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When searching for beats on the internet, you’ll find plenty of options quickly. However, the topic of licensing can become confusing: there are free beats, leasing licenses, and exclusive rights. Free beats are straightforward, but what exactly is the difference between leasing and exclusive? In this article, I aim to provide some clarity for you.
The licensing model for beats, which started with American producers, has now gained worldwide popularity. Its flexibility and accessibility have made it a standard practice across the global music industry. Understanding the basic difference between leasing and exclusive rights is crucial for making informed decisions when purchasing beats.
With exclusive usage rights (i.e., “Exclusive”), you alone receive the right to use the beat. Contractually, additional use by the creator (producer) may be regulated. However, other artists or companies cannot acquire any rights to the beat and cannot use it.
Important note: Regardless of the rights you acquire, you are never entitled to resell the beat or any rights to it. You may only sell the usage rights of your finished song (e.g., for film soundtracks, etc.).
The contract specifies how and for which projects you may use the beat. Typically, with an Exclusive, every common usage type of the song is agreed upon. This includes physical distribution (CD, vinyl, etc.), streaming, music videos, licensing (soundtracks, sync), shows, TV, and similar.
With Exclusives, there are no limitations on sold units (MP3, CD) and streams (audio, video).
So, if you anticipate your project to be larger, acquiring exclusive rights is definitely more sensible. If you invest in a music video and various marketing measures but use a royatly-free beat, another artist could always use the same beat for their commercial project.
In summary, with Exclusives, you are legally on the safe side and have full control over the song.
Unlike Exclusives, leasing beats remain permanently available for reselling to other customers. Multiple artists can purchase a leasing license and use the beat commercially. This clearly means you give up a significant amount of control over your song.
With a leasing license (simple usage right), you may record a song based on the beat. This song can only be sold and streamed up to a certain number before the next license is due. These streaming numbers refer to the total streams from all platforms, meaning YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, etc., are all counted together.
The major advantage of leasing beats is the price. For a fraction of the cost of an Exclusive, you get an untagged beat, which, depending on the producer, is already professionally mixed. You can upload the song everywhere and use it within the described limitations. However, you are not alone in this!
With a Standard Lease, you only receive the master audio track. Ideally, in WAV format, but in the worst case, just an MP3. You have no influence on the mixing and arrangement, with only very coarse adjustments possible.
Depending on the project, an Exclusive license might be more suitable if you want your music to be unique!
Producers often offer both models for the same beats, on their website or platforms like Beatstars or Airbit, which, in my view, is not sensible. At 99Beats.com we sell only Exclusive Rights Beats, at very affordable prices, starting from $99 for the beat in WAV format and put to $199 for the extra Stem files and unmastered version.
If you want to buy a beat exclusively, you should check out our online beat store and find your next banger.
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