Podcasts need theme music, segment beds, and ad underscores, and most shows cannot afford custom composers. That gap is your opportunity. Thousands of growing podcasts will license affordable library music rather than risk copyright strikes. Position your instrumentals where podcast producers shop, and one track can earn across hundreds of episodes.
Write podcast-friendly music: clean, loopable, and non-distracting. Beds sit under talking, so they need steady energy without competing melodies. Create fifteen, thirty, and sixty-second versions because podcast segments run on those clocks. Offer full buyout licenses at fair prices. Simplicity of licensing sells more than the music itself in this market.
Pitch directly to shows you actually listen to. Find the producer’s contact, send a short email with streaming links, and offer a free trial episode. Podcasters are approachable compared to film supervisors. A personal note referencing a specific episode gets opened. Build a roster of ten regular shows and you have recurring income that compounds.
Register and track everything. Podcast licenses should be simple one-page agreements stating the fee, term, and usage. Use a licensing platform or your own template and keep records. As your tracks spread across shows, watch which ones get reused and write more like them. Podcast music is a volume business that rewards consistency. The artists who win in this lane treat every opportunity like an audition for the next one. Keep your paperwork tight, your masters clean, and your reputation cleaner. Relationships compound faster than talent alone ever will in this business.
About the Author – Ruben Burgos: Ruben Burgos brings over 25 years of music expertise and more than 15 years of model guidance to the table. He is the indie major pinnacle to retaining credits for musicians and helping them navigate this wicked industry without the fuckery.