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Where will the slideshows be used? Online? At seminars? What will they play back over?

I would leave the voiceover iself to be handled by ducking if possible, so that shouldn't be too much of a concern.
Background music is just that; background. Don't try to bring out the bass, or cymbals, or anything that may distract from the voiceover, the idea is to have the music there, but not have the user notice it.



Thank you rharv.
I have not thought to much about where the slideshows should be used, I thought that bacgrond music should be treated the same way no matter where they where used?
I agree with you that background music should like you said be in the background without the listener notice it. but I thought it was more to it than just take the volume down. I remember when I listened to the preset "bacground musik" on the zoom studio that it sound "distant" not only like a track where the volume was down. There seems to be a "rule of thumb" for mastering any genre of music, and I thought there might be some guidelines also for background music on documentary films.?
But maybe it is like you said only to not bring out the bass or symbals.
Best regards
Tono