What are the pros and cons of using royalty-free music vs. licensed music for podcasting?

I'd argue there are virtually no cons to using royalty-free music. I mean sure it's not original, but so? Especially if you're just starting out, you need to cut costs as much as possible while maintaining a professional enough appearance to compete with other podcasts in your niche. Use the free tools available to you! Just be mindful of terms and conditions.

Check the fine print on terms of usage. There may be limits to number of streams allowed for free. Remember, someone or some company has paid the publishing CO for this type of music. We never use "Royalty Free" music in any content we create. Not only does it further decimate the income of both professional and hobbyist musicians, which we care a great deal about. Remember, someone paid the publisher of the work for it. And probably not the industry standard amount all musicians are entitled to receive, union or non union. It is, in my opinion, morally & ethically wrong, & still Intellectual property theft. Music is not free. It was created by someone who put in their hard time & effort to make sure it was right. Honour that fact.

Choosing between royalty-free and licensed music for podcasting involves trade-offs. Royalty-free music offers cost-effectiveness, as you pay once for unlimited use, but it may lack exclusivity. On the other hand, licensed music provides a broader selection and higher production quality, enhancing your podcast's professional image. However, licensing can be costly, and restrictions may apply. Consider your budget, content needs, and desired podcast quality when deciding. Combining both approaches selectively can strike a balance between affordability and quality, elevating your podcast's appeal. You'd be better off hiring someone at Fiverr to create something exclusive.

La música libre de derechos al no tener carga económica es la opción más viable para la gente que está empezando o tiene poca experiencia haciendo podcasts. Sin embargo, encontrar algo que se alinee con tu contenido y la forma de mostrarlo puede ser complicado, sobre todo si es un contenido menos generalista o si tienes un tono especialmente humorístico/sarcástico por poner algunos ejemplos. Poder contar con un compositor al que puedas mostrarle todo esto y sepa interpretar tus intenciones y tu persona va a hacer que tu contenido tenga un empaque mucho más coherente y se transmita mejor a los oyentes. Por supuesto, aquí dependerá del presupuesto que quieras invertir, pero estos detalles son los que van a hacer que la gente vuelva!

Licensed Music is the proper way to go on any content generation. However, this requires doing your due diligence to make sure that you contact the appropriate PRO (Performing Rights Organization) for the musical work you desire to use in your content. It has been my experience, that if you make the effort to contact the PRO who licences the music you want to use, they are typically helpful and will work with you on pricing the usage of their music in your content. Not sure where to start? I suggest contacting BMI, and ASCAP 1st. They are available & more than happy to assist you. Lastly, Infringement of Copyright law provides a range from?$200 to $150,000 for each work infringed. Infringer pays for all attorneys fees and court costs.

Licencias canciones te va a permitir tener canciones con una calidad muy alta para cada una de tus necesidades. Siempre intenta licenciar canciones de fuentes reputadas para evitar posibles problemas a futuro (aunque cueste un poco más de dinero, puede ahorrar muchos disgustos), además, las agencias consolidadas suelen tener mejores controles de calidad y las canciones van a estar mucho mejor compuestas y sonarán mejor. Hay todo tipo de niveles en cuanto a presupuesto y permisividad de la licencia. Sé consecuente con el punto del proyecto en que te encuentras y elige lo que se adapte mejor a tus necesidades!

Why not hire a Music Composer to write original music for your podcast? You can have your own Bumpers, incidental music, and Segway songs. The Composer can be a work for hire, whereas you retain all copyright ownership, and The Master Title Rights to the music created specifically for your content. Or you can cut a deal with the Composer where he may retain a percentage of ownership for a lesser fee. If lyrics are involved, the writer of the lyrics typically retains 50% of the publishing for that song. Disclaimer I'm not an attorney, that is my opinion from decades of making music. I highly recommend you seek legal representation to protect yourself for this option. But, if done properly, you own your music. That will assure uniqueness.

My observations on your Reach, Audience, and Marketshare. There are 2 ways you will engage with your audience. #1. Assures you of an available audience & marketshare between the ages of 17 and 28, that will be Predominantly male in biological or perceived gender. This is the audience you, and your advertisers, WILL be limited to engaging with, if you decide to use any profanity in your content. Oh, come on you say, This is 2023. That doesn't matter anymore... Well, I say consider this as #2 Use NAB codes of this: The Television Code - World Radio History https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-NAB-Publications/Television-Code-NAB-1969.pdf Conform to this, your audience age range is now 0 to 105. Which do you think is more profitable?

Es importante que al obtener alguna licencia de uso musical leamos con atención y, si no entendemos algún punto, contactemos con un experto para evitar problemas legales. Las licencias suelen tener características variadas, desde número de reproducciones, plataformas en las que se puede usar, estaciones de radio en las que se puede emitir, ámbito temporal/territorial, porcentaje de diferentes tipos de derechos, cantidad de pago inicial... Puede ser abrumador de primeras y nos podemos encontrar con muchas cláusulas que no entendemos, pero hoy en día podemos encontrar mucha información online que nos evitará tener problemas más adelante.

For music licensing and podcasting, explore platforms like Artlist and Epidemic Sound for royalty-free music. Libraries such as Free Music Archive and Jamendo offer diverse options. Podcast-specific directories like Podsafe Music Network and Music for Makers cater to podcasters. Use Creative Commons platforms like ccMixter and explore SoundCloud for CC-licensed music. Educational resources from SoundExchange and Podchaser Academy provide guidance on licensing. Platforms like Coursera and Udemy offer online courses on music licensing and podcasting. Stay informed through YouTube channels like Music Licensing Insider and Podcast Music Show. Always check and adhere to licensing terms for legal use!

Understanding music licensing is crucial for podcasters to avoid legal pitfalls and enhance the quality of their content. I'd also recommend exploring community-based platforms like SoundCloud and Bandcamp, where many independent artists offer music under creative commons licenses. Additionally, consider reaching out directly to composers and musicians for custom tracks, which can provide a unique and personalized touch to your podcast. Balancing between royalty-free and licensed music based on your podcast’s needs can significantly impact your production quality and listener experience.