Podcasts have taken the world by storm in recent years, with an estimated 90 million Americans tuning in every month. But with all the competition out there, it’s important to find ways to make your podcast stand out from the crowd. One way to do that is by adding an exciting soundtrack that will captivate your listeners and keep them coming back for more. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of having a great soundtrack, and give you some tips for creating one that will enhance your podcast and make it even more engaging.
Benefits of a Great Podcast Soundtrack
First of all, having a great soundtrack for your podcast can help to set the tone for each episode and create a cohesive listening experience for your audience. Whether you’re trying to create a mood of excitement, relaxation, or anything in between, music is a powerful tool that can help you achieve your goal. With the right soundtrack, you can grab your listener’s attention from the very beginning and keep them engaged throughout your episode.
You don’t have to keep music playing throughout the duration of your podcast; if you listen to some well-produced podcasts, you will notice that they usually contain one theme melody, occasional subtle background music, for example, during extra dramatic moments, and then usually a few musical transition sounds, e.g. “Stingers” – a short musical interlude that lasts for only maybe 3-6 seconds.
Another benefit of having a great soundtrack is that it can help to reinforce your brand identity and make your podcast more memorable for your audience. By choosing music that reflects the style and tone of your podcast, you can create a unique listening experience that will stick with your listeners long after they’ve finished listening to your episode.
Tips for Creating an Exciting Podcast Soundtrack
Now that you know why having a great soundtrack is so important, let’s talk about some tips for creating one. When it comes to choosing music for your podcast, it’s important to consider the overall tone and atmosphere of your show. The first tip is to choose music that fits the mood and tone of your episode. For example, if you’re doing a podcast about travel, you might want to choose music that evokes the feeling of a particular destination. Or if you’re doing a podcast about wellness, you might want to choose music that’s calming and relaxing.
Another tip is to avoid using copyrighted music without permission. If you’re not sure whether a particular song is copyrighted, do some research before using it in your podcast. There are plenty of websites that offer royalty free music (a.k.a. “stock music”) that you can use instead.
If you are searching for royalty free music for a podcast, you will of course need to consider how much of it you should be using, and what style/genre of music to go for. If you have the time and skill to experiment a little bit with the music and combine different layers and instruments, it could be a good idea to search out royalty free music tracks with stem files. With “stem files” you get each main instrument or layer in the music supplied as separate wav audio files, so you can stack them all on top of each other in your audio- or video editing app – and from there, you can mute/unmute the different instruments, and create a customized version of the music track that perfectly matches your story or podcast. It will take you some extra time, but it’s fun creative work and the result can be very satisfying.
You can also consider working with a composer or sound designer to create original music for your podcast. This can be a great way to ensure that your soundtrack is truly unique and tailored to your podcast’s style and tone.
Lastly, don’t forget about the importance of sound effects. Sound effects can be used to enhance the listening experience and add an extra layer of interest to your podcast. From the sound of waves crashing on the shore to the creaking of a door opening, there are plenty of effects that can be used to make your podcast more immersive and exciting.
Conclusion
In conclusion, adding an exciting soundtrack to your podcast can be a game-changer in terms of engagement and audience retention. By choosing music that fits the mood and tone of your episode, avoiding copyrighted music, considering original music, and incorporating sound effects, you can create a unique listening experience for your audience that will set your podcast apart from the rest. So if you haven’t already, start exploring the world of music and sound effects to take your podcast to the next level.
