Do you ever think about how you can best connect with listeners?
You recorded the episode. You poured your efforts into making sure your tone and inflection reflect your message.
But just your raw audio doesn’t sound good enough.
What you need is the right background music for podcast shows. It acts as the perfect support without stealing the spotlight from what you’re actually saying.
This guide will walk you through everything, from choosing the right tracks to seamlessly integrating them so your podcast shines.
I’ll also recommend free and paid platforms where you can download your podcast music.
Do Podcasts Have Background Music?
Yes, most great podcasts use some form of background music. The right music moves listeners and helps you achieve the impact you want.
Here’s why you should use background music in your podcast:
- Sets the tone: Music is a great way to give listeners emotional cues about what to expect.
- Improves listener experience: It keeps your content dynamic, breaking up speech-heavy sections and preventing monotony.
- Supports transitions: Music signals changes between segments and topics, without abrupt cuts.
- Builds brand identity: Every podcast needs a recognizable brand. Using the same theme music across episodes creates the perfect opportunity for that.
- Enhances memory: Music improves memory recall, so listeners remember your message better.
- Conveys professionalism: Thoughtful use of podcast music brings up your production value, making your show feel polished.
- Engages emotions: Different kinds of music evoke different feelings, which deepens the listener’s connection.
7 Kinds of background music for podcast edit
When you’re editing your podcast, understanding the different types of music you can use is helpful to pick the right one for the right moment:
- Instrumental music: Vocal-free tracks that are good for talking segments.
- Ambient music: Atmospheric sounds that set a subtle mood throughout segments.
- Lo-fi beats: Casual, steady rhythms perfect for relaxed conversations.
- Cinematic orchestral: Dramatic scores for storytelling or true crime shows.
- Electronic and synth-based: Energetic, modern sounds ideal for tech or business podcasts.
- Acoustic and folk: Warm, intimate tracks great for personal growth or lifestyle talk shows.
- Jazz and smooth: Sophisticated and conversational tones fitting discussion content.
4 Good Background Music for Podcast Types
Good background music for your podcast matches the vibe of your content. Different genres bring different moods.
Upbeat tracks bring energy, soft melodies invite reflection, and minor key tunes can heighten tension or empathy.
Complement your podcast’s theme or emotional goals by:
- Identifying what feeling you want listeners to have during each segment.
- Aligning the tempo and energy of the music to your speaking pace.
- Avoiding overly complex or intrusive songs can distract your audience.
1. Calm background music for podcast
Calm background music is perfect when you want listeners to pause and reflect. When paired with slow speech or personal insights, calm music creates a serene atmosphere.
Use it during coaching episodes, meditation content, or any segment calling for stillness and focus.
Recommended calm music:
- “Peace of Mind” on Incompetech
- “Peaceful Ambient Reflections” on Pixabay Music
2. Background music for podcast chill
Chill background music strikes a balance between calmness and upbeat energy. It helps you create a safe space for strong conversations and good connections.
Ideal for laid-back interviews or casual chats, it keeps the mood friendly and accessible.
Recommended chill tracks:
- “Chill” on Envato
- “Cool Intro” on Incompetech
3. Soft background music for podcast
Soft background music works wonders for intimate, vulnerable moments in your podcast. Soft, gentle instruments create a comfortable “sonic blanket” for listeners to feel close to your message.
Use it when sharing personal stories or life wisdom.
Recommended soft music:
- “Emotional piano – Tender Moments” on Pixabay Music
- “Thoughtful” on Free to Use
4. Sad background music for podcast
Sad background music isn’t just a downer. It suits storytelling around loss, challenges, or transformation by validating listeners’ feelings.
Sad music provides depth and space for reflection in those heavier moments.
Recommended sad music:
- “Deep Sadness” on Free to Use
- “Sad Piano Background Music” on Pixabay Music
10 Background Music for Podcast Download Sites
Finding high-quality background music for your podcast can feel overwhelming with so many options out there. Thankfully, there’s a range of platforms that offer legal, hassle-free access to tracks.
From fully free selections to premium, professionally curated libraries, you can find the perfect podcast music.
Below are the top ten best places to find music that fits your podcast’s tone and style.
1. Pixabay Music: Background music for podcast free download
Pixabay Music is a fantastic starting point for podcasters new to adding music or anyone working with a tight budget.
- They offer dozens of completely free music for podcasts, spanning a broad variety of genres and moods.
- Music is all cleared for podcast use with no attribution required (but it’s still encouraged).
- For creators who want to use Creative Commons music without worrying about licensing complications.
This platform is ideal if you want to get started quickly and confidently with free background music in your podcast.
2. In Audio: Background music for podcast no copyright
In Audio is a modern online music library that offers a broad selection of high-quality royalty-free music for podcasts from independent artists.
- Their catalog is popular among filmmakers, content creators, podcasters, and brands who want licensed music they can safely use.
- With clear and generous licensing, InAudio lets you use music in your podcast episodes worry-free.
- Their filtering tools help you pick the perfect mood and genre.
3. Epidemic Sound: Royalty free background music for podcast
Epidemic Sound stands out as a go-to premium platform offering a large catalog of exclusive, royalty free music tracks crafted specifically for podcasters and other creators.
- Subscribe and gain unlimited access to their vast library of high-quality, professionally produced songs cleared for ongoing use.
- You can legally publish your podcast episodes featuring these tracks indefinitely without worrying about additional payments or legal issues.
- Their library covers nearly every podcast genre, from upbeat electronic to laid-back acoustic.
4. Incompetech: Non copyrighted background music for podcast
Incompetech is a classic favorite among podcasters, especially those looking for non-copyrighted background music.
- It’s the home of Kevin MacLeod’s famous Creative Commons music.
- Many tracks are free to use with simple attribution in your podcast notes.
- If you want to drop crediting requirements, just purchase a license.
Its simplicity, range of moods, and consistent quality make it a trusted resource.
5. Free Music Archive: Copyright free background music for podcast
Free Music Archive is built around providing genuine copyright free music that creators release into the public domain or with very permissive licenses.
- You’ll find a wide range of styles, from classical to modern beats.
- Tracks are safe for commercial use in podcasts without licensing headaches.
- Perfect if you want a trustworthy source to browse music confidently, knowing you’re covered for copyright.
6. PremiumBeat: Background music for podcast intro
PremiumBeat offers top-tier podcast intro music that instantly adds polish and professionalism. Perfect for podcasters who want their show’s opening to stand out with cinematic-quality themes that set the mood right from the first second.
Having a consistent podcast theme song from a reputable source leaves a memorable impression on listeners.
7. Pond5: Background music for podcast while talking
Pond5 provides a comprehensive collection of instrumentals available for purchase. They provide plenty of options for “background music while talking.”
- Their extensive catalog covers many genres and moods, perfect for layered, unobtrusive podcast content.
- It also offers stock video footage and sound effects, compiling multiple audio-visual assets to support your podcast production needs.
8. Soundstripe: Background music for podcast video
Soundstripe is ideal for podcasters looking to expand into video or repurpose their audio podcast for platforms like YouTube and social media.
- They offer everything from energetic, upbeat tracks to subtle ambient music optimized for podcast video production.
- Their subscription grants unlimited downloads and commercial use, making it easy to pair visuals and sound.
9. YouTube Audio Library: Background music for podcast on YouTube
If you are publishing your podcast as a YouTube video, the YouTube Audio Library is your best option.
Accessible through YouTube’s Creator Studio, it offers a truly hassle-free way to find copyright-safe background music tailored to the platform’s unique policies.
With a vast selection of free tracks to fit nearly any mood or genre, you can use them in your podcast videos and avoid strikes or demonetization.
10. Medium Music Now: Podcast background music 15 minutes
Medium Music is one of the best royalty-free music libraries with curated professional tracks for podcasts, videos, advertising, and film.
It has a category for 15-minute tracks that cater to podcasters needing extended background music to fill longer segments or full episodes.
If you have a podcast editing software or tool, consider looping shorter tracks.
How to Choose the Best Background Music for a Podcast
Starting a podcast and choosing the right background music is a thoughtful process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you find the perfect track for your podcast:
- Identify your emotional goals: What feelings do you want to evoke? Inspiration, calm, curiosity?
- Understand your podcast genre: What type of podcast are you making (e.g., business, wellness, storytelling)? This affects which music style you apply.
- Search multiple platforms: Compare free and paid sites to find options that fit your vibe.
- Pinpoint placement: Will the music be used for your podcast trailer, intro, transition, continuing underscore, or outro music?
- Test your choices: Listen with your voiceover to check if the music supports instead of distracts.
- Document licenses: Track where you sourced your royalty-free tracks and give credit when credit is due.
- Edit with feedback: Adjust music choices based on listener comments and your evolving brand identity.
5 Best practices for using background music in your podcast
Just adding music to your podcast is not enough. You need to know how to use each piece of music effectively and engage your listeners well.
- Prioritize speech: Use only instrumental tracks behind speech for easy listening.
- Manage your transitions: Fade music in and out smoothly. Avoid jarring audio peaks or abrupt stops.
- Match your podcast’s pace: Use music effectively by matching its tempo and mood to your show.
- Maintain clarity: Test mixes on various devices to see how varying edits play.
- Give the complete audio experience: Use both music and sound effects to level up your podcast production.
- Use AI music generators: This way, you don’t need to worry about copyright issues.
You should also make sure that your audio quality is good during recording. Use the best audio mixers to manage volume levels and remove background noise before adding music.
4 Common mistakes when adding background music to your podcast
Use background music with care to create a good podcast. Here are four of the common mistakes you need to avoid when adding background music to your podcast:
- Making the music too loud: Make sure listeners can hear what you’re saying by balancing your volume.
- Overusing multiple tracks: Switching music too often creates a chaotic listening experience. Select just one or two complementary tracks for the whole episode.
- Ignoring copyright and licensing: Always verify you have the right to use to avoid any legal headaches in the future.
- Keeping the volume flat: Match the natural shifts in energy or speaking intensity by managing the volume. Raise or lower music during pauses, transitions, or emphatic moments.
Hit the Right Note
Background music for podcast shows is a powerful tool to improve your show’s appeal and production value.
It helps you set the tone, engage listeners emotionally, and build a recognizable brand that stands out in a crowded space.
Looking for easier ways to put your show on the map? Aside from music, you can create viral-worthy content when you conduct the right kind of interviews.
With Talks and advanced filtering options, finding your next podcast guest is simple and straightforward.
- Zero in on the guests who are the best fit.
- Bookmark your favorite profiles.
- Use keyword searches to find exactly what you need.
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