Licensing
Beat licenses should answer usage questions before money changes hands.
This page is general education, not legal advice. Its job is to help producers write clearer terms and help artists understand what they are buying before recording over a beat.
Lease license
A lease usually lets an artist release a song while the producer keeps selling the beat to other artists. The important details are limits: streams, videos, live performance, paid ads, radio, sync use, and whether the artist receives stems.
Unlimited license
An unlimited license often removes stream or sales caps but may still be non-exclusive. That means the buyer gets broader use, while the producer may still license the same instrumental to others unless the agreement says otherwise.
Exclusive license
Exclusive terms should state what happens to previous leases, whether the beat is removed from sale, what rights transfer, and whether the producer keeps publishing or royalty splits. Vague exclusive language causes avoidable disputes.
Minimum terms to write down
- Buyer name, producer name, beat title, and purchase date.
- Allowed platforms: streaming, YouTube, social video, live shows, radio, ads, and sync.
- Whether stems are included and whether the buyer can alter the beat.
- Credit wording, publishing split, master ownership, and royalty collection process.