, you can download up to five songs per day.
4. Incompetech.com
Incompetech offers a wide range of royalty-free music categories to help you find something that fits your show.
There are multiple licenses available for the music on this website, so be sure to read the fine print carefully.
Any music downloaded for free requires attribution. You also have the option to purchase a one-time license for commercial use.
5. Pixabay Music
Widely known for their free stock photos, Pixabay also offers free music, videos, illustrations, and vectors – a fact not everyone realizes.
They state that all their music is royalty-free and available for both commercial and non-commercial use.
You don’t need an account to download music clips, and according to their licensing page, attribution is not required.
Other Places to Find Royalty-Free Music and Audio Tracks
If you weren’t able to find what you were looking for, you can also check out these sites, which offer copyright-cleared, royalty-free music for your podcast (some may require payment):
- AudioJungle
- Premium Beat
- Bensound
- Envato Elements
- Videvo
- Audionautix.com
- Music for Makers
- Thrum (th.audio)
- Epidemic Sound
AI Music Generators
Over the past year, artificial intelligence tools have taken the world by storm. AI platforms like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Synthesia, and many others have transformed the way we create.
Did you know there are AI music creation tools that can help you produce engaging music for your podcast?
Caution: AI-generated music can sound generic. It may lack the personal feel that makes your podcast stand out. Always test before you publish.
Here are a few examples of AI music generators you can explore.
Soundful
Soundful is a free AI music generator to help you generate catchy and unique royalty-free music for your podcast. You can listen to an example of AI music created by Soundful below.
AIVA
AIVA is another artificial intelligence music composer that creates original & personalized music for your podcast. You can listen to an example of music created on AIVA below.
Aiva · A Common Humanity – AI composed music by AIVA
Ecrett Music
Ecrett Music is another artificial intelligence music tool to help you create and customize royalty-free music. Check out music created using Ecrett Music below.
Soundraw
Soundraw is another AI music generator that can create royalty-free music for your podcast.
With just a few clicks on Soundraw we were able to generate a 30 second clip of AI music. Click here to listen to the music we created on Soundraw for free.
Technical Tips for Mixing Podcast Music
- Intro/Outro Length: Keep intros around 15-30 seconds max.
- Volume Control: Fade in/out music smoothly to avoid startling your listeners.
- Ducking: Lower the background music volume when you’re speaking.
- Frequency Range: Choose music that doesn’t overpower the human voice (~85 Hz to 255 Hz).
Pro Tip: Apps like ScreenFlow and Adobe Podcast have “auto ducking” features to help with mixing.
Creating a Musical Toolkit
Aim for consistent tone across your:
- Intro and Outro: Create a strong first and last impression that signals the start and end of your show.
- Stingers: Use short musical breaks to transition smoothly between segments without confusing listeners.
- Background Music: Set the right mood without overpowering your voice or distracting from your message.
This builds brand familiarity and a cohesive listening experience. Movies don’t switch composers mid-film, and neither should you!
Creative Ways Podcasters Get Music
1. Tap Into Local Artists Looking for Exposure
Katherine Jones of TNTBS MEDIA INC said she gets her music from independent music artists.
“I have spent time following musicians in Charlotte, NC. Social Media has allowed me to connect with the musicians through their business pages. In [my] show, the artists featured are artists who gave me their written permission to use [their music].”
Mason Quesnel of Centsr seconds this idea. He said, “try reaching out to musician friends or contacts they have in their own network and ask for any unreleased tracks that can be used in exchange for promotion. When a band or artist has unreleased tracks, such as tracks that never made it onto an album or release, they may not have them registered to a Performing Rights Organization that’s tracking royalties and therefore, the music is royalty-free and can be used commercially with permission.”
2. Pay for the Main Music, Source Free Sound Effects
Jennifer Tribe, host of Supercasters, said she buys royalty-free music from AudioJungle, but sources free tracks for her sound effects, stingers, and soundscaping. One of her go to websites for free tracks is Zapslat, but she said she’s also had really good luck with finding free music and sound effects with quick Google searches.
3. Look For Lists of Curated Sound Effects
Angel Wang of the Eagle Marketing Team schooled us on the fact that marketing agencies, arts and entertainment companies, and budding artists will sometimes curate lists of free sound-effects that you can use. In fact, her company has curated a list of “26 Awesome Royalty-Free Sound Effects Sites” podcasters can use.
4. Sometimes All You Need is Love [On Social Media]
Sam Shepler of Testimonial Hero told us that one of his favorite places to get free music is Freebeats.io. He said, you can use their music on your podcast “with the only caveat being that you follow them on social media! They also have WAV files available for all their members, and they make it super easy to filter by genre. You can easily browse their beats by type, so whether you’re looking for rap, pop, r&b, etc. It’s easy to find and use.”
When he needs more royalty free music, Sam heads to Silverman Sound Studios. He said that this company allows you to use all of their music for free royalty-free, as long as you credit the artist. Their website is super cool and retro and it allows you to search and filter by mood, purpose, and genre.”
Final Thoughts: Take Your Time Choosing Podcast Music
Don’t rush your choice. Bad music can drive listeners away, while the right music will enhance your storytelling, improve listener retention, and make your brand memorable.
Test your options, gather listener feedback, and invest the time to find the perfect match for your show.
