Music for use during podcasts

[McLean]

Okay, here's a topic that hasn't been beaten to a bloody pulp!

Music for use during podcasts.

I'm part of a podcast that is going to be most talk-based, but obviously I want to use music as bumpers between segments. For our first show, we've obtained the rights to use songs from a couple different bands. I'm in a sort of on-going debate with the guys I'm working with about whether or not it's legal to use snippets of other songs without obtaining permission from the artist or record label, but for now, we're coming down on the side of not doing that.

Is there any resource or way to obtain music outside of researching and contacting the record labels and/or artist's themselves? If not, is there a more efficient way of obtaining music by getting artist's permission?

I appreciate you reading this and any help you could provide in this.

-McLean

[podcastrant.com]

try the podsafe music network

http://www.podsafemusicnetwork.com

[yaz]

we're rebels...we pratice unsafe podcast musicing...

[Levendus]

Or you can try here

http://www.magnatune.com/

They have a smaller catalog but I believe it's high quality.

[McLean]

Much thanks guys. I'll check these sites out.

[loganrapp]

Would it be too naive to suggest Myspace Music as a good place to start?

A lot of non-label bands promote themselves, there. You can even specify "non-label" bands, if memory serves me right, along with narrowing your search to a specific genre, even "influenced by" or "sounds like." You can even search within a specific radius of a specific zip code, if you happen to be a regional-based show and would like to find local bands.

With bands that don't have labels, or are independently-labeled, nine times out of ten all you'd have to do is ask permission.

I think it'd be a great way to promote music that sounds great but just hasn't caught on, yet. It'd be much more preferable than putting Britney Spears on your podcast.

[womengrow]

try the podsafe music network

http://www.podsafemusicnetwork.com

Ditto. I highly recommend their site. The music is good and the interface is sooo easy to use.

[crybabyemokids]

Would it be too naive to suggest Myspace Music as a good place to start?

A lot of non-label bands promote themselves, there. You can even specify "non-label" bands, if memory serves me right, along with narrowing your search to a specific genre, even "influenced by" or "sounds like." You can even search within a specific radius of a specific zip code, if you happen to be a regional-based show and would like to find local bands.

With bands that don't have labels, or are independently-labeled, nine times out of ten all you'd have to do is ask permission.

I think it'd be a great way to promote music that sounds great but just hasn't caught on, yet. It'd be much more preferable than putting Britney Spears on your podcast.

That's exactly what we do. Scour myspace for the best indie artists.
It would be foolish to assume all music on myspace as 'podsafe' though.
We HAVE to ask for permission, but all these bands are really friendly and usually respond within notime with the affirmative.

Jay

[paulyb]

Just get in touch with labels/artists and find out who DOES hold the rights to the music. After asking advice (On here!) I went to the podshow music site and then just thought - hang on, anyone could be playing this so we're not adding to the mix by playing it as well. Punky!'s raison d'etre is to introduce music to the world that really isn't already out there on the net, hence new label releases, unsigned bands and talent local to our particular area. This ensures we stay unique in our output.

However, for what you need you're probably better off with half a dozen instrumentals that are probably already there on myspace anyway - might be a good idea to post on a specialist music forum and see what comes back. I did that last week and we've got a load of artists that have approached US asking to be played on the show, which we were really chuffed about - don't forget - an awful lot of bands etc. are still completely unaware that podcasts even exist and generally are happy to get any airplay they can, in whatever form.

Or you could do what Bibb and Yaz do and just not worry about it!

[cybercooler]

I've got TONS of links to production music and sound effects at www.schoolofpodcasting.com but one of my favroties is http://www.bigfishproduction.com

Also, use the coupon code of "santa" and get 50% off your first month's subscription (now through 12/25).