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GUIDE 14 OF 27Free podcast intro music: where to find it legally
How Creative Commons and royalty-free licences work for podcasts, where to look, how to credit the artist, and how to make your own theme.
A short theme makes a show sound finished and gives listeners an audio cue that your episode has started. You don’t need to pay for one, but you do need the right licence: “free to listen to” is not the same as “free to use in your podcast”. This guide explains the licences, where to look, and how to credit the music properly.
The rule: never use a commercial song you like just because the clip is short. There is no “ten-second rule” or “fair use for intros”. Use music under a licence that clearly allows podcast use, or make your own.
The licences you’ll meet
Creative Commons
Creative Commons licences are free, standard licences that musicians attach to their work. They’re built from a few elements:
| Licence | What you must do | OK for a podcast intro? |
|---|---|---|
| CC0 (public domain dedication) | Nothing; credit is appreciated | Yes |
| CC BY (Attribution) | Credit the artist | Yes, the most useful licence for podcasters |
| CC BY-SA (ShareAlike) | Credit, and share adaptations under the same licence | Usually; editing the track into your mix may count as an adaptation, so read the terms |
| CC BY-NC (NonCommercial) | Credit, and no commercial use | Risky: a show with ads, sponsors or paid subscriptions is likely commercial |
| CC BY-ND (NoDerivatives) | Credit, and no changes | Avoid: fading, cutting or mixing under your voice can count as a change |
Combinations such as BY-NC-SA and BY-NC-ND add the restrictions together. If you think the show might ever earn money, choose CC0 or CC BY music from the start; changing your theme later loses some of its recognition.
Royalty-free libraries
“Royalty-free” means you don’t pay per play, not that it costs nothing. Some libraries are free under their own licence, often with conditions such as crediting the artist, not reselling the music on its own, or creating an account. Read each library’s licence for podcast use specifically.
Public domain
Old compositions can be in the public domain, but recordings of them usually aren’t. A Beethoven symphony is free; a particular orchestra’s recording of it is not, unless that recording is also released freely.
Where to find free podcast intro music
- Free Music Archive: a large catalogue with the licence shown on every track; filter for CC BY or CC0.
- ccMixter: community remixes and instrumentals under Creative Commons, many suitable as beds.
- Incompetech: composer Kevin MacLeod’s library, widely used under CC BY with credit.
- Pixabay Music: free tracks under the Pixabay content licence, which allows use in podcasts without credit; check the current terms.
- YouTube Audio Library: free tracks for creators, some requiring attribution. Check its terms for use outside YouTube before relying on it.
- The Creative Commons search tools at creativecommons.org point to other collections.
Whatever you choose, save a screenshot or PDF of the track page showing the licence on the day you downloaded it. Licences on a page can change; yours was granted when you downloaded.
Make your own intro music for free
A custom theme is unique to your show and avoids licence questions altogether.
- GarageBand on Mac and iPhone includes thousands of Apple Loops that you can arrange into your own track. Apple’s licence lets you use the loops royalty-free in your own compositions, though you can’t redistribute the loops on their own.
- Free browser and desktop music apps let you build a beat from loops or a few chords.
- Ask a musician friend or a local music student. Agree in writing that you can use it in the podcast indefinitely, including if the show earns money.
- Keep it simple: a five-second sting, a few chords on one instrument, or a sound connected to your topic can be more memorable than a busy track.
How to credit podcast music
For CC licences, use the TASL formula: Title, Author, Source, Licence. Put it in every episode’s show notes, and say it aloud in the outro if you can.
Music: “[Track title]” by [Artist], from [where you found it], licensed under [CC BY 4.0, with a link to the licence]. [Note any changes, such as “edited and faded”.]
The outro script template includes a music credit line, and our show notes guide shows where to put it.
Using intro music well
- Keep the intro short. 5 to 15 seconds of music on its own is plenty, then fade it under your voice.
- Duck it under speech so the music sits well below your voice; see adding and fading music in Audacity.
- Use the same theme every episode. Repetition is what makes it recognisable.
- Pick instrumental music so lyrics don’t compete with your words.
- Match the tone. A true-crime show and a parenting show shouldn’t share a sound.
Questions people ask
Can I use a popular song if I credit the artist?
No. Credit is not permission. Commercial songs need a licence from the rights holders, which is rarely practical for a podcast.
What happens if I use music without permission?
Your host or podcast apps may remove episodes after a complaint, video platforms may block or claim your clips, and you could face a demand for payment.
Will Creative Commons music get flagged on video platforms?
Sometimes, if an artist has also registered the track with a content-matching system. Keep your licence record so you can dispute a claim, or use original music for video versions.
Next, see what to do once your episode is ready: choosing a podcast host.