Podcast FAQ

how to play music on a podcast

by Shanny Adams Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Select a song, album, playlist, or podcast and then select Play to play it. The music or podcast that is playing appears as a card in the control center. You can use playback functions such as pause, fast forward, and fast rewind.

In general, you need the rights to play music on a podcast. If the music is copyright-protected, you need to pay for the license. A royalty-free music license is most affordable. Many free samples are available under the Creative Commons license.Mar 26, 2020

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. ...

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...

How to use commercial music in your podcast?

There are three main options here:

  1. Looking for one track for a theme tune? In this case, you'll want a lifetime license in exchange for a one-off purchase. ...
  2. Looking for a big range of tracks, loops or effects for regular use? In this case, a subscription license might be better. ...
  3. Custom made podcast music tracks

Can I use copyrighted music in my podcast?

While you may have heard copyrighted music used without permission in other podcasts, even popular podcasts, it is a risk to do so. Podcasting’s “wild west” era has ended. Up until recently, there were not a lot of checks and regulations on copyright infringement but, to be fair, it has never been “okay” to use copyrighted material without permission.

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Can you play music on a podcast legally?

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

How do I put music on my podcast?

0:493:18How to add intro and outro music to your podcast - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSpace there are a couple of ways to do this you can either import audio files from your documentMoreSpace there are a couple of ways to do this you can either import audio files from your document saved computer wherever.

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.

Can you have background music on a podcast?

As much as a great voice is spellbinding to listen to, even if we don't realize it, part of the pleasure often comes from good podcast background music. Good background music for interviews is important but also when the aim of the podcast is to tell a story, or when you're going in-depth on a specific topic.

Do I need a license to play music on my podcast?

It's easy to think that because we hear music on the radio all the time, that it's ok to use music in a podcast.

Can I use music from Spotify on my 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 .

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 long can I play a copyrighted song on podcast?

There is no limit or threshold. There are many rumors and myths about music samples being within fair use for podcasting if the used fragment is less than two seconds (or 3 or 5, it doesn't matter). This is not true. Any usage of protected material can infringe copyrights.

Can I use copyrighted music if I give credit?

As a general rule, you can not use copyrighted music simply by giving credit. You must have permission from the music copyright owner before using music in your content and projects.

Can I use 15 seconds of copyrighted music?

This is one of the most common misconceptions. Unfortunately, this is not true and there is no bright line rule that says a use is an acceptable use as long as you only use 5, 15, or 30 seconds of a song. Any use of copyrighted material without permission is, according to U.S. copyright law, copyright infringement.

How much of a song can I use on a podcast?

There is no limit or threshold. There are many rumors and myths about music samples being within fair use for podcasting if the used fragment is less than two seconds (or 3 or 5, it doesn't matter). This is not true. Any usage of protected material can infringe copyrights.

Should you add music to your podcast?

Good background music in a podcast is very important for many reasons. You see, podcasts are an audio-only format. Your listeners don't see your face and facial expressions or those of your guests, and there are no graphics bouncing around on screen. So you want to provide a full audio experience, which includes music.

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.

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.

How Much Can I Be Sued For?

Generally speaking, you can be sued for an amount of money that you have been deemed to have wrongfully made by using the right protected content. Statutory damages can be as high as $ 150,000 per song.

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 if you're part of a podcast network?

What if you’re part of a podcast network? Notwithstanding, you should still confirm that the company has all of the necessary licenses , especially if it’s a newer podcast network. You don’t want to get slapped with a copyright lawsuit only to find out your podcast network didn’t know what they were doing.

How many parts are there in a song?

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. So a song can be bifurcated into two parts: (1) the musical composition and (2) the sound recording.

What is the 30-second rule?

This means identifying the record company that owns the rights to the master recording and contacting them directly. For example, Sony is Billy Joel’s record label. Let’s circle back to the myth of the 30-second rule. The most popular content hosting services handle millions of uploads every day.

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 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, ...

What is the role of music in podcasts?

Without the aid of any fancy video effects, like slow motion and zoom to express your message, music plays a major role in conveying your brand’s identity. With some simple royalty-free background music to gently highlight your voice, your podcast will be just as interesting and engaging to your audience as ...

Can you use the same song as the intro in Outro?

Just the same as the Intro music, your listeners will also connect with the Outro music as it slowly fades in while you’re wrapping up the episode and wishing your listeners well. The Outro music can easily use the same track as the Intro, however, you might consider this as a ripe opportunity and get creative by using a different song at the closing.

Is intro music necessary for Facebook ads?

By revealing your Intro music, you will definitely be spreading brand awareness, but is it really necessary? No. It really isn’t necessary and here’s why: You’re running an Ad Campaign, which is the best way to attract newcomers. Let the ad campaign work on its own. See this as another opportunity to be creative and choose new music that will enhance the campaign's performance and spice up the brand along the way. Whether the ad is a success or not, your branded Intro music will remain untouched and pure in its purpose. By attracting new listeners with a successful ad campaign, now you can allow the power of your program’s Intro music make its first impression as you initially intended.

Can you pay for paid promotion?

Obviously, with Paid Promotions, you can pay to promote your brand on other outlets. Ideally, you can also accept payment from outside sources for ad placement in your program’s commercial break as a “Paid Promo.” Regarding the latter, when a business pays you to include their promotion in your program, they will also be able to provide you with the promotion itself. The promotion they have prepared should already have legally licensed background music for commercial purposes. It is important for you to verify with your client that the music used in the promo will not risk being copy-striked under your brand. Just in case, it’s always good to create a buffer-zone between your paid promos and your commercial breaks. By playing a piece of music that routinely announces the commercial break as a separation from your content, you can create a clear partition that may help prevent any potential legal issues should they arise.

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. Acquiring the rights to use a song usually means having to pay the copyright holder either in a single payment (royalty-free) or pay per play (royalties). If you use a song that you do not have the right to use, you could face a DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) takedown request and could even face a potential lawsuit if you fail to comply with the takedown.

Do I need to have the rights to the music I use in my podcast?

Yes, you do need the right to use music in your podcast. There are rare occasions where you can use music such as in the case where artists release their music under copyright-free publications. There is also something called Creative Commons (CC) licensing, but comes with specific requirements and limitations. In those cases, you can use the music without payment or issues with copyright as long as you comply with the strict requirements. That said, you will NOT find mainstream music under either of those licensing types, and artists offering them will be few and far between.

What if I only use a track in my podcast as an intro?

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.

Are there any good, affordable options to find music for my podcast?

One of the best places for high-quality, affordable royalty-free music is Epidemic Sound. Tens of thousands of tracks, all available for one monthly subscription price. No limitations. No royalties. Take your podcasting music (and sound effects) up to the next level and impress your listeners!

Can I use just a small part of a song without issue?

Generally, no, however, the line does start to blur slightly. In copyright law, there is a concept called fair use. If you can prove that using the song falls under fair use, by either making it transformative through commentary, criticism, or parody, then it may be allowed. Fair Use is a complicated concept, but if you are using a small part of a song, such as a particular line or a sound, it could be okay. When in doubt, leave it out!

What if I have listeners in different countries?

Many podcast hosting services, Spotify and website hosts also operate out of the US. As such, while different countries do have slightly different local laws , most services operate with the US rules in mind.

How to get music on podcast?

In order to get the right to play music on your podcast, you will need to acquire the right to do so. This means paying through a licensing service. Many mainstream labels offer packages to be able to license an artist song, but it can cost tens of thousands of dollars. This is often prohibitively expensive for the majority of podcasts. Instead, you can look to a service like Epidemic Sound. We offer tens of thousands of songs for a very low monthly subscription. With Epidemic Sound, you get full access for unlimited play and streams with NO royalties. So, whether your podcast gets 10 listeners or 100,000, you only pay your monthly subscription.

How Can I Buy Commercial Podcast Intro Music?

To me, it's worthwhile paying a little extra to license podsafe commercial music.

What are the Best Places to Buy Podcast Intro Music?

Here's where we get our music. Just to let you know, we have a partner deal with each, so we get a small commission if you use them. But, don't worry, we signed up for that because we love them all, and use them in our own work. They're great!

Where Can I Find Free Podcast Intro Music?

It is possible to get podcast intro music for free, but, being free, that music is going to be used on a lot of other podcasts.

What Kind of Music Am I Allowed to Use?

It's your duty to always make sure you have permission to use whatever music you play on your podcast. Generally, there are 3 ‘podsafe' options available to you.

What is Envato elements?

Envato Elements is the subscription service from long-time royalty free asset marketplace, Envato. They're behind some of the biggest creative marketplaces on the web, of which Audiojungle is the audio showpiece.

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.

How much does Storyblocks cost?

You'll find something in there to suit the mood and tone of any podcast series or episode. For the monthly fee (around $15) you can download as many tracks as you like and use them forever.

What is Pex scanning for?

In November 2019, we revealed a company called Pex which is automatically scanning podcasts for unauthorised music. The company is already successfully being used on social media.

What is fair use?

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. If you’ve got that far, you’ve already spent a lot of money in legal costs.

Is there a podcast music license?

Podnews looked at the details in full, and there are many caveats. The biggest of which: right now, no licences are available. And it’s 2021 already.

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.

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.

Does the Australian collection agency licence cover music recordings?

Nah, mate: yeah, nah. This Australian collection agency licence doesn’t cover use of music recordings. What a rort! These blokes aren’t fair dinkum! (etc)

Can you talk over the intro on Spotify?

You need to chop your show up into talky bits, then tell Spotify where a song goes. No talking over the intro.

Does Your Podcast Need Copyrighted Music to Be Good?

This is a question worth asking yourself. If your show doesn't open with Bohemian Rhapsody or Welcome to the Jungle, will it still be good? Will your podcast really live or die on this factor?

Will Podcasts Playing Copyrighted Music Have Limited Audiences?

The biggest place podcasts are consumed, by far, is Apple/iTunes. Then, in distant second, but still with a large listener-base, is Spotify.

What questions do podcast owners ask?

Then, the owners of the song will want answers to questions like, “how many times will it be played?”, and “where will it be available?” As you can imagine, these questions are virtually impossible to answer in the case of podcasting.

How long after a song is published should you take it as gospel?

This is another tricky one, because it varies from country to country. 75 years after a song was published, or 70 years after the death of the artist, are two criteria we hear regularly. You should never take these as gospel. These laws can be fluid and change year upon year depending on what's about to go out of copyright (and who currently earns from it).

What is another defence that's been touted in the past?

Another defence that's been touted in the past is, “but I bought the CD!”.

What is accidental inclusion in podcasts?

There's an Incidental Inclusion defence for when you've accidentally recorded some music in the background of your podcast. Say you're recording an interview in a coffee shop or outside a music venue and you capture part of a song as actuality – you'll likely be excused as you aren't setting out to record it specifically for personal gain via your podcast.

Where does fair use defence stand up?

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 if you're pulled up for playing copyrighted music as your podcast theme tune.

How can music enhance podcasts?

Are you looking for a theme? Something to build the sonic identity of your show? Music can enhance podcasts by creating that recognition and/or mood. Those in turn will elevate your content. There are many sources of music available out there, and you have to determine what type of music or genre will serve you best.

What is interstitial music?

The uses are endless, from theme to intro and outro bumpers. Interstitial music gives pause to color an emotion, or transition your story with impact. It adds drama and has the power to embellish the listener’s experience.

Why are the terms of music licensing so important?

Music Publishers will grant certain rights, or clearances, to use the music in your productions . These can be negotiated. Basically, for podcasts, you want to ensure you have a few primary rights.

Who pays the royalties for music?

Now YouTube, Facebook and others are paying those performance royalties. Businesses like bars, convention centers, restaurants, hotels, and amusement parks pay annual performance blankets to the PROs. Radio and TV outlets pay them as well, traditionally for music in commercials and programming. This is all part of the taming of the wild frontier known as the internet. From billion-dollar companies to small podcasts, music licensing is a part of doing business.

Can commercial artists work on-going?

Frankly, in most instances commercial artists will not work for on-going content. New, up-and-coming artists represent a terrific resource, assuming they are the right fit and are willing to work with you. Again, regardless of the circumstances, be sure to document any permission in writing.

Is there new music on Latin records?

There’s generally no new music, and it might be that same guitarist on this Latin record as on that jazz record. Another option is to look into commercial artists. However, most will be very expensive and time consuming — if you can negotiate the rights at all.

Do you need permission to synchronize music?

You must get the rights to synchronize it into your recorded program. This can include music from an artist that you might be doing a story about — you still need permission! If you are promoting an artist, most labels, managers, and publishers will welcome the publicity and probably allow this.

How long can you use copyrighted music?

A common misconception around copyrighted music is that it’s OK to use it as long as you use 30 seconds or less. Unfortunately, this is not true. It doesn’t matter if you use one second or an entire song, if you have not secured the rights to use a piece of copyrighted media, you are not allowed to use it in any form.

What is the best advice for copyrighted audio?

The use of copyrighted media can be a slippery slope, and the best advice is to purchase a license from a stock audio website. This will ensure you that any audio files you use in your podcast will be legally obtained.

What is fair use in podcasts?

Fair use is the legal principle that the public is entitled to freely use portions of copyrighted materials for the purpose of commentary and criticism. While this is true, it does not apply to freely using copyrighted material in your podcast in any way you wish.

What does it mean when a work is in the public domain?

A work is in the public domain if the copyright has expired or if the artist has dedicated their work to the public domain. Before using any media you believe to be in the public domain, make sure to do your due diligence in confirming this is the case.

What is the first option to license music?

Licensing music and audio. Your first option is to license the rights to a piece of music or sound. Basically, licensing requires you to purchase the permission to use a piece of copyrighted material.

What is the myth about podcasts?

Myth #3: The nonprofit rule. Another popular myth is that as long as your podcast isn’t available to the general public, and doesn’t make you any money, then you are free to use whatever media you wish. This is also not true.

What is Creative Commons?

Creative Commons is an open licensing standard that allows creators of content to share their work under clear and transparent terms. This means that artists are able to make their work available at no cost to use, so long as you follow the rules set by the artist. Assets under creative commons will usually break down how you can and can’t use the work (i.e. free to use, not-for-profit only, requires attribution). As long as you follow the rules set forth in the creative commons license, you are free to use this type of music and media.

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