Where to Get Music for Podcasts Free of Royalty Issues

Last updated on February 16th, 2023

So we put together this list of resources for getting music for podcasts free of royalties… because far too many shows aren’t taking advantage of what music can bring to the table.

Plus, nothing hurts quite as much as when you’ve created something wonderful and then you find out you don’t have the right to use the music you included. Just ask the Verve.

Podcasting is an exciting technology that enables people to share knowledge, wisdom, and entertainment.  Podcasts are often made with a variety of different equipment such as recording devices and microphones. One very important aspect of podcasting is sound quality.

Music helps to bring out the mood that you are trying to create.  The best part is that you can use free resources to get music rather than spending large sums on purchasing music online. Let’s dive into it.

Podcast Music

If you’re a podcast producer or host, there’s no shortage of places to get music for your show. But if there’s one website you need to know about, it’s Podcast Music.

This site is a great way to find music that fits your podcast and your budget. It has free music, paid music, and all kinds of other options in between—and the prices are pretty reasonable! You can choose a subscription or buying songs one off.

If you’re looking for something specific (like a certain style of song) that can’t be found on the site, they’ll try their best to find it for you at no extra cost.

The only downside to this website is that it can take some time to set up an account and get started with their services. But if you’ve got patience and a little extra time on your hands, this is definitely worth checking out.

YouTube Audio Library

You’ve probably heard of Youtube Audio Library, but you might not know exactly what it is.

Youtube Audio Library is a website where you can download music for your podcast for free. It’s great because there’s a huge selection and the music you find on Youtube Audio Library is usually in the public domain, which means that you don’t have to pay any royalties for using it.

Is the Youtube Audio Library the Best Place to Get Music For Podcasts Free?

If you’re used to living in the Google ecosystem, then Youtube Audio Library might just be the best place to get music for podcasts free. Whereas Google may not have the best podcast app, here they are doing a pretty good job providing quality, free resources.

But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows with this resource. The quality of the music on Youtube Audio Library isn’t always great, and sometimes there aren’t many options available, so if you’re looking for something specific or unique, it’ll be hard to find.

If you’re interested in going ahead with Youtube Audio Library as your primary source of podcast music, here are some tips:

1) Be sure that what you’re downloading will work well with your podcast format (i.e., length and style).

2) Always have an alternative plan in case your first choice isn’t available or doesn’t work out as well as expected.

In short, prepare to spend some time hunting.

Audio Jungle

Audio Jungle is a site that sells royalty-free music and sound effects, and it’s a great resource for podcasters who want to add some professional flair to their podcasts.

Here’s what you need to know about getting music from Audio Jungle:

Advantages:

• You can search by mood or genre, which means you can find exactly what you need.
• There are thousands of tracks available in every style imaginable, so if you’re looking for something specific there’s a good chance it will be available on Audio Jungle.

Disadvantages:

• If your podcast is sponsored by a particular brand or product (like Apple), then using music from Audio Jungle may not be allowed under your terms of sponsorship. Check before purchasing.

Caveat Empor.

Bensound

Bensound is an amazing website for podcasters who are looking to get music for podcasts free of royalty disputes. The site offers a large library of tracks, with different genres and moods to choose from. And pricing on the Bensound for unlimited downloads is pretty reasonable.

However, there are definitely some drawbacks to using Bensound. First, the quality of the tracks isn’t always great. Sometimes you have to go through several pages before finding something that’s high-quality enough for your podcast.

Also, most of the music on Bensound is royalty-free—which means that you don’t have to pay any extra fees if you use those tracks in your podcast.

And finally, if you want exclusive rights over a track so nobody else can use it in their podcasts without asking permission first? That costs money too.

Free Music Archive

The website has a huge collection of songs in different genres, so it’s easy to find something that matches your podcast’s theme. You can also search by mood or genre if you’re feeling desperate.

You can play the music right on their site or download it onto your computer and add it to your podcast later. And if you want to use one of the songs in a commercial project, you don’t have to worry about getting permission—it’s all free. Just make sure you are browsing the creative commons licensed side of the site and not the commercial side.

Like all royalty-free music sites, you’re going to be sifting through some dreck and kissing a lot of frogs to find what you’re really looking for.

Music for Makers

Music for Makers is a great place to find music for podcasts. The site offers a range of options, from free downloads to paid downloads, and it’s easy to use.

But there are some drawbacks: you have to pay $5 for the most popular tracks, and you can only download the songs you want if they’re available as individual files. If you’re looking for a specific type of music or just one song, this won’t work for you.

Still, it’s a great resource that gives you access to thousands of tracks from all genres at no cost.

Melody Loops

Melody Loops is a website that offers free browsing and paid music for podcasting. The site has a wide variety of tracks, including ambient and electronic music, as well as classical music. Many of the tracks are royalty-free, which means you can use them in your podcast without paying any additional fees.

The site has a large selection of genres and styles to choose from, making it easy to find just the right piece for your podcast. The site also features some very creative pieces that can add a unique touch to your podcasts.

Melody Loops has some disadvantages as well. It doesn’t offer detailed descriptions or previews of its tracks; instead, users need to listen to each track before buying it. There’s also no way to preview songs before downloading them from Melody Loops’ website without signing up for an account.

909 Music

This website is a great resource for music producers looking to get some original music for their podcasts. It’s also good for podcasters who want to create their own theme songs.

The site has a very clear, simple interface that allows you to search by genre, mood, and instrumentation (or lack thereof). There are also options for royalty-free music and sound effects. And, that’s because they are selling their music for podcasts free of royalties through SoundCloud.

You can buy music for podcasts free of royalty problems in large packages so you can put the whole concern behind you.

The site offers both free and paid versions of the tracks you download, so it can be a good place to start if you have a limited budget.

One disadvantage of 909 Music is that it doesn’t offer as many tracks as other sources like Pond5 or Audio Network. Another disadvantage is that some of the tracks on the site aren’t available in high-quality formats like WAV or AIFF—which can make them less desirable for professional use.

Overall, 909 Music is a good option if you’re looking for something more affordable than other resources like Audio Network but still want access to high-quality files in multiple formats.

Incompetech

Incompetech is a website that offers original royalty-free music for podcasts. It has a decent-sized library that you can use for your podcast, but it does have some disadvantages.

The first disadvantage is that you have to audibly credit the composer if you want to use the tracks. You can buy a license to avoid this, but if you’re ok with the attribution there’s no charge.

The site owner also runs another completely public domain music site, FreePD.com

MUSOPEN

If you’re looking for free music to use in your podcast, MusOpen has your back.

MusOpen is a nonprofit website that offers a library of copyright-free songs and sound effects, so you can use them in your podcasts without having to worry about getting sued. It’s also one of the best resources for finding music on YouTube.

They offer a Lite membership where you can download 5 audio pieces a day and a paid membership that allows for unlimited downloads, lossless audio, and much more.

Their paid tier is $55.

If you’re looking for something specific—say, an upbeat song with a lively beat—you can search through the site’s collection by genre or mood (like “funky”).

The website also has an option that allows you to download entire albums at once, which is particularly helpful if you’re looking for something specific like an original score from an animated film or TV show.

Finding Your Tunes

There’s no shortage of free music licenses out there for podcasters to find and use. This article should serve as a good lodestar for anyone looking to get started with podcast music, or anyone who wants to discover more about finding and using royalty-free music in podcasts.