Bed Music

Term from Podcasting industry explained for recruiters

Bed Music is the background music that plays during podcasts, radio shows, or audio content. It's like a gentle musical foundation that helps set the mood, maintain energy, and smooth out transitions between segments. Think of it as the musical backdrop that helps keep listeners engaged without overpowering the main speaker's voice. When someone mentions bed music skills on their resume, they're showing they understand how to select, edit, and mix appropriate background tracks that enhance rather than distract from the content.

Examples in Resumes

Created and managed Bed Music libraries for over 50 podcast episodes

Selected and edited Background Music and Bed Music for weekly interview series

Developed standardized Bed Music guidelines for company's podcast network

Typical job title: "Audio Producers"

Also try searching for:

Podcast Producer Audio Editor Sound Designer Music Supervisor Audio Content Producer Radio Producer Podcast Sound Engineer

Where to Find Audio Producers

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you manage music licensing and rights for a large podcast network?

Expected Answer: Should discuss experience with music licensing platforms, understanding of different license types, maintaining proper documentation, and creating systems for tracking music usage across multiple shows.

Q: How do you train junior producers in selecting and implementing bed music?

Expected Answer: Should explain their process for teaching others about music selection, volume mixing, timing transitions, and maintaining consistent sound quality across episodes.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you choose appropriate bed music for different types of content?

Expected Answer: Should explain how they match music mood to content, consider audience demographics, and maintain brand consistency while avoiding repetition.

Q: What's your process for editing bed music to fit specific segments?

Expected Answer: Should describe techniques for creating smooth transitions, adjusting music length, managing volume levels, and ensuring music doesn't compete with speech.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when selecting bed music for a podcast?

Expected Answer: Should mention basic considerations like mood, tempo, genre appropriateness, and volume levels in relation to voice content.

Q: How do you organize and maintain a music library?

Expected Answer: Should explain basic file organization, tagging systems, and how they keep track of music licenses and usage rights.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic audio editing software operation
  • Understanding of music genres and moods
  • Simple volume mixing and fading
  • Basic file organization

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Advanced music editing and mixing
  • Music library management
  • Understanding of licensing and rights
  • Multiple show format experience

Senior (5+ years)

  • Team leadership and training
  • Complex production workflow management
  • Network-wide music strategy
  • Budget management for music licensing

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No understanding of music licensing requirements
  • Inability to distinguish appropriate music for different content types
  • Poor organization of music files and rights documentation
  • No experience with professional audio editing software