Looking for information on Starting a Podcast?
Every Tuesday, join Podcaster, Blogger, and Affiliate Marketer, Dilip Kumar on The Podcasting University, as he brings to you implementable Podcasting tips about starting your own podcast so that, irrespective of who you are and what your knowledge about podcasting is, you can start a podcast.
The difference between a successful podcast and a failed podcast is about starting right. Here you will learn how to start your podcast the right way in simple and understandable language. Listen to fellow podcasters who have been through the grind and learn from their experiences. The Podcasting University is your complete guide to starting a podcast.
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Are you better off scripting every word of your podcast—or just working off a rough outline?
In this quick Monday Mic Check episode, we’re tackling one of the most common questions new podcasters face: what’s the better approach—writing a full script or recording impromptu using a podcast outline?
You’ll learn the pros and cons of both methods, the formats each one suits best, and a simple hybrid approach that gives you the best of both worlds. Whether you’re looking for polish, personality, or something in between, this episode will help you find the workflow that fits your voice.
Tune in for a fast, practical answer that’ll shape how you prepare every future episode.
More Information
You can find more information including the show notes and the resources at https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/176
Send in your questions using one of the below options:
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Join my FREE 10-day eCourse to learn how to start a podcast at https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/free-guide
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Creating a podcast is not just about delivering information. It’s about creating an immersive listening experience and good podcast music transitions can elevate the experience your show provides.
One of the most common questions new podcasters ask is whether they should use background music for podcast episodes. The short answer? It depends.
Background music can enhance your content. It can also establish your brand and elevate the mood.
But if misused, it can distract and confuse your audience.
This episode explores the strategic use of background music for podcast episodes.
We’ll look at when to use it, when to skip it, and how to do it right.
Should You Add Background Music to Your Podcast?
Before diving into the how-to, it’s important to tackle a foundational decision. Should your podcast include background music?
This isn’t just a stylistic choice. It influences how your audience perceives and engages with your content.
Music can shape mood, support transitions, and even define your brand identity. But depending on your content format and the expectations of your listeners, it might not always be necessary or effective.
Understanding the role of music in your specific type of podcast is key. It helps you make the right decision.
Strategic Value of Music
Background music can serve many functions. It creates an emotional tone and supports your narrative.
It also makes your podcast more memorable. For example, a storytelling podcast might benefit from music that enhances dramatic moments.
A business podcast, however, might only need a professional intro and outro. Some formats, such as true crime or fiction, rely heavily on music to build atmosphere.
Others, like instructional or interview podcasts, might use it sparingly or not at all. Consider what kind of experience you want your listeners to have.
Let that guide your decision.
When Background Music Adds Value
When used correctly, background music can elevate your podcast from good to great. It creates an atmosphere and signals changes in pacing.
It adds a layer of polish that makes your show feel more intentional and engaging. Think of it as the score to your story.
It should complement, not compete with, your content. Whether you’re aiming for a lighthearted tone or a deeply immersive narrative, music can play a significant supporting role.
But knowing exactly where and how to apply it makes all the difference. Here are the areas where background music can make a positive impact:
Podcast Intro Outro Music
These are the bookends of your podcast. A signature tune at the beginning and end of each episode helps establish brand identity.
It sets the tone for the content ahead. It also provides a familiar cue for listeners.
Music for Segment Transitions
Podcast episodes often cover multiple segments or topics. Short music cues between these parts help guide the listener.
They also keep the content organized. It gives your show a professional and polished feel.
Subtle Music Under Dialogue
In some cases, a soft instrumental track beneath your speech can help create mood. It also helps maintain listener engagement.
The key here is subtlety. The music should never compete with your voice.
Keep the volume low. Keep the arrangement simple.
When to Avoid Background Music
While background music can enhance a podcast, it isn’t always the right choice. In certain situations, adding music can actually detract from the listening experience.
It might clash with your content. It could confuse your message or distract from important details.
The decision to leave out music should be just as intentional as the decision to include it. There are moments where silence or minimalism serves the story better.
Recognizing these scenarios can help you produce a clearer, more focused podcast. Here are some instances where it’s usually best to avoid background music:
During the Main Discussion
Your audience tunes in for your voice and your content. If music plays under your primary dialogue, it can become a distraction.
This is especially true if it’s too loud or contains vocals. The clarity of your message should always come first.
In Technical or Serious Topics
For episodes that are focused on deep discussions, education, or serious subject matter, background music can sometimes feel out of place. It may reduce the gravity of the topic.
It can also confuse the tone.
When Licensing Is Unclear
If you’re not sure about the legal rights to a piece of music, don’t use it. Unauthorized music use can lead to your podcast being taken down.
It could even result in legal action. Always use royalty-free podcast music or, properly licensed tracks to stay safe.
Podcast Music Best Practices – Things to keep in mind!
Once you’ve decided to use music, the next step is making it work in your favor. The way you integrate music can significantly impact how your message is received.
It’s not just about inserting tracks here and there. It’s about enhancing the narrative and flow of your content without overshadowing it.
Strategic sound design involves thoughtful volume control, mood alignment, and consistency across episodes. Even small touches like fades and instrumental choices can shape the overall tone of your show.
Done right, music becomes a subtle yet powerful co-host. It supports your storytelling.
Here are some tried-and-tested best practices:
Keep Volume Low
Always keep music in the background. Literally.
The volume should be low enough that it doesn’t compete with your speech. If listeners have to strain to hear you, the music is doing more harm than good.
Match the Mood
Choose music that reflects the tone of your podcast. A light-hearted podcast might use upbeat tracks.
A more serious one might opt for calm, ambient music. Your selection should enhance, not confuse, the message.
Maintain Consistency
Using the same tracks for your intro, outro, and transitions builds brand identity. It gives your podcast a sense of rhythm and structure.
Listeners come to recognize and appreciate it.
Use Fades and Ducking
To ensure smooth transitions, use fade-ins and fade-outs or volume ducking. This allows your speech to come forward clearly when needed.
It also prevents jarring volume shifts.
Choose Instrumentals Over Vocals
Avoid tracks with lyrics. Vocals can clash with your speaking voice and distract the listener.
Instrumental music works best for most formats. Lo-fi or ambient styles are especially effective.
Where to find good background music for your podcast?
Finding the right background music for your podcast is crucial for setting the mood and enhancing the listener experience. Here’s a mix of excellent free and paid sources for royalty-free music, presented under different headers for easy navigation:
Free Royalty-Free Music Sources
These platforms offer music that you can use without paying royalties, though most will require attribution (crediting the artist) in your show notes or episode description. Always check the specific license for each track.
YouTube Audio Library
A massive collection of free music and sound effects provided by YouTube for creators. It’s often overlooked but contains a wide variety of genres and moods.
- Pros: Huge selection, easy to search by genre, mood, instrument, and duration.
- Cons: Primarily designed for YouTube videos, so if your podcast is on other platforms exclusively, you still need to ensure the license covers that.
- Licensing: Most tracks are “Creative Commons Attribution,” requiring you to credit the artist.
Pixabay Music
Known primarily for free stock photos and videos, Pixabay also offers an extensive and growing collection of royalty-free music.
- Pros: High-quality tracks, no attribution required for most content (check individual licenses), easy to browse.
- Cons: While extensive, the music library might not be as vast or niche as dedicated music sites.
- Licensing: Most content is under the Pixabay License, allowing free use for commercial and non-commercial purposes without attribution.
Free Music Archive (FMA)
A well-established platform offering a vast array of music under various Creative Commons licenses. It’s curated by WFMU, a non-commercial radio station.
- Pros: Diverse collection, covers many genres, supports independent artists.
- Cons: Requires careful checking of individual Creative Commons licenses, as some may have restrictions on commercial use or modifications. Can be a bit overwhelming due to the sheer volume.
- Licensing: Varies greatly; look for CC BY (Attribution) or CC BY-NC (Attribution-NonCommercial) licenses, and ensure they fit your podcast’s monetization status.
Incompetech
Features a large library of music composed by Kevin MacLeod. His music is widely used across YouTube and podcasts.
- Pros: High-quality, recognizable tracks, organized by genre, mood, and tempo.
- Cons: Attribution is required. Due to its popularity, some tracks might be overused.
- Licensing: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), meaning you must credit Kevin MacLeod.
Bensound
Offers a selection of royalty-free music composed by Benjamin Tissot. It’s popular for its clean interface and well-produced tracks.
- Pros: Easy to navigate, good quality tracks, clear licensing terms.
- Cons: Smaller library compared to some other options. Attribution is generally required for free use.
- Licensing: Free to use with attribution for online projects (like podcasts). Paid licenses are available for commercial projects without attribution or for higher-quality files.
Paid Royalty-Free Music Sources
These platforms offer extensive libraries of high-quality music, often with simpler licensing terms (usually a subscription or one-time payment covers everything). They’re ideal if you need a wider variety, specific moods, or want to avoid attribution.
Epidemic Sound
One of the most popular platforms for content creators, offering a vast library of music and sound effects. Their unique licensing model aims to simplify copyright.
- Pros: Huge, diverse catalog updated regularly, includes SFX, easy to navigate, clear licensing (their subscription covers all necessary rights).
- Cons: Subscription-based, can be pricier for individual projects if you only need a few tracks.
- Pricing: Subscription plans typically start around $9-$15 per month for personal use, with professional/commercial plans at higher tiers.
Artlist
Known for its high-quality, cinematic music curated from independent artists. It offers unlimited downloads with a simple, universal license.
- Pros: Exceptional music quality, user-friendly interface, unlimited downloads with a single license, frequently updated library.
- Cons: Premium pricing (subscription only), might be overkill for very basic podcast needs.
- Pricing: Annual subscription plans, typically starting around $15-$20 per month (billed annually) for music and SFX.
Soundstripe
Another excellent subscription-based platform with a focus on high-quality, curated music from real artists. They offer different tiers based on your usage needs.
- Pros: Diverse and high-quality music library, easy licensing, stem files available for customization, good search filters.
- Cons: Subscription model, may be more than what some smaller podcasters need.
- Pricing: Monthly or annual subscription plans, with different tiers for social creators, freelancers, and teams.
PremiumBeat
A Shutterstock company, PremiumBeat offers exclusive, high-quality music and sound effects. You can purchase tracks individually or via subscription.
- Pros: Very high production quality, curated library, clear and simple licensing options (Standard or Premium licenses).
- Cons: Can be more expensive per track if you’re not using a subscription, smaller library than some competitors.
- Pricing: Pay-per-track options (e.g., around $49 for a Standard license) or subscription plans available.
AudioJungle (Envato Market)
Part of the larger Envato Market, AudioJungle is a marketplace where composers sell their royalty-free music tracks.
- Pros: Very affordable options (tracks starting from $1), vast selection from many different artists, a wide range of styles.
- Cons: Quality can vary widely due to the marketplace model, and licenses can be track-specific, so you need to read them carefully.
- Pricing: Primarily pay-per-track, with prices varying based on the track and license type. Subscription to Envato Elements also includes AudioJungle access.
When choosing, consider your budget, the desired quality and variety of music, and most importantly, the specific licensing terms to ensure you’re legally covered for your podcast’s distribution and monetization.
Conclusion: Make Music Work for You
Background music is a powerful tool for podcasters. But it should be used thoughtfully and strategically.
When used well, it enhances mood, supports transitions, and helps establish your brand. When overused or misapplied, it becomes a distraction.
To use music effectively:
- Be intentional in your choices
- Keep it subtle and low in volume
- Ensure all tracks are properly licensed
- Let your content and your voice take center stage
With a careful approach, background music can transform your podcast. It can create a richer, more engaging experience for your audience..
Should I use background music in my Podcast?
Most Common FAQs about using Background Music for Podcast!
Do I need a license to use music in my podcast, and if so, how do I get one?
Yes, in most cases, you need a license to use music in your podcast. Using copyrighted music without permission can lead to takedowns or legal consequences. To avoid this, use royalty-free music, purchase a license from music libraries, or use music released under Creative Commons with proper attribution.
Where can I find good, affordable, or free background music for my podcast?
You can find quality background music on platforms that offer royalty-free tracks. Some libraries provide free music with attribution, while others offer paid plans for broader usage rights. Look for platforms that specifically mention “podcast-safe” music to ensure compliance.
How do I choose the right background music for my podcast?
Choose music that matches the tone and content of your show. For example, upbeat tracks work well for light or comedic podcasts, while ambient or mellow music fits more serious or narrative-driven content. Avoid music with lyrics during dialogue and prioritize instrumental tracks.
What are the best practices for mixing background music with speech?
Keep the volume low so it doesn’t compete with your voice. Use fade-ins and fade-outs for smooth transitions, and apply ducking techniques to lower the music when you speak. Always test your mix with headphones to ensure clarity and balance.
Should my podcast even have background music, and what are the benefits/drawbacks?
Not every podcast needs background music. It can enhance storytelling, signal transitions, and create a polished feel, but it can also distract if overused or poorly mixed. Consider your audience, format, and content before deciding to include music.
Resources that I recommend
Here are some of the resources that I recommended in this episode and the ones that I recommend in Podcasting.
- Ubersuggest – The Keyword research tool that I recommend
Below are the tools that I recommend for podcasting –
- Acast Podcast hosting – I recommend and use Acast for podcast hosting. I absolutely love their support, simplicity, and their monetization feature. You can even start for FREE!
- Behringer Audio Interface – You will need an audio interface if you are using an XLR microphone. This is my recommended audio interface.
- Zencastr – Zencastr is the easiest option to record interviews, both audio-only and audio+video. This is a must for an interview podcast.
- Audacity – This is the best and the most feature-rich free audio editing software. It gives you a lot of options while editing your interviews.
- Samson Q2U – My recommended microphone
- Tidycal – My recommended calendar and booking solutions
Thank you for joining in
I hope you enjoyed the information that I shared in this episode.
Do subscribe to the show on your favorite podcasting platform in order to stay updated with the latest episodes that I release.
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