Licensing Music for Client Podcasts: An Agency Checklist
When an agency licenses music for a client podcast, the key questions are who holds the licence, whether it covers client work, and whether it lasts as long as the show does. Get those three right and most problems never happen.
The checklist below covers everything we'd check before putting music in a client's show. It's practical guidance, not legal advice. For big deals, it's worth asking a lawyer to read the contract.
Who Holds the Licence: You or Your Client?
Usually, whoever buys the music holds the licence. If your agency buys a track, the licence is in your name, not your client's.
That's fine, as long as the licence allows client work. Many do. Some, though, only cover the buyer's own content. Others let you use the music for clients but not hand them the files.
Decide up front who should own the licence. If the client will run the show long after your contract ends, it may make sense for them to buy it, or for the licence to name their show.
The Two Rights in Every Track
Every piece of recorded music carries two sets of rights. One covers the composition: the melody and the music as written. The other covers the master: the actual recording.
To use a track in a podcast, you need permission for both. With production music, one seller usually owns both, so one licence covers everything. With a commercial song, they're often owned by different companies, which is why chart music is so hard to clear.
The Agency Checklist
Run through these ten points for every track in every client show.
1. Client Work Is Named in the Licence
Look for words like "client work" or "on behalf of a client". If the licence only says "your own content", ask the seller before you use it.
2. Monetised Use Is Covered on Every Platform
Brand podcasts often run ads, sponsor reads or paid feeds. Check the licence covers commercial use on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and social clips.
3. The Licence Never Expires
A theme lives in every episode. If the licence is tied to a subscription, old episodes may lose cover when someone stops paying. A perpetual licence avoids this.
4. The Show Is Covered After Your Contract Ends
Clients move on. Agree in writing what happens to the music if the client takes the show in-house or moves to another agency. This is the point most often missed.
5. Exclusivity, If the Client Needs It
Most stock music is non-exclusive, so other shows can use the same track. A brand may not like that. If they want a theme no one else has, buy an exclusive track or commission one.
6. The Track Isn't Registered for Content Matching
If a track is registered with a system like Content ID, the client's videos may get claimed. Ask the seller. Introbleep tracks are never registered with Content ID.
7. No One Registers It With a PRO
Licensed music shouldn't be registered with a performing rights organisation by you or your client. Doing so can trigger claims against every other buyer. Most licences ban it.
8. Edits Are Allowed
You'll want to trim, loop and talk over the music. Check the licence allows edits. If you need stems or alternate cuts, ask before you buy.
9. You Know Whether You Can Share the Files
Some licences let you use the music in client content but not pass on the raw audio. Our standard licence works this way. If the client's own team will edit episodes, sort this out first.
10. The Paperwork Is Filed
Keep the receipt and licence certificate for every track, filed by client and show. If a claim lands, you'll want to find them in minutes, not days.
Keep a Simple Music Register
A spreadsheet is enough. For each track, note:
- The client and show
- The track name and seller
- The licence type and date
- The order or certificate reference
- Where the track is used: theme, outro, stings or beds
When an account changes hands, the register goes with it. New team members can see what's cleared at a glance.
Off the Shelf, Custom or a Retainer?
There are three ways to source music for client shows. The right one depends on how many shows you run.
Ready-Made Tracks
Good for a single show or a quick launch. Every track in the Introbleep store comes with a licence that covers client work, monetised use and every platform, with no expiry. You can read the full terms on the licensing page.
A Custom Theme
Best when a client wants a sound no one else has. We cover prices and timings in custom podcast theme music: cost, process and timeline.
A Monthly Retainer
Best for agencies launching several shows. Each show gets a full sound kit, written to match and licensed for the client show it was made for. See podcast music for agencies for how it works.
If you're planning the whole sound of a show, our guide to podcast audio branding maps every piece of the kit. Questions about a specific client? Get in touch.
FAQs
Can an agency use licensed music in a client's podcast?
Yes, if the licence covers client work. Check the wording before you use the track. Introbleep licences cover client work, as long as the music is used in content you produce for that client.
Who should own the music licence, the agency or the client?
Either can work. If the agency buys it, check the client's show stays covered after your contract ends. For long-running shows, a licence that names the client's show is often simplest.
Can I give my client the music files?
It depends on the licence. Many stock licences, including our standard one, don't let you pass on the raw audio. If the client needs the files, ask the seller about a custom or exclusive option.
What are podcast music rights?
They're the rights in the composition and the recording of a track. To use music in a podcast, you need permission for both. A production music licence usually covers both in one go.
How do I avoid copyright claims on client shows?
Use music with a clear licence, keep the paperwork, and make sure nobody registers it with a PRO or Content ID. Ask sellers whether their tracks are registered. Ours never are.