Podcast Intro Music: Make Your Own Intro, Step by Step
Learn how to make a podcast intro: write a short script, choose or generate music, record your voice, balance the mix and export it. Includes a timed example.
Here is how to make a podcast intro from a short script, a music cue and your own recorded voice. Start with a 15-second outline, make or choose the music, then mix the voice clearly above it. The worked example below gives you a script and a timeline to adapt to your show.
To create the music, open the AI Jingle Maker. To choose an existing track, a collection such as Transistor’s podcast music library provides previews and MP3/WAV downloads; check the current license for the track you choose.
A 15-second podcast intro you can build
Use this writing example as a starting point for a fictional coding podcast.
| Time | Music and voice | | --- | --- | | 0–3 seconds | A short instrumental hook at the normal music level. | | 3–9 seconds | Lower the music under the show name and its promise. | | 9–13 seconds | State the episode’s specific question or subject. | | 13–15 seconds | Fade the music down and begin the episode. |
Example script: “Welcome to After Hours Coding: practical lessons for small software teams. Today, we’re fixing the bug that only appears on Fridays.”
Example music brief: “Short instrumental podcast intro, warm electric piano, light percussion, curious and friendly, leave room for a spoken voice, a clear ending.” Change the instruments and mood to fit your show.
Record the script at your normal speaking pace before committing to a music length. If it runs long, shorten the wording or extend the cue; let the speech sound comfortable.
Podcast intro music: the short version
- Keep it short: 10 to 30 seconds, often about 15.
- Match the music to the tone of the show, not to your favorite genre.
- Use music you have the rights to: your own, a properly licensed track, or a track made for you.
- Let the music play alone for a few seconds, then lower it under your voice.
- Reuse the same theme for the outro so the show feels like one piece.
- Export at a consistent loudness, around −16 LUFS for most podcast apps.
How long should podcast intro music be?
Most intros run 10 to 30 seconds. Listeners skip long intros, especially on episodes they have already chosen to play, so many shows use a 5- to 10-second music sting before the host speaks, with the music continuing quietly underneath for a few more seconds. If you introduce the show with a spoken tagline, plan the music around it: a short lead-in, room for the voice, and a clear ending.
Pick a style that fits the show
- Interviews and business: light, positive music with piano, acoustic guitar or soft electronic beats.
- True crime and mystery: dark ambient pads, low strings and a slow pulse.
- Comedy: upbeat funk, ukulele, brass or a playful synth hook.
- Tech and science: clean electronic music, synth arpeggios, steady beats.
- Storytelling and documentary: cinematic strings and piano that build.
- Sports: drums, guitars and big hits.
Whatever the style, a simple melody that people can recognize after a few episodes works better than a busy track.
Where to find music for a podcast
There are four ways to get podcast music you are allowed to use:
- Make your own with AI. Describe the show and the mood and generate an original intro (more below).
- Free music libraries. Services such as the YouTube Audio Library and Pixabay Music offer tracks free of charge. Read each track's license: some require credit in your show notes, and terms differ between libraries.
- Stock music subscriptions. Paid libraries license their catalog for podcasts and videos as long as you keep subscribing or buy a license per track.
- Hire a composer. The most original option and the most expensive, worth it for an established show.
Avoid popular songs. Using a commercial recording, even a few seconds of it, needs permission from the label and the publisher, and podcast platforms can remove episodes that use music without a license.
How to make a podcast intro
- Write a short script: the show name, a one-line promise of what the show is about, and the host's name.
- Make or choose the music. In the Songluna AI AI Jingle Generator, describe the show and the mood, for example "warm acoustic guitar and soft drums, friendly and curious, for a podcast about small businesses". A 15-second hook costs 1 credit, and you can regenerate until it fits.
- Record the voice-over in a quiet room, close to the microphone.
- Put it together in any audio editor: let the music play alone for 3 to 5 seconds, then lower it well below the voice while the host speaks, and bring it back up or let it end on a clear final note.
- Check the loudness. Apple recommends that podcast audio sits around −16 LKFS (LUFS), within 1 dB, with true peaks no higher than −1 dBFS (Apple Podcasts audio requirements). Most audio editors can measure and set this for you.
Need the intro longer, or a matching outro? Extend the hook with the AI Music Extender, or make a full-length theme in the AI song maker. For transition sounds such as whooshes, hits and risers, use the AI Sound Effect Generator.
Licensing your intro music
A published podcast is public, so the license matters. On Songluna AI, paid plans (Plus and Pro) include commercial-use rights for eligible music, which covers using it in a podcast; music made on the Free plan is for personal use. For music from a library, keep a copy of the license or the download page for each track in case a platform asks.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a podcast intro be?
Usually 10 to 30 seconds, including any spoken tagline. Short intros keep listeners from skipping ahead.
Can I use a popular song as my podcast intro?
Not without permission from the rights holders, which is rarely practical for a podcast. Use original or properly licensed music instead.
Where can I get free podcast intro music?
Free libraries such as the YouTube Audio Library and Pixabay Music have tracks you can use under their licenses. You can also make an original intro with AI; new Songluna AI accounts get 8 free credits.
Do I need intro music for my podcast?
No, but it helps listeners recognize the show and signals that the episode is starting. A short, consistent theme is enough.
What is a music bed?
Music that plays quietly under speech, such as during an intro, a sponsor read or a segment change. It should support the voice, not compete with it.