Where to Find Royalty-Free Podcast Music

The fastest way to find royalty free podcast music is to use a dedicated music library that licenses tracks for podcast use — services like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, Soundstripe, and free options such as the YouTube Audio Library or the Free Music Archive. The catch is that “royalty free” does not mean “no rules”, so you need to read the licence before you drop a track into your intro.

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What “royalty free” actually means

Royalty free does not mean free of cost or free of conditions. It means that once you have the right to use a track, you do not owe ongoing per-play royalties every time your episode is downloaded. You usually pay (or sign up) once, or you use a track released under a permissive licence, and then you can use it within the terms of that licence. Those terms still matter: some require attribution, some forbid use in monetised shows, and some cover only a single project.

Where to find royalty free podcast music

Here are the libraries home recordists and podcasters reach for most, and what each is good for.

Subscription music libraries

• Epidemic Sound — a large catalogue built specifically for creators, with a clear licence that covers podcasts and most platforms while your subscription is active.
• Artlist — known for cinematic and modern tracks, with a licence designed for content creators and a single subscription covering commercial use.
• Soundstripe — a creator-focused library with filtering by mood, genre and energy, useful for finding a quick intro bed.
• Musicbed — leans toward higher-end, emotive tracks if you want something more produced for a flagship show.

With subscription libraries, read what happens when you cancel. Many let you keep using tracks in episodes published while you were subscribed, but check rather than assume.

Free libraries and Creative Commons

• YouTube Audio Library — free tracks and sound effects, some requiring attribution. You can use them outside YouTube, but confirm the attribution requirement for each track.
• Free Music Archive (FMA) — a large catalogue under various Creative Commons licences. Check each track’s specific licence (CC BY, CC BY-NC, etc.).
• Pixabay and similar — host free-to-use music, but always verify the per-track terms.

With Creative Commons, the licence type is everything. NC (non-commercial) tracks are off limits if your show runs ads or sponsorships. ND (no derivatives) tracks can’t be edited or trimmed into a loop. BY means you must credit the artist, usually in your show notes.

Licence terms to check before you use a track

Before committing a piece of royalty free podcast music to your show, run through this list:

1. Commercial use — does the licence allow monetised podcasts (ads, sponsors, paid memberships)?
2. Attribution — do you need to credit the artist, and where?
3. Scope — one project, one channel, or unlimited? Does it cover podcast distribution specifically?
4. Editing rights — can you trim, loop, or fade the track to fit your intro?
5. Duration — does the licence expire if your subscription lapses?

Keep a simple record of where each track came from and its licence. If a host or platform ever queries a copyright flag, you’ll be glad you did.

Using the music well in your episode

Finding the track is half the job; placing it is the other half. Keep intro music short (often well under 30 seconds), duck it under your voice when it overlaps, and match the energy of the track to the tone of your show. Once you’ve chosen a track, our guide on how to add intro music to a podcast walks through trimming, fading and ducking it cleanly. If you’re building the whole opening segment, see how to make a podcast trailer for how music supports a strong first impression.

Because music sits under speech, your levels need to be consistent. Mix the bed so the voice always wins, then check the whole episode against the loudness target in our guide to podcast loudness and LUFS standards. If you also produce music and want to understand the gear and mixing side more deeply, the mixing and mastering hub is a good next stop.

Can you use popular songs instead?

Short answer: no, not without a proper sync licence, which is expensive and rarely granted to small shows. Using a commercial pop track without permission can get your episode pulled or your show demonetised. Royalty free libraries exist precisely so you don’t have to risk that. Stick to licensed or properly Creative Commons-licensed music and you stay safe.

Frequently asked questions

Is royalty free music completely free?

Not always. Some royalty free music is genuinely free under a Creative Commons or platform licence, while subscription libraries charge a recurring fee. “Royalty free” only means you don’t pay per play — it doesn’t guarantee zero cost or zero conditions.

Do I need to credit the artist?

It depends on the licence. Many subscription libraries don’t require attribution, but most Creative Commons “BY” tracks and some free-library tracks do. When in doubt, add a credit line in your show notes — it’s good practice and costs you nothing.

Can I use the same intro track for every episode?

Usually yes, as long as your licence covers ongoing use rather than a single project. A consistent intro actually helps with branding and audience recognition, so a reusable, properly licensed track is ideal for a recurring show.