Pros and Cons of Podcast Music

What is your favorite type of music?  I love R&B and as a matter of fact there was an R&B concert at The Grand featuring the Spinners, the Manhattans and the Legendary Intruders last month.

 

Today I want to talk about the pros and cons of using music in a podcast and if you’re thinking about  adding music to your podcast, today’s episode is for you.

 

Music can be a great way to set the tone for your podcast and make it more engaging for your listeners. But with so many options out there, it can be hard to know where to start.

 

First, you’ll want to decide what type of music you’re looking for. Do you want something upbeat and energetic, or something more mellow and calming? 

 

 

Do you want something that’s in the same genre as your podcast, or something completely different? Once you’ve narrowed down your options, you can start looking for the perfect track.

 

Just like in last week’s episode where I talked about narrowing your niche, you need to narrow down your choices of music.

 

When it comes to finding music for your podcast, there are a few different options. You can purchase royalty-free music from a variety of online sources, or you can create your own music using a digital audio workstation. If you’re looking for something more unique, you can even commission a composer to create a custom track for your podcast at sites such as Fiverr..

 

Once you’ve found the perfect audio track, you’ll want to make sure you’re following all the necessary copyright laws. Make sure you have the proper licenses and permissions to use the music in your podcast. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and contact the copyright holder for permission even for music such as Happy Birthday or the Star Spangled Banner.

 

Choosing the right music for your podcast can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little bit of research and creativity, you can find the perfect track to set the tone for your podcast and make it more engaging for your listeners.

 

 

Music for a Podcast 

Similar to a movie, podcast music sets the tone for your show. It’s a great way to engage listeners, keep segments separate, and to set your podcast apart. Unique show music, when done well, will make your show one-of-a-kind.

There are generally three types of short clips of music played throughout a podcast: Intro, Segment Change, and Outro. All three of these types are sometimes also called bumper music.

Intro Music

Intro music plays at the beginning of your show, and often fades out as the voices of the show start to fade in. 

Intro music is especially important. “It’s the first piece of audio that the listener is going to hear, so it’s important to solidify a distinct mood and sound to represent that particular podcast show or song.”  

Outro Music

Outro music is the track that plays at the end of the episode. Usually it’s played over the end credits or the last few seconds. For outro music, you want to choose a song that slowly fades away with sounds that gives the listener a feeling of closure, and they’ll know the episode is done.

Transitional / Segment Change Music

Most podcasts have at least intro and outro music, but some also incorporate segment change music, too. Segment change music signifies that you’ve finished one segment and are moving onto the next as music is an easy way to mark a transition. 

Transitional or Segment change music works best for shows that have multiple parts that are clearly defined within one show.

Sourcing Music Options

Most songs on the radio are protected by copyright, which means that you can’t use the majority of popular music – not even a five second clip. When you’re putting music in your podcast, you need to make sure it’s music that you have the rights to use.

There are also pros and cons about using background music which depending on the shows format can be either soothing or irritating.

 

Sites for Royalty Free Music

 

1. SoundCloud
2. Free Music Archive
3. Jamendo
4. ccMixter
5. Incompetech
6. AudioJungle
7. FreeSound
8. Bensound
9. YouTube Audio Library
10. Bandcamp

 

Pros:

– Music can help set the tone and mood of a podcast, making it more engaging and entertaining for listeners.

– Music can help break up long sections of dialogue and provide a more dynamic listening experience.

– Music can help to create a more professional sounding podcast.

 

 

Cons:

– Music can be expensive to license, depending on the type of music used.

– Music can be distracting and take away from the content of the podcast.

– Music can be difficult to find and use in a podcast, especially if you are a novice in editing your episodes.

 

To learn more about starting a podcast, make sure you listen every week to the Delaware Blogger Podcast and please subscribe and leave a review too!