If you're an artist looking for beats, you've probably run into producers selling their beats online. But let's face it – figuring out how it all works can be a bit of a head-scratcher. That's where this guide comes in handy.
This article breaks it down for you, explaining the ins and outs of buying beats online and giving you the know-how about industry norms. By reading through, you'll get the know-how on different types of licenses, what to know about free beats and more.
This guide is perfect for you if:
You're just starting in music and want to take it seriously.
You've been doing music for a while and are ready to step up your game.
You're tired of using tagged free beats and want to explore other options.
Or maybe you've reached a point where licensing beats seems like the next logical step.
If any of these sound like you, then you're in the right place. This guide will give you all the info you need to transition from Free Beats to buying Beats online.
Using Free Beats
First, let’s talk about free beats.
The easiest way to recognize a free beat is by the producer tags that you hear every 30 seconds. Once you buy a license for a beat, it will no longer have the tags in it.
If you own beats without a license agreement from the producer, you could consider that a free beat as well. In that case, you’re not authorized to use the beat for commercial purposes.
For years, artists and producers have been in an ongoing discussion. Producers really don't like it when artists ask for free beats, but it happens a lot.
“Can I get this beat for free, I’ll give you credit”
This is so accurate! 👌🏽😂
In defense of the artists, the hypocrisy is REAL! When you’re looking for beats on YouTube, most of the titles you’ll find say “(FREE) BEAT” or “FREE DL” They’re offering free beats but then complain about artists using their beats for free. How is that NOT confusing? 😅
The reason why producers add “FREE DL” in their titles has to do with marketing strategies and ranking on YouTube. In simple words: It’s just clickbait.
In defense of the producers, their dedication to their craft and hard work are often taken advantage of. Their beats get ripped from YouTube and used by people without a license and without knowledge of how the beat-selling industry works. This can result in all sorts of issues for the producer.
What can you do with a free beat?
That’s the thing! Not much… At least, nothing that’s considered commercial or profitable.
Uploading on Facebook. Is that commercial use? These days, yes.
The same goes for YouTube and Soundcloud (both are streaming services and ways to monetize your music).
Producers offer free beats to let artists…
Try it out before they buy.
Record vocals and see if their vocals match the key of the beat.
Record a demo and get feedback before purchasing a license for it.
Make sure that it’ll be with the investment.
Do not mess with free beats!
There’s no such thing as a ‘free beat’.
If you are going to ask for something for free, ask for a ‘free license’.
If you’re using a beat for which you haven’t received a license agreement in writing from the producer, you’re unauthorized to use it and you could get in serious trouble.
Buying beats online – How does it work?
By purchasing a beat, you are purchasing audio files that are copyrighted by the producer. In return for your payment, the producer grants you several rights to use the beat.
This is what we call the License Agreement.
There is a difference between:
Non-exclusive licenses
Exclusive licenses
The biggest difference is that a non-exclusive license for one beat can be sold to several artists. Yet, an exclusive license can only be sold once and to one artist.
In this article, we will only discuss non-exclusive licensing.
I wrote an entire guide about the difference between Non-Exclusive and Exclusive Licenses. Click the button below if you’re interested in learning more about this. 👇🏽
Different licensing options – Which one to choose?
Online producers offer different licensing options. Most producers offer 4 options.
MP3
Basic
Premium
Unlimited
Example of licensing options. The more expensive the license, the more user rights are granted.
Some producers might name them differently. They call them MP3 Lease, WAV Lease, Standard Lease, etc. It’s all the same.
The more expensive the license, the more rights granted by the producer.
Also, the more expensive your license, the better quality audio files you will receive.
What is the best license to buy?
Most people who buy Beats online go for the cheaper licenses. One that comes with fewer user rights and low-quality audio files. The user rights granted in those cheaper licenses might be sufficient for them.
Yet, more important, are the quality of the audio files.
If you’re looking to create quality music or at least want to make music the right way, then make sure you get the Tracked Out files of a beat.
The best option is to go for a license that comes with Tracked Out Files.
If I buy a beat with a Basic License – Can I upgrade my license later?
Honestly, I haven’t seen many producers offering this service. Meaning that it might not always be an option. For a lot of starting artists, money is an issue.
Offering the possibility to upgrade allows someone to gradually ‘grow’ into a higher tier license without having to spend $200 at once, instead spreading it out over one or two upgrades.
How upgrading usually works is that you only pay the difference between the standard prices of the licenses.
If you want to know if producers offer this service, you would have to reach out to them yourself.
Once I buy a beat – Do I own any copyright?
Once you write your lyrics and record them over the beat, you will own the copyright to your lyrics only. And what you will create with the beat is a New Song, also known as a “Derivative Work.”
This means that you will own and control 50% of the so-called “Writer’s Share.”
The producer will own and control the other 50% of the Writer’s Share.
You have been licensed the right to use the beat and commercially exploit the song you make with it. Based on the terms and conditions of the license agreement you’ve purchased. The producer will remain the sole owner and holder of all rights, titles, and interests in the beat.
What happens to my song when someone else buys the exclusive rights for the beat I’ve licensed non-exclusively?
When it comes to buying beats online, you’re granted the rights the moment you purchase the beat. The license will go into effect immediately.
So, when someone else purchases the exclusive rights, it will not (immediately) affect you. Your non-exclusive license will still be valid.
But there are some things you need to know…
In the old days, you were granted user rights in non-exclusive licenses without an expiration date. A lot of producers still operate this way.
Nowadays, some producers sell licenses that expire after 2-6 years. In my case, my licenses expire after 5 years. This means that you will have to buy a new license after that term.
An example of an expiration term that could be found in a license agreement.
If someone purchased the exclusive rights during your term. That will only mean that you will no longer be able to renew your license after your term is due.
Producers don’t always show this information in their licensing tables. Make sure you check that before you make the purchase. There’s usually a button below the tables that lets you view the actual license agreement.
One more thing regarding non-exclusive licenses!
A recent trend is that some producers install a new term in their license agreement. One that grants the producer the right to end your license agreement even before your term is due.
The producer includes an exit clause in their agreements stating they’re allowed to terminate the license agreement upon written notice to you.
In return, they will pay you double or triple the amount you’ve initially paid for the beat.
That does not have to be a problem for you, but whether it is, depends entirely on the success of your song.
Again, always check your agreements before buying beats online!
What if I buy a beat with a non-exclusive license and my song blows up?
When you lease a beat from my website, I’ll always follow up with you after you’ve made the purchase. I really am interested in the music you’re creating and you can expect e-mails from me looking to hear the final result of your song.
I also do this to see if there are any potential hit records out there. If something catches my attention, I’ll keep track of it and see how the song will progress after it’s released.
In other words, if a song is about to blow up, I’m well aware of it and we can start negotiating a deal.
But that’s just me… Not every (online) producer takes initiative in following up with their customers. If a producer doesn’t follow up with you after you’ve purchased a beat from their store, simply fill them in yourself!
Let them hear the song and keep him up-to-date with everything that’s going on around the release of your song.
So, “what happens when I lease a beat and it blows up?”
YOU BUY THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS AND NEGOTIATE A DEAL WITH THE PRODUCER!
You’re probably going to need one too since you’re near exhausting the terms in your non-exclusive license agreement.
Otherwise, the exploitation of the song is limited to the user-rights you get when you lease a beat. You will need the full exclusive rights to exploit it without limitations, whatsoever.
Reach out to the producer as soon as you can and make a good offer on the exclusive rights.
“What happens to the other people that licensed that same beat?”
Your song blew up, congrats! Did you buy the exclusive rights from the producer? Awesome!
“Now, what happens to the other people that have a license to that same beat?”
Short answer: Nothing…
Their licenses will still be valid until they’ve exhausted their sales limit or until the contract expires. Non-exclusive licenses are limited to a certain amount of user-rights and are only valid for several years.
“What if I lease a beat today and the producer sells the exclusive rights tomorrow. How will that affect my song’s potential?”
It won’t affect you!
An exclusive sale of a beat you’ve previously licensed non-exclusively will not affect you in any way.
The exclusive buyer is fully aware of the artists that licensed the beat before him.
In fact, this is a term in the Exclusive contract that they have to agree upon before getting the exclusive rights. This term is called a ‘Notice of Outstanding Clients’ and it protects non-exclusive licensees from getting struck by the exclusive buyer.
If you’re in this situation right now, you have nothing to worry about. Essentially, you already know your song’s potential as soon as you purchased the license.
The rights granted in the license agreement tell you exactly what you can and cannot do. Read your licenses and make sure you fully understand what the user-rights mean.
It will become a different story when you overstep the song’s potential (exhaust the user-rights). In that case, we’ll move on to the next question.
“I leased a beat and the song blew up but some other artist has the exclusive rights.”
I’m not going to try and sweet-talk my way out of this. If this situation would occur to me, I would bang my head against the wall until I knocked myself out.
Then do it again, till I don’t remember what happened. 😅
Again, I find it hard to believe that this situation would happen to me since I’m very close to my customers (in terms of following up on all purchases made from my site).
I’m also not that guy that sells exclusive rights to every artist that comes up to me with a bag of money. I need to see (hear) the potential first.
Similar situations did occur with artists like Trey Songz, T.I. and Slim Jesus and I assume it must have been a real mess to sort out.
I don’t have any experience with these situations but I can tell you how to do your best avoiding it.
Buy exclusive rights! (n.a. if you don’t have the money)
Buy the lease to get the producer’s attention
If you don’t have any money, ask for a payment plan and offer a down payment
Get close with the producer, reach out often and send updates about the song – Show him the potential!
Ask if they would consider holding on to the rights (Make sure you have something to offer, other than ‘giving credit’.)
On a side-note: You don’t have to make a purchase from my site in order to get my attention. But it could help getting noticed by other producers who may have that ‘about-to-blow-up’ beat in their hands.
If you’re reading this to determine whether to lease a beat or buy the exclusive rights
This might be confronting to some and I’m probably bursting a few bubbles too but please look at your current situation as an artist and ask yourself if you’re on that level that your song could actually ‘Blow Up!?’
For most artists, leasing beats would be far more beneficial.
Don’t let the ‘Dream’ trick you into spending too much money on the wrong things. Prioritize your moves and re-evaluate your latest releases.
Keep developing your craft, create new music on a regular basis and build a following with actual fans of your music.
When that ‘blow up’ is getting near, you’ll feel it. Trust me!
Is it safe to buy Beats online?
Most producers use a Beat Store Provider to sell their beats online. The most common ones are:
Beatstars.com
Airbit.com
Soundee.com
All these platforms have a good reputation for representing producers and their music. The majority of online producers are also signed up with either one of them. That’s why a lot of producers’ websites and music players look alike.
These music players have an ‘instant delivery’ feature included. After you’ve made the payment, you will be redirected to a download area where you can safely download the files. You’ll also receive an order confirmation by email.
If you’re not sure if a producer is affiliated with one of these platforms, try to locate their producer names on the different platforms. If they are on it, you can make the purchase directly from the platform itself, just to be safe.
If they’re not on these platforms, reach out to the producer with any concerns you have. I’m sure they’ll respond once you tell them that you’re interested in buying beats from them. Make sure you’ve checked the website for an FAQ section, though. If you’re asking questions for which the answers are right in front of you, they do not always respond.
Keep in mind… On platforms like BeatStars, Airbit, or Soundee, producers still create their license agreements. They operate on their own terms!
Before you buy a beat, always check the full license agreements or licensing terms. Those flashy pricing tables don’t always show you everything! 😉
Here are some tips for buying beats online:
Pay with PayPal or Stripe (they have buyer protection)
Check if the producer sells through a BeatStars, Airbit, or Soundee player
Read the License Agreements (!)
Reach out to the producer with your concerns