Integrating audio into your virtual gatherings transforms a standard video call into a dynamic and engaging experience. Whether you are hosting a virtual concert, a team-building session, or a webinar, knowing how to add music to Zoom meeting is an essential skill for any modern professional or content creator.
Understanding Zoom's Audio Capabilities
Before diving into the methods, it is important to understand how Zoom handles audio. The platform differentiates between your microphone input and your computer's system audio. By default, your microphone captures your voice, while system audio—such as music playing on your device—is often muted during screen sharing to prevent feedback and copyright issues. Therefore, successfully adding music requires either sharing your screen with audio or utilizing specific settings to enable system sound.
Method 1: Screen Sharing with Computer Audio
This is the most direct method for sharing pre-recorded music or audio files with your attendees. This process tricks Zoom into recognizing your media player as a source of content rather than a system audio leak.
Step-by-Step Guide
Open the music player on your computer, such as Spotify, Apple Music, or a local file in VLC.
In Zoom, click the "Share Screen" button located at the bottom of the meeting window.
Select the advanced tab (usually labeled "Advanced" or indicated by an arrow) and choose "Music Player" or "Screen."
Check the box that says "Share computer sound" to allow the audio to play for the participants.
Method 2: Using the Audio Settings
If you are acting as the host and need to use your microphone while occasionally playing music, adjusting the audio settings can help manage your input without cutting off the music entirely.
Configuring for Clarity
Navigate to your audio settings in the Zoom client. While this won't play music directly through the platform, it ensures your voice is clear when you speak over the music you are sharing via screen share. You can suppress ambient noise to ensure your speech is intelligible, preventing the music from causing feedback loops that disrupt the meeting.
Legal and Copyright Considerations
When you add music to Zoom meeting, you must consider the legal implications. Public Performance Rights (PPR) are required to play music in a public setting, and a Zoom meeting with multiple attendees is often classified as public. Using personal streaming services like Spotify or YouTube in a meeting without a license can potentially infringe on copyright laws.
For background music during non-public corporate meetings, ensure you have a license from a Performing Rights Organization (PRO).
For live events or webinars open to the public, consider using royalty-free music or purchasing a synchronization license.
Method 3: Utilizing Zoom's Original Sound
For hosts who need high-fidelity audio, such as musicians or podcasters, the "Original Sound" feature is invaluable. This setting disables the compression and automatic gain control that Zoom typically applies to voices.
Enabling the Feature
To enable this, click the arrow next to the microphone icon in the meeting controls and select "Original Sound." While this is primarily for voice, if you play music through your computer's audio output while Original Sound is on, the music will transmit with minimal quality loss, preserving the integrity of the audio track.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Users often encounter issues where the music plays on their end but not for the attendees. If you face this specific problem, verify that the "Share computer sound" option is enabled. Conversely, if attendees report echoing, you may need to mute your speakers when not playing music or use headphones to separate the input and output audio signals.
