Podcast FAQ

can you play music on a podcast

by Waino Kautzer Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
image

Yes, you can use music in a podcast, but you need to make sure you license the music appropriately. For example, you cannot use a new release from a major recording label without paying the high licensing fee, nor can you use royalty-free music without paying for that license.

Yes! It's legal to play copyrighted music on a podcast so long as you've cleared the rights or are following Fair use.Jul 27, 2021

Full Answer

Should you use music in your podcast?

  • Not too much! Less is more. ...
  • You don’t have to use music. Maybe you only want a few seconds of the same music at your intro and outro every episode. ...
  • Your music should enhance your tape, never distract from it. The music is there to enhance the experience of listening to the voices you have recorded. ...

Can I use popular music in my podcast?

To use copyrighted music in your podcast, you need a license from the copyright holder of the composition (often an artist or publishing company), as well as one from the copyright holder of the recorded performance (usually a record label). This is why using popular music in your podcast can be quite tricky.

How to choose music for your new podcast?

  • Download a BBC podcast without any music and add a “patriotic” track in Audacity. ...
  • Take one of your own podcasts, or a piece of a show you are working on, that already has music and ask yourself why you chose that? ...
  • Take that same piece of audio and consciously choose to create a different tonal effect. ...

How to use music in your podcast?

Here's a few sites to go to:

  • Free Music Archives: Gives you access to new music for free that can be used as beds or theme music for your podcast. ...
  • Epidemic Sound: Probably the most popular paid choice for podcasters. ...
  • Free Sound: Allows you to search for specific sounds that you want for your podcast and download the tracks you like

More items...

image

Do you need a license to play music on a podcast?

1) Podcasts Require Sync Licenses In order to use any copyrighted music in their show, a podcaster needs to obtain a synchronization license. These types of licenses traditionally govern music use in TV shows, films, and commercials, as those media require the music be “synced” with the visuals on screen.

How much does it cost to play a song on a podcast?

But the part that stood out to us: “An annual track license generally costs between $500 and $2,000 for the master recording, plus the same amount for publishing, sources say, and must be renewed for a podcast to remain online”.

What are the rules for using music on a podcast?

You cannot simply use small portions of copyrighted music under fair use laws. Not-for-profit or hobby-based podcasts are not exempt from copyright laws. There is no non-profit exception to copyright laws. Giving attribution to the creator does not give you the right to redistribute their work.

Can I play music on my Spotify podcast?

Spotify's Music + Talk format brings together music and spoken-word content to create a unique format that combines full songs and commentary together into one podcast episode. Creators are able to use Anchor to add any of the 70 million songs in Spotify's library to their podcasts .

Can I use copyrighted music on a podcast?

It's legal to play copyrighted music on a podcast so long as you've cleared the rights or are following Fair use.

How can I legally use copyrighted music?

Put simply; you can legally use music in videos if you have permission from the person, people, or company who owns the rights. Since the publisher and the record label usually hold music rights, you'll have to get permission from both. From the publisher or composer, you'll get a synchronization (or sync license).

How do I get permission to use a song in a podcast?

How to Obtain the Rights to Use MusicWrite and compose the music yourself.Have written permission from the artist or owner.Use royalty free music.Buy the rights to the music you want to use.

How do you avoid copyright on a podcast?

So, what are some ways to avoid the liability? Your first option is to license the copyrighted material you want to use, meaning you pay for permission to use the work. When we say licensing, most podcasters probably think music....Methods of Avoiding Copyright InfringementAdobe Stock Music.PremiumBeat.Soundstripe.

Can you use commercial music in a podcast?

But can you use commercial music in your podcast? If you have cleared worldwide commercial rights from the artist, publishers, and any other rights holders, yes. If you have purchased and/or agreed it with a Royalty Free licence, yes.

Can I use YouTube clips in my podcast?

0:325:41Youtube Clips in Podcast EpisodesYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOn what the nature of the use in the podcast. Is you see here in the United States at least we haveMoreOn what the nature of the use in the podcast. Is you see here in the United States at least we have the fair use exception or defense to a copyright infringement claim.

How do you upload music to a podcast?

Here's a brief outline of how they work:you create an account with a podcast hosting service.you enter all your podcast's details, and your show is born.you upload your audio (episodes) to your hosting account.they store those audio files.they organise them all into a podcast 'feed' that people can subscribe to.More items...•

Can you use copyrighted music on Anchor?

If your podcast is on Anchor, replace the pieces in violation with tracks from Smart Background Music (within the app). We have pre-cleared the rights so you don't need to worry about it. License the music from the copyright owners (labels for sound recordings, publishers or collecting societies for compositions).

What is the right to play a song on a podcast?

The right to reproduce and distribute copies of a musical composition is known as a “mechanical license.”.

What is podcast format?

The podcast format gives just about anyone the ability to put out content in long form conversations, allowing audiences to enjoy their favorite topics for hours at a time . The huge success of video uploading ...

What is an intro and outro podcast?

Podcasting, of course, technically means a long-form audio recording offered for purchase on iTunes to be downloaded to an audio file playing device. Now the big question, especially for beginner and novice podcasters, is, ...

Do songwriters own copyrights?

In some cases, the songwriter owns both copyrights. For example, if you write a song and record it, you own the copyright in the musical composition and the copyright in the sound recording. But that’s not always true. Usually, these rights are owned by separate people or entities.

Can you use copyrighted music in podcasts?

The simple answer to this question is, “Yes.”. You can use copyright-protected music in your podcast, but you have to pay for the right to do so legally without risking a lawsuit. It’s a fairly safe bet to say that most people understand this.

Can you play a song with copyright?

Under United States copyright law, you can’t play any recording you want, whenever you want, through whatever medium you want. There are rules of the game. When you listen to a song, there are two separate copyrights embedded in that song — the copyright in the musical composition (i.e., the words and music) and the copyright in the sound recording.

What is the biggest place podcasts are consumed?

The biggest place podcasts are consumed, by far, is Apple/iTunes. Then, in distant second, but still with a large listener-base, is Spotify. Both directories are music distribution services too. That means they are wary of anyone playing copyrighted music on a podcast on their platform.

What is fair use in podcasts?

Fair use is a defence you can use if you get in bother for playing copyrighted music in a podcast. It also seems to differ a little, depending on what country you're in. Where a fair use defence might stand up, is if you play a segment of a song for educational, criticism, or commentary purposes. It's much less likely to be valid ...

Can you play a CD in public?

If you still own a CD, take a look at the small print on the sleeve. I guarantee there'll be something around how you can't play it “ in public”. Bottom line is, without an additional license, you wouldn't be allowed to play it in a small shop, let alone stick it on a podcast episode.

Is it legal to play music on podcasts?

There are loads of different ways to get quality music that's totally legal to play on your show. There's free tracks you can use under a Creative Commons license, and you can buy the rights to use Royalty Free music too. Here are our favourite options for finding podcast music that are safe and legal to use.

Can you use top chart music on podcasts?

As a podcaster, finding music you can use for your show can be difficult. Some podcasters throw caution to the wind and use top chart music, risking DMCA’s or other punishment for the sake of ease. It’s not a smart move and can hurt your success in the long run.

Can you use a song as an intro for a podcast?

Unfortunately, using a track as the intro to a podcast will not make a difference as it relates to copyright. Without having paid for a license to the song, using music without permission violates copyright law.

Is it legal to stream music on a podcast?

Is it legal to stream any music I like in a podcast? It is not legal to stream any music that you like during a podcast unless you have the rights to do so. Songs fall under copyright law, and as such, only those who have a license to use them can do so legally.

Article

Today I'm wading into a topic that many other podcasting pundits avoid: the legality of using copyrighted, licensed music in your podcast. But since the law isn’t the focus of Podcast Pontifications, the main thrust of my argument will center on whether or not playing licensed, commercial music during your podcast’s episodes is a good idea.

Transcript

Can you use commercial music in your podcast? Few questions will shut up most podcasting pundits more quickly. But the better questions are "What's the worst that can happen?" and "Will this ever change?"

Is music an emotion?

Now think about how music helped move that moment forward. For a lot of us, music is emotion. Studies of the brain will tell you that your mind reacts in so many different ways to the sound of music. So it's only natural that you would want to take all that magic and sprinkle it over your podcast.

Can you put music on a podcast?

But first, before you jump into your song, tune or jingle, keep in mind the very specific rules that limit what you can and can't do.

Is music intentional in podcasts?

The key takeaway here is that music should always be intentional . If you're not careful, it could turn a good story into a mess. But done well, good music, in the right places, can really make your podcast shine.

Can podcasts be played without music?

It's an important question. And the simple answer is no. Ramtin told us that many great podcasts don't use music at all. But, he adds, in the right place it can add a lot of emotion or an added depth. Here's a good example of a podcast that works without music: Murderous Mary & The Rise of Erwin.

Why do you add music to podcasts?

Adding music to your podcast can give it a distinct brand and character or elevate a particular passage of an episode. Before choosing any music, whether it’s your intro/outro music or otherwise, it’s important to know that you’re not infringing on any copyrights or ignoring any licensing agreements to avoid any potential disputes.

Is it okay to use 10 seconds of music?

The ’10 second rule’ — When using music that’s under copyright it doesn’t matter if you use 10 seconds or 10 minutes, it’s still not allowed. It’s ok as long as I credit the original — Giving attribution, no matter how correct it is, doesn’t get you out of using copyrighted music.

Who composed the podcast Podnews?

Podnews’s podcast contains bespoke music, composed for us by Devaweb, as one example. There are composers everywhere who are eager to produce something for you, even ones oddly called The Benevolent Badger. Use them - or license from a service like songsforpodcasters.com.

Can I use commercial music on podcasts?

You don’t have the right to use any commercial music on your podcast. But it’s fair use! Well…. “Fair use”, or “fair dealings”, is different across the world. It’s also an affirmative defence you use in court, which are normally decided on a case-by-case basis. It’s up to you to prove that your use was fair and not an infringement.

Can you listen to podcasts on Spotify?

You can only hear these shows on Spotify - not on any other platform (so it isn’ t a podcast really) Your listeners can only hear the songs in full if they pay for Spotify Premium. These shows also have plenty of rules about how much talk you’re allowed to have, and where ads can go.

Is the RIAA shutting down podcasts?

The RIAA (who work for US record companies) has shut down podcasts that claimed to have the permission of the artists. It isn’t enough. In most cases, an artist they actually can’t give you permission, since they signed a contract with publishers and record companies. But I’ve bought an APRA mini-licence!

Is there a licence for podcasts in 2021?

The biggest of which: right now, no licences are available. And it’s 2021 already. In February 2021, we spoke with songsforpodcasters.com which offers commercially-available music and a global licence for podcasters. This offers more than 10,000 tracks from independent artists, and licences from as low as $55.

What is music radio creative?

Music Radio Creative go beyond simply helping you choose music for your podcast. They will also work with you to design tailor made intros, outros, transitions, stingers, and jingles. They collaborate with some of the best voice over talent in the world to craft your message into these segments.

How long does it take for music to go out of the public domain?

Music goes out of copyright and into the public domain after a certain amount of years. Usually this follows the death of the artist/copyright holder. That law and time period differs from country to country. 70 years after death is a good ballpark figure.

What is royalty free music?

With Royalty Free music, you buy the license for a piece of podcast music. This entitles you to use it as and when you wish, for the duration of the license. Most one-off music purchases give you a lifetime license. A lot of the newer ‘subscription' services give you a license, as long as you have an active subscription.

Do podcasts have music?

There's no rule saying that you must have music in your podcast. Plenty of good podcasts have no music at all. But, there's no doubt that having your own theme tune adds a layer of identity and professionalism to any show.

Can you buy a song for one payment?

That means you can buy a track for one single payment, and use it forever more. This is great for regular theme tunes that you want to use for months or even years. Beware of licenses like this that have a cap on the number of downloads you're allowed, or the length of time it covers.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9