You’ll often need good quality background music, jingles or sound effects when starting a podcast.
It’s critical to look for royalty-free licenses when using music for podcasts (and YouTube videos) so that you don’t have to pay per use or download.
All of these companies offer royalty-free tracks, but the price of the initial license varies. You’ll find most range from $20-30 to just a text credit and a link.
They usually let you sort by genre, mood, tags, and other methods to filter and find the style you’re looking for.
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Shutterstock
Shutterstock just announced an unlimited music subscription for $149/month.
They specifically say you can use it for podcasting, business, and social media – so pretty much anything.
They also have single track licenses for $49 that you can use for podcasting.
Incompetech
Incompetech is home to thousands of Creative Commons tracks that are free to use for a link. Paid for licenses are also available if you don’t want to give credit.
You will no doubt have heard many of these as the site is one of the most popular for free music.
Silverman Sound Studios
Silverman Sound Studios has very high-quality production, and 100% free to use music for the price of a credit. They make it easy to filter and preview tracks to find exactly what you’re looking for.
You can also get a non-attribution license for a small fee.
Free Music Archive
Free Music Archive collects music from hundreds of artists around the world.
If you’re looking for free podcast intro music, there are thousands of tracks to browse through if you have the time.
And as the name suggests, they’re all totally free to use.
Audionautix
Audionautix has lots of good background music that is free to use with a credit.
The music is good music, but the interface isn’t the best for searching.
Purple Planet
Purple Planet has loads of tracks that are easy to search.
They also do bundles which can be very handy if your podcast has an ongoing or seasonal theme.
The tracks are free for a credit, or you can pay a small fee for a license.
Icons8
Icons8 have just started a free music resource where they have a handful of 320kbps MP3 tracks available for the price of a link.
If you want WAV files and no attribution requirements, you’ll have to pay $20/month.
Free PD
Free PD hosts a good amount of music that is totally free to use however you like, as it’s all in the public domain and copyright free.
Audiojungle
Audiojungle deals only with paid licenses, but if you have the budget there are hundreds of thousands of tracks, jingles and sound effects available.
Pond5
Pond5 is also a paid-for license but is worth looking at if you have a decent budget. Very nice interface for finding the exact style you need. I know a lot of people use this for YouTube videos.
ZapSplat
ZapSplat has thousands of free sound effects all grouped out logically so you can find what you need quickly. Credit required, or you can use as many sounds as you like for a small monthly or annual fee.
Freesound
Freesound is a bit hit and miss as it doesn’t appear to be curated. But if you have the time you can unearth some real treasures. Free to use with a credit.
Soundbible
Soundbible a lot of decent sound effects to be found here. Free with credit.
Final Thoughts
There are tons of other music and sound effect sites out there, with new ones popping up all the time. When you get music from any of them, just be sure to take a close look at the license so you don’t find yourself in trouble later.
I also wrote another resource on podcast music for Buzzsprout if you want more ideas.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a professional intro, outro, or bumper, Music Radio Creative specializes in exactly this.
