Can I Use Copyrighted Music In My Podcast?

Before jumping into this topic, I should note that you shouldn’t take this video as any type of legal advice. You should consult with your own attorney when it comes down to using licensed music.

Maybe you’re a brand new podcaster and you’re looking to step up your production game. Or maybe you’re a podcaster who’s been doing this for a while and you just want to feature a couple of clips of music in your podcast to really drive home a point.

This video may give you a perspective that will have you rethink whether you should be using licensed music inside of your podcast.

THE LICENSING GIANTS - ASCAP AND BMI
Most podcasters consider their podcast as another piece of media that can be consumed by the general public. But what they don’t realize is that what they’re hearing on TV and on radio has been licensed or a license has been purchased to use that music within their program.

Over the course of my 18 years in radio, I have learned that there are two major entities that you need to consider if you’re trying to license your music. One of those entities being ASCAP and BMI. Both of those entities give you the opportunity to purchase the rights to use music within your own piece of media.

However, when it comes down to licensing, those license cost can be really, really expensive.

You might be saying to yourself, “No one’s really gonna know that I’m using a piece of copyright material within my podcast. I'm a small timer!”

DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO WHAT OTHER PODCASTERS MAY BE DOING ILLEGALLY
You might be saying to yourself, “I have listened to podcast where copyrighted music has been played on those particular podcasts. How are they getting away with it?”

There are a couple of reasons:

1.) Maybe that podcaster is using some type of copyrighted music but they don’t realize that they are violating some type of copyright infringement. They could potentially be in trouble if they have not bought some type of license for ASCAP or BMI.

2.) The podcaster has actually purchased a license through ASCAP or BMI and you jus don't know it.

3.) That the podcaster that is featuring the music on their podcast may already have struck a deal with the musical label to play that music on a podcast. In other words, that particular podcaster has gone to a music label and asked for permission to play that music on their podcast. It could have come in the form of some type of written permission.

You will always see this or hear this on TV and radio that you can’t use a particular piece of music or a particular clip from TV without getting express written consent. So if you're looking for that permission, you should be reaching out to the label.

If you want to learn who uses licensed music in their podcast with permission, you can head to my blog here:
https://www.theshanman.com/blog/can-i...

Other links mentioned in this video:
ASCAP - http://www.ascap.com
BMI - http://bmi.com
Audiojungle - http://audiojungle.net

Time Codes For This Video:

00:00 - Introduction to Copyrighted Music in Podcasts
01:15 - The Role of ASCAP and BMI in Licensing Music
02:30 - The High Cost of Licensing Music for Podcasts
03:45 - Legal Considerations and Avoiding Copyright Infringement
05:00 - Alternatives to Copyrighted Music: Royalty-Free Options
06:15 - Why Choosing Royalty-Free Music from Audio Jungle?
07:30 - The Importance of Legal Advice for Podcast Music
08:45 - Conclusion: Best Practices for Music in Podcasts

- - - - - - - - -

👇 Discover More Valuable Resources Below 👇

🎙️ Looking for Podcast Equipment Recommendations?
Get my Essential Equipment Guide to kickstart your podcast journey:
🔗 http://shanman.tips/quickstart

🚀 Ready to Launch Your Podcast but Unsure of the Steps?
Grab my comprehensive Podcast Launch Checklist:
🔗 https://shanman.tips/PLC

📈 Want to Monetize Your Podcast?
Explore strategies with my eBook:
🔗 https://shanman.tips/podcastingpayout...

#podcastediting #podcasteditingtips #editingapodcast