A woman making beats outside on her laptop while playing a MIDI piano

Buying your first beat can be overwhelming, but understanding the licensing options makes the process simple. This guide breaks down the key differences between leases and exclusives so you can confidently find the perfect beat for your music.

You’ve written your own song, and now it’s time to find the perfect beat to bring it all to life. Buying your first beat is a huge step in the right direction for any artist and can seem more difficult than it has to be.

Understanding how to navigate the music industry is crucial for your success as an artist and these options will help you make the right choice for you.

In the world of online beat selling, leasing music is a budget-friendly way to get started. A way to look at this is like renting a car: you get to use it for a while, but you do not OWN it. The producer still owns all the rights to the beat and can continue to license the song to other musicians.

There are levels of leases, from basic MP3 files for demos and starter tracks all the way up to “trackouts.” You’ll want to pick the right one for where you are in your career, whether you’re just starting out or ready for professional-quality sound.

MP3 Lease:

WAV Lease:

Trackout Lease (Stems):

The most basic and budget-friendly option. This option is perfect for artists who are just starting their music career and/or have a tight budget. Think of this stage as a first draft or first sketch. An MP3 file provides a single, high-quality version of the beat, but it isn’t typically used for the final release of a song.It is common for big rappers and musicians to use an MP3 first before obtaining a stronger file from the producer.

A step up in quality. This option is a significant move towards professional quality. Unlike an MP3, a WAV file is uncompressed. What this means is it retains all the original audio information which creates a much richer, cleaner sound that is crucial for industry-standard quality. If you want to get your song professionally mixed and mastered, a WAV file is the absolute minimum requirement. Artists who want a high-quality track without paying a large price for trackouts, this is your sweet spot.

This is the best value in a lease. If you are a serious artist or audio engineer, this option is a must have! A trackout lease includes all the individual audio files or stems that make up the beat. (Kick, snare, bassline, melodies, hi-hats and effects) Audio engineers are the brains behind your entire track, making sure that every drum is hitting hard at a good level, melodies sound clean, and artists vocals sound crisp. This gives your audio engineer complete control of your track. Control is crucial for achieving the greatest possible sounding song that is radio ready and up to industry standards.

As you can see, there are many ways of leasing and purchasing a beat. These options give you different levels of freedom regarding what you can do with your music.

On some beat selling websites, such as BeatStars, producers can set stream limits for leases artists can purchase. This may seem confusing but let’s break this down.

This is a real example of a beat that I am selling on my BeatStars pro page. With this beat, I have set usage terms when purchasing a Basic License ($20.00) from my store.

A pricing table with four columns for beat licenses: MP3, WAV, Track Stems, and Full Monetization. Each column lists the price and specific usage rights, such as stream limits and whether trackout files are included.

If an artist uses my beat and uploads it to streaming services, the song can only reach 500,000 total streams per streaming service/app. In the case that the song does reach the stream limit, the artist can upgrade to a Premium License ($35.00).

If the artist fails to do so, I as the owner of the beat can legally get the song removed from all services until the artist upgrades their beat lease.

When a Lease is Your Best Move

You’re Building your Catalog: If you’re an artist focused on consistency and growing your brand, a lease allows you to release more music more often.

You’re Just Experimenting: Not every song you create is meant to be a commercial success. A lease allows you to experiment with different styles and genres to find your unique sound without any pressure of a big investment.

You’re Money Smart: There is simply no reason to be dropping thousands of dollars on a single track unless you are a worldwide artist already. You can get a great sound for a fraction of the price.

Exclusive Lease:

This gives you total ownership of the beat. When you purchase an exclusive beat from a music producer, the beat gets taken off the market forever. You receive all commercial rights to it and nobody else can use the beat.

Now you ask yourself why every artist wouldn’t just buy an exclusive beat? And the answer to this is the price of an exclusive beat.

MP3 and WAV files usually range from $15- 50 dollars per beat. Once you start getting into the exclusives and even trackouts, prices can range anywhere from $200-600 dollars!

Pricing chart for beat licenses, comparing tiers for MP3 ($30), WAV ($50), Track Stems ($100), and Full Monetization ($200). It highlights which plans include trackout WAV files, a key feature for music producers and artists.

When to Choose an Exclusive:

You’re a Major Artist:

You’re working on a major album or EP and want to capture a unique sound without the fear of other artists using the same beats as you. This creates a sense of exclusivity and ownership.

You want Major Distribution:

Without owning an exclusive from a music producer, it will be incredibly difficult to get your music commercially heard without restrictions. This is good for film or TV or high-level commercial projects with major brands.

Buying Your First Beat: How to Choose Between Leases and Exclusives

Buying your first beat can be overwhelming, but understanding the licensing options makes the process simple. This guide breaks down the key differences between leases and exclusives so you can confidently find the perfect beat for your music.

You’ve written your own song, and now it’s time to find the perfect beat to bring it all to life. Buying your first beat is a huge step in the right direction for any artist and can seem more difficult than it has to be.

Understanding how to navigate the music industry is crucial for your success as an artist and these options will help you make the right choice for you.

In the world of online beat selling, leasing music is a budget-friendly way to get started. A way to look at this is like renting a car: you get to use it for a while, but you do not OWN it. The producer still owns all the rights to the beat and can continue to license the song to other musicians.

There are levels of leases, from basic MP3 files for demos and starter tracks all the way up to “trackouts.” You’ll want to pick the right one for where you are in your career, whether you’re just starting out or ready for professional-quality sound.

MP3 Lease:

WAV Lease:

Trackout Lease (Stems):

As you can see, there are many ways of leasing and purchasing a beat. These options give you different levels of freedom regarding what you can do with your music.

On some beat selling websites, such as BeatStars, producers can set stream limits for leases artists can purchase. This may seem confusing but let’s break this down.

This is a real example of a beat that I am selling on my BeatStars pro page. With this beat, I have set usage terms when purchasing a Basic License ($20.00) from my store.

If an artist uses my beat and uploads it to streaming services, the song can only reach 500,000 total streams per streaming service/app. In the case that the song does reach the stream limit, the artist can upgrade to a Premium License ($35.00).

If the artist fails to do so, I as the owner of the beat can legally get the song removed from all services until the artist upgrades their beat lease.

When a Lease is Your Best Move

You’re Building your Catalog: If you’re an artist focused on consistency and growing your brand, a lease allows you to release more music more often.

You’re Just Experimenting: Not every song you create is meant to be a commercial success. A lease allows you to experiment with different styles and genres to find your unique sound without any pressure of a big investment.

You’re Money Smart: There is simply no reason to be dropping thousands of dollars on a single track unless you are a worldwide artist already. You can get a great sound for a fraction of the price.

Exclusive Lease:

This gives you total ownership of the beat. When you purchase an exclusive beat from a music producer, the beat gets taken off the market forever. You receive all commercial rights to it and nobody else can use the beat.

Now you ask yourself why every artist wouldn’t just buy an exclusive beat? And the answer to this is the price of an exclusive beat.

MP3 and WAV files usually range from $15- 50 dollars per beat. Once you start getting into the exclusives and even trackouts, prices can range anywhere from $200-600 dollars!

When to Choose an Exclusive:

You’re a Major Artist:

You’re working on a major album or EP and want to capture a unique sound without the fear of other artists using the same beats as you. This creates a sense of exclusivity and ownership.

You want Major Distribution:

Without owning an exclusive from a music producer, it will be incredibly difficult to get your music commercially heard without restrictions. This is good for film or TV or high-level commercial projects with major brands.

1 Comment

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Recent Posts

Recent Comments