A podcast involves multiple layers of intellectual property rights: copyright in the script or spoken content, neighbouring rights of performing musicians and record producers, and the composer’s copyright in any music used.
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Spotify had to remove episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience containing protected music for which no valid licences existed for global distribution. Licensing music for a podcast distributed internationally is significantly more complex than licensing for a local use.
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Background or intro music requires licences both for the composition, from UCMR-ADA in Romania or the relevant foreign collecting societies, and for the phonogram recording, from the record producer. Podcast licensing platforms such as Epidemic Sound and Artlist cover both.
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Interviews with third parties also generate rights: the interviewee may hold rights in their contribution, especially if it is later reused in other formats. Assignment or licensing clauses in the interview agreement are therefore recommended.