If you're starting a podcast, you'll need theme music for the intro of your episodes. Contrary to popular belief, you can't use your favorite song from Spotify (it will get flagged and removed). Soundcloud used to have good tracks, but most of them have been removed. However, here on this page, you'll find free tracks you can download (in MP3 or WAV format) plus some additional sites where you can find royalty-free music.
Does my Podcast need a theme song?
Podcasts often use music at the beginning (also known as an intro or theme song) to set the tone for the show and to create a cohesive identity for the podcast. The music can help to establish the mood and style of the podcast and can also help listeners to recognize and remember the podcast.
Can I use this music on my podcast?
Yes, the tracks listed on this page are royalty-free and free of charge. You can download either the MP3 and WAV file, and add the theme music to your podcast while you edit your episodes.
All of the tracks we're offering here are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Please copy & paste this attribution into your show notes:
Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm. Learn how to start a podcast here.
Tips for using podcast intro music
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Keep it short – too many podcasts have music that plays for 30 seconds at the beginning of every show. Keep it to five seconds.
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Match the volume to the rest of your show – you don't want your theme music to be too much louder than the rest of your show. In fact, I prefer my intro music to be on the quiet side. Be sure to fade it down even more if you're overlaying narration.
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Idea: don't use a song. Use a signature sound – you might not even need a whole theme song. Some podcasts will have a 1-2 second clip. It could be a banjo strum, an alien ship taking off, or bells. Make it distinct; something that people think of when they hear your show.
Can I use music from my favorite band on my podcast?
Unfortunately, no. Any commercial music is under copyright and can't be used in your podcast. Spotify, in particular, has been scanning all podcast episodes and is removing podcasts that contain fingerprints of popular songs.
Best free podcast music sites:
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Openverse – this site scours the web for high-quality free music audio tracks that podcasters can use for their intro music. WordPress runs it.
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Music for Makers – when you sign up for their mailing list, you'll get a new free track every week. There's a lot of variety in the songs that Logan produces. I ended up upgrading to the paid service because it's so good. (The song we use on the Build your SaaS podcast is from here!)
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Joseph McDade Music – I honestly can't believe Joseph is giving these tracks away for free. He wants to be the "Unsplash for audio." He currently has 14 songs you can download. There's quite a variety, and you don't even need to give him your email address to get them. (Although, you should support his Patreon)
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Kabbalistic Village – this composer sells music on AudioJungle but gives away some of his songs on Soundcloud. All you need to do his credit him in your show notes.
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Vlad Cuiujuclu – this 24-year-old composer from Brooklyn, NY recently said he was "happy to provide for free, with the only condition that I am contacted and credited for my music."
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Free Music Archive – the biggest repository for free audio downloads. These songs are licensed under Creative Commons and other licenses.
Best paid podcast music sites:
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Themesong.studio – Buy the complete rights to high-quality theme songs and intros
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Musicbed – Find the perfect song for your project
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Sounds like an Earful – Independently created royalty-free music for your creative projects
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Ben Sound – The best Music, by the best Artists
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Premium Beat – Studio-quality music and sound effects to bring your podcast to the next level
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Audio Jungle – Royalty free music and audio tracks from $1
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Sound Stripe – Sound for every type of content. Across all platforms.
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Audiio.com – Get a license that covers any project.
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Epidemic Sound – Music, SFX, and Video for any project