How to Get Your Music in Podcasts as Background Music (2026)
A podcaster needs 30 seconds of your instrumental for 50 episodes. If the license is simple, you get a check. If it is complicated, they use Epidemic Sound instead. Here is how to make licensing easy and get your music placed.
Tools 4 Music Staff
Tools 4 Music Team
A podcaster needs 30 seconds of your instrumental music for 50 episodes. If the license is simple, they will use your track. If the license is complicated or unclear, they will open Epidemic Sound and find something pre-cleared in two minutes.
That is the fundamental challenge of podcast music licensing. Podcasters are not label executives. They do not know what a master use license is. They do not want to negotiate with three different rights holders. They want music that sounds good, clears without a phone call, and does not get their episode pulled off Spotify when someone's publishing administrator files a claim.
If you can position your music as easy to license with clear terms and reasonable pricing, you have access to a market of several hundred thousand active English-language podcasts. This guide explains the licensing mechanics, where podcasters find music, and how to pitch your tracks directly.
What You Will Learn
- Why podcast music licensing is a unique problem compared to other sync placements
- What types of music podcasters actually need
- Where podcasters find and license music
- How to make your catalog attractive to podcasters
- What to charge for different podcast sizes and uses
- How to pitch your music directly to podcast producers
- What royalties you can collect and from where
Why Podcast Music Is a Different Licensing Problem
When a TV show uses your music, a team of music supervisors, clearance coordinators, and lawyers negotiate the deal. That team knows exactly which rights they need and how to get them.
When a podcast uses your music, it is usually one person: the host, a freelance audio editor, or a part-time producer. They may not know the difference between a sync license and a master use license. They definitely do not want to figure it out on a Friday night before Monday's publish deadline.
This creates a specific problem: licensing friction kills placements. If your track is hard to license, it will not get licensed even if it is perfect for the show.
The Two Rights a Podcast Needs
Sync license (composition rights): Permission to synchronize the music with audio or video content. This covers the underlying song: the melody, lyrics, and chord structure. It is controlled by the publisher or, for independent artists who handle their own publishing, by you.
Master use license (recording rights): Permission to use the specific recording of the song. This covers the actual audio file. It is controlled by the label or, for most independent artists, by you.
For most independent artists who own both their publishing and their masters, you control both rights and can grant both permissions in a single license agreement.
For a full explanation of how these rights work, see our music publishing guide.
The complication arises when a podcaster uses a track that is on a streaming service. Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms do not automatically clear music the way Spotify does for music streams. A podcast episode that uses a song without clearing it can be flagged and removed by any rights holder who files a claim.
What Podcasters Actually Need
Understanding the format helps you position your music correctly.
Theme music: The intro/outro music that plays at the start and end of every episode. This is the highest-value placement: one license, recurring use across potentially hundreds of episodes, ongoing exposure.
Transition music: Short stingers or musical transitions used between segments. Usually 5 to 15 seconds, high production quality expected.
Background beds: Ambient, instrumental music that plays softly under narration or interviews. This is the most common need and the most accessible for a wide range of music styles. Think of documentary-style lo-fi, ambient electronic, jazz, or classical.
Branded sonic elements: A custom sound used for a specific segment (think a news update sound or a listener mailbag jingle). Some podcasters commission these; some find existing music that fits.
Where Podcasters Find Music
Knowing where podcasters source music tells you where to show up.
Royalty-free libraries: Epidemic Sound, Artlist, Musicbed, and AudioJungle are the most commonly used. Podcasters pay a subscription or per-track fee and get blanket licensing for all content they produce. Simple, no rights management required, which is why these services dominate the market.
Podcast-specific libraries: Music Vine, Lickd, and Shutterstock Music offer podcast-oriented licensing models. Lickd in particular focuses on helping podcasters use popular music legally.
Direct artist relationships: Some podcast producers actively seek out independent artists for unique, non-library sounds. This is where pitching directly becomes valuable.
AI-generated music: Tools like Suno, Udio, and Soundraw are increasingly used for podcast background beds. This is a genuine threat to human musicians in the ambient/background category. The competitive advantage for real artists is uniqueness, personality, and the ability to offer a custom version or ongoing relationship.
If a podcaster can get a unique instrumental from you for $75 that no one else in their genre is using, that is more valuable than a generic library track 10,000 other shows have also licensed.
Making Your Music Attractive to Podcasters
Instrumental Versions
If you have commercial releases with vocals, consider creating and distributing instrumental versions. Many artists overlook this. An instrumental version of your best track can sit in your DistroKid or TuneCore catalog as a separate release with its own ISRC code, making it findable and licensable.
Clear Licensing Terms
The biggest barrier to licensing your music to podcasters is not the music: it is unclear rights. If a podcaster cannot figure out from your website whether your music is licensable and at what price, they will not try to find out.
Create a simple licensing page on your artist website or use a service like Songtradr, Music Vine, or Musicbed to host your catalog with pre-set license terms.
At minimum, a podcaster should be able to answer these questions from your website or licensing page without contacting you:
- Is this music available for podcast use?
- How much does a license cost?
- What exactly does the license cover?
- How do they obtain the license?
Easy Pricing and Payment
Price your music in a range podcasters can process without committee approval. A $50 license for a small show does not require the podcaster to justify the expense to anyone. A $500 license might require a conversation. A $5,000 license requires a proposal and approval chain that most indie podcast producers will not go through.
Licensing Models for Podcast Music
| Model | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Royalty-free (one-time fee) | Single payment, perpetual use | Small podcasters who want simplicity |
| Term license | Annual or multi-year fee | Shows that want exclusive use or long-term rights |
| Per-episode license | Small fee per published episode | Larger shows with existing legal infrastructure |
| Creative Commons | Free with attribution | Building audience and discoverability |
| Composer-for-hire | Custom music created specifically for the show | Podcasters who want something truly unique |
Most independent artists do best with a simple royalty-free model: one price, one document, perpetual license for a specific show. Make it easy.
What to Charge for Podcast Music
Podcast licensing is not as standardized as film or TV sync licensing. Prices vary enormously based on show size, use type, and whether the license is exclusive.
Here are realistic ranges based on the market in 2026:
| Show Size | Background bed (non-exclusive) | Theme music (non-exclusive) | Custom composition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000 listeners/ep | $25-$75 | $75-$150 | $200-$500 |
| 1,000-10,000 listeners/ep | $75-$250 | $150-$500 | $500-$2,000 |
| 10,000-100,000 listeners/ep | $250-$1,000 | $500-$2,500 | $1,500-$5,000 |
| 100,000+ listeners/ep | $1,000-$5,000 | $2,500-$10,000+ | Negotiated |
These are starting points, not fixed rates. Exclusivity (only this show can use this track in this genre), episode count, term length, and whether the show generates revenue all affect the final number.
The PRS for Music (UK) publishes a rate card for production music in podcasts that provides a useful benchmark. If you are a UK-based artist or licensing to UK-based shows, PRS for Music's rates give you documented reference points.
For reference on how sync licensing works across different media types, see our sync licensing fee calculator.
How to Pitch Your Music to Podcasters
Pitching podcast producers directly is an underused channel. Most artists never try it. Most podcasters have never been approached by an artist with clear licensing terms.
Step 1: Find podcasts in your genre or subject area. Search Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podchaser for shows that match the mood and genre of your music. A lo-fi jazz producer should look at mindfulness, business, and productivity podcasts. An ambient electronic artist should look at storytelling, true crime, and documentary-style shows.
Step 2: Listen to an episode. Note whether they use music, what style it is, and whether it sounds like library music. If they already have custom music that fits perfectly, move on. If the music sounds generic or they are not using much background music, that is an opportunity.
Step 3: Find the right contact. Most podcasts list an email in the show notes or on their website. Some have a "contact" page. For larger shows, look for a producer credit. The person who handles audio is the person who chooses the music.
Step 4: Send a short pitch.
Subject: Background music for [Podcast Name] - licensing inquiry
Hi [Name],
I am [your name], an independent [genre] artist. I produce instrumental music that gets used for podcast backgrounds and theme music. I think my sound could work well for [Podcast Name] because [specific reason: reference an episode or segment].
Here is a short playlist of tracks available for podcast licensing: [private SoundCloud or Spotify link]
My licensing terms are simple: a one-time flat fee for a perpetual, non-exclusive license for your show. Prices start at [$XX] for background use. I can also create custom music if you want something unique to your show.
Happy to send more tracks or adjust for your specific needs.
[Name] [Website / licensing page link] [Email]
Short. Specific. With clear licensing terms stated upfront.
Collecting Royalties from Podcast Plays
This is where podcast music gets complicated, and many artists leave money uncollected.
PRO royalties: In some countries, podcast streaming on certain platforms generates a public performance royalty tracked by PROs. In the US, this is still being contested at the platform level. In the UK, PRS has agreements with some podcast platforms for public performance royalty collection. If you are a member of a PRO, your tracks distributed through licensed podcast platforms may generate small performance royalties.
Mechanical royalties: If a podcast episode is available for download (which most are), downloading constitutes a "reproduction" that should trigger a mechanical royalty for the composition. In practice, mechanical collection from podcast downloads is not systematically enforced for background music, but the right exists.
Direct license income: The most reliable royalty from podcast music is the licensing fee you negotiate upfront. This is the most predictable income stream and the one you can actually control.
For deeper context on sync and licensing income, our music contracts guide explains the agreement structures that protect you.
Common Pitfalls
Unclear rights on your own music. If your track contains samples you did not clear, do not license it to podcasters. A rights holder can file a takedown and the episode gets removed, damaging the podcaster's show and your relationship with them.
Overly complicated license agreements. A four-page legal agreement sent to a solo podcast producer who just wants to use your track as a background bed is going to result in them using Epidemic Sound instead. Keep it to one page with clear terms.
Pricing yourself out. A $1,000 license for background music for a 2,000-listener podcast will almost never close. Match your price to the size of the show and the type of use.
Not protecting your work before sending it. If you pitch your music directly to podcasters, send a private streaming link, not a downloadable file. Once you agree on terms and receive payment, send the audio file. See our guide on protecting your beats before sending them out for the broader protection principle.
Podcast Music Pitch Email Template (Simple License Included)
For artists who want to include licensing terms directly in their pitch:
Subject: Podcast music for [Show Name] - simple license available
Hi [Name],
I create instrumental [genre] music licensed for podcasts. I listened to your recent episode on [topic] and think my ambient/[genre] tracks would work well under your [narration/interviews/segments].
Demo playlist: [URL]
My standard podcast license for a show your size:
- One-time fee: [$XX]
- Non-exclusive, perpetual use in [Show Name] only
- All rights cleared (I own master and publishing)
- No episode count limit
If you want custom music created specifically for your show, I can do that for [$XX].
Just reply and I will send the agreement and payment link.
[Name / email / website]
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need a publishing administrator to license my music to podcasters? A: Not necessarily. If you own your master and publishing, you can grant both the sync and master use license directly. A publishing administrator like Songtrust, DistroKid Publishing, or TuneCore Publishing can help collect any performance royalties that flow from licensed uses, but the licensing deal itself can be handled directly between you and the podcaster.
Q: What if a podcaster is using my music without a license? A: You have the right to request they remove it or pay for a retroactive license. Contact them directly first with a polite note explaining the rights issue. If they do not respond, you can file a takedown through the podcast hosting platform. Most podcast hosts have a DMCA process. The goal should be getting paid, not just having the episode removed.
Q: Can I license a track that is already on Spotify and Apple Music? A: Yes, your distribution to streaming platforms does not affect your ability to separately license the recording for podcast use. Your distributor's agreement covers streaming distribution rights. You retain the right to separately license the recording for sync and podcast use.
Q: What is the best platform to list my music for podcast licensing? A: Music Vine, Musicbed, and Audiio are podcast-friendly licensing platforms. Epidemic Sound and Artlist focus on subscription models that favor volume. For direct artist licensing, your own website with a clear licensing page is the most flexible option.
Q: Should I create music specifically for podcast licensing? A: If you produce instrumental music in ambient, lo-fi, jazz, or documentary-style genres, a dedicated podcast licensing catalog makes sense. Creating 10 to 15 loops and short pieces designed for podcast use, priced affordably, and listed on a licensing platform can generate meaningful passive income with minimal ongoing effort.
This week, create a private SoundCloud playlist of your five best instrumental or ambient tracks and write the pricing terms you would offer a small podcast. Then find three podcasts in a genre that fits your sound and send your pitch. The worst outcome is no response. The best outcome is a $200 licensing fee and a recurring relationship with a show that puts your name in front of their audience every episode.
For more on sync licensing broadly, read our guide to creating music for sync licensing. For event and wedding licensing, see our music licensing for events guide.