Music is a nice addition to almost any podcast. It can be used at the beginning and end of your progam. If you always use the same music it becomes an audio signature for your program. Use music between the different segments of your program. It creates an audio cue for your listener, and makes it easy to transition to a new segment of your program.

It is important to protect intellectual property. The University has guidelines on acceptable uses and protection of intellectual property. Fortunately there are several ways to obtain music legally. The Faculty Support group has created what are known as "Acid Loops" for your use. You will find them at http://itunes.wmich.edu . Login as public and you will have access to copyright cleared music. You will find the music in the Podcasting at WMU section.

Apple makes podcasting very easy with their Garageband application. Garageband is a part of the iLife suite and is shipped on every Mac. They provide music, jingles, and sound effects for your podcast.

Your last choice is to subscribe to a service that provides podsafe music. Podsafe music is music that is licensed for use in podcasts. Read the licensing agreement carefully. Frequently the music is free, but you are required as a part of the license to provide attribution. The definition of attribution is to provide credit to the performer for allowing you to use their music.

The Creative Commons is an organization that assists programmers and musicians with the complexities of licensing programs and music. There are several websites that you can link to from the Creative Commons site ( http://creativecommons.org/audio/) The link that I use is http://ccmixter.org/ creative mixter

At the site http://music.podshow.com/ you will find music licensed for use in podcasts. Again read the license agreement. Attribution is required for the use of music from this website. They provide a large selection of music. If you would like to use this site contact us before registering. You will need to know the URL of your podcast feed. WeI can help you determine the URL.

The final website in this list is a pay per track approach to podcasting music also known as royalty free. Music is usually licensed in a manner that requires payment each time the song is played. This is known as the royalty fee. On this website you purchase a licenses for $29.95 per track, but royalty free. You can use the music as many times as you would like for the initial $29.95 fee.

Labels: Copyright, Music