Before you dive into the world of using popular music in your radio ads, it’s essential to understand the ins and outs of licensing for commercial use. Here’s a concise guide:

Copyright

Popular music—everyone knows it, and everyone loves to sing along. But is it worth paying out the ass for in your radio ads? Tons of people ask us if they can use a popular song or theme from a TV show/movie in their radio ad. The answer is no—well unless you have a huge budget. Then the answer is sometimes. All popular (and unpopular) music is copyrighted—that includes the original track and recorded performances of the track. This means you aren’t allowed to use the music in your radio ads legally unless you want to pay to license it, which can be costly.

Boo. There has to be an easier way, right? Then we receive the following follow-up questions: “Well, can we do a remake? Can we use the instrumental and rewrite the lyrics? Can we use the lyrics but have a different instrumental? Can we do a cheap rip off of the song?” The answer again is no.

Licensing for Commercial Use

If you want to obtain a license for commercial use of the song, you will need to find the record label that produced it and contact them directly. You’ll have to ask them permission to use the song in your radio ads, and see what the price will be—costs can greatly differ for different songs. Most likely, you’ll need both a master use license and a synchronization/transcription license.

How much does it cost?

Okay, so what’s the cost of all this? Well, you can expect to pay a hefty price between $75,000 and $200,000 to license a popular song for national commercial use for one year. However, costs can get as high as a million dollars for a major pop hit in a national campaign. Licensing fees for local campaigns usually start around $10,000 to $25,000. You can license the song for your radio ads for 1 to 3 years, but you will never own the rights to the song—and if you want to continue running the radio ads after that, you’ll have to renew your license.

Sigh. We know, we know. That isn’t the best news ever. But artists take pride in their work—and if you’re using it for commercial use and making money off of it…well, they rightfully want a cut of that profit too. So, what’s the worst that can happen if you use it anyway? At best, a fine—and at worst, a lawsuit.

Is it worth it?

So…is it really worth it for your radio ads? In our expert opinion—no. Why use someone else’s track when you can create your own? Get customers to sing along to a jingle about your brand rather than some celebrity singer’s brand. When the consumer walks away from the radio ad, are they gonna remember your product…or just the pop song that you spent butt tons of money on to be able to license? Get them singing your lyrics instead—it’s cheaper, you can use it forever, and you own it.

Think Outside the Box: Get Creative With Your Radio Ads

If you want a killer radio ad that grabs attention, you don’t need an expensive pop song—you need creativity.

At Push Button Productions, we specialize in crafting custom radio ads, jingles, and audio branding that make your brand stick in customers’ minds—without burning through your entire marketing budget.

Here’s What a Custom Jingle or Audio Logo Can Do for You:

Memorability – A custom jingle makes your brand instantly recognizable. Unlike a pop song, which listeners already associate with a celebrity, a jingle is uniquely yours.
Brand Ownership – You own your jingle. No licensing fees. No restrictions. You can use it forever, across all marketing platforms.
Cost-Effectiveness – Even a high-quality custom jingle costs significantly less than licensing a popular song. And once it’s yours, it’s yours for good.
Stronger Call-to-Action – A catchy jingle isn’t just background noise—it can directly drive action, making it more effective for conversion.

Why Custom Music Works Better Than a Licensed Song

A licensed song:

Is expensive and only yours temporarily.
Can be distracting—listeners focus on the song, not your brand.
Needs constant re-licensing fees to keep running.
Is tied to an artist, not your company.

A custom jingle or audio brand:

Is uniquely yours—listeners associate it with your brand, not a celebrity.
Can be used in all your ads, across all platforms (radio, TV, social media, podcasts, etc.).
Builds long-term brand recognition—just like McDonald’s, Intel, or State Farm.
Costs way less in the long run and gives you total creative control.

Still think a pop song is your best bet? Let’s be honest—no one is going to hear your ad and suddenly think your business is as cool as Beyoncé or Taylor Swift. So why spend your budget promoting their music instead of your brand?

Let’s Make Your Brand’s Sound Unforgettable

At Push Button Productions, we know how to make your brand stand out with sound. Whether it’s a custom jingle, an audio logo, or a radio ad that’s impossible to ignore, we’ve got you covered.

You don’t need to license a million-dollar song to make an impact—you just need the right audio branding strategy.

Want to create an ad that people will remember (for the right reasons)?

Call us at 888-981-7904 (PUSH) or contact us today. Let’s make something original, catchy, and completely yours.