TL;DR
Beat licensing defines how you can use a beat. Lease grants limited usage for a low price (MP3 + WAV). Standard grants broader usage (WAV). Exclusive grants full ownership (WAV + stems) and removes the beat from sale. Always read the license terms before releasing.
What is beat licensing?
When you buy a beat, you are buying a license to use it — not the copyright. The license defines how many streams, copies or distributions you can make, what files you receive, and whether the usage is exclusive. Producers keep authorship (songwriting credit) unless they transfer it.
The three license tiers
Lease license
- Files: untagged MP3 + WAV.
- Usage: limited distribution and streaming (e.g. up to a set number of streams or copies).
- Price: lowest — from around $9.99.
- Best for: a first single, demo, or small release.
The beat stays for sale to others.
Standard license
- Files: untagged WAV.
- Usage: broader rights — more streams, more distributions, multiple projects.
- Price: around $29.99–$49.99.
- Best for: EPs, bigger releases, music videos.
Still non-exclusive — the beat remains for sale.
Exclusive license
- Files: untagged WAV + stems (individual tracks, ZIP).
- Usage: full ownership — unlimited distribution; the beat is removed from the marketplace.
- Price: from $199.99 upward.
- Best for: major releases where you need to own the beat outright.
Custom licenses
On BeatBoard, producers can upload their own license agreement, so terms may vary — always read them.
Lease vs exclusive: which should you choose?
- Testing a song or releasing your first track? Lease is enough and keeps cost low.
- Planning a bigger release or music video? Standard gives broader rights.
- Want to own the beat and prevent anyone else using it? Buy Exclusive.
Can I upgrade later?
Many producers let you upgrade from lease to exclusive later (paying the difference), but once someone else buys the exclusive, the beat is gone. If you are serious about a release, lock it in early.
FAQ
Do I own the beat after buying exclusive? You own exclusive usage rights; the producer keeps songwriting authorship. The beat is removed from sale.
Can I use a leased beat on Spotify? Yes, within the lease's streaming limits. For unlimited release, use Standard or Exclusive.
What are stems? Stems are the individual track files (drums, bass, melody, etc.) for full mixing control — included with Exclusive.
Are beats royalty-free? Each license grants defined usage rights. Lease/Standard are non-exclusive; Exclusive is exclusive. Check the terms.
Understand your license and buy beats confidently on BeatBoard.
