There's a lot of competition out there when it comes to making music but if you market yourself right you can create a new stream of revenue.
HOW MUCH MONEY WILL I MAKE FROM SELLING BEATS?
How much revenue? If you’re just starting out, selling your instrumentals can bring in anywhere from $1.99 to $50. If you’re a well-known and credible producer, they can be sold from $300 to over $1,000. Consider this: if you can sell one beat to a client, you can sell to ten more clients. And if you can sell to ten clients, you can sell to ten more, and so on. All it takes is one person to be drawn to your sound, leading to their audience appreciating it and your instrumentals becoming popular. To reach this stage, consistency is key. Most producers are making several beats a day, without fail, with incremental growth in mind.
HOW DOES BEAT LICENSING WORK?
Selling beats online requires a licensing agreement between both parties. A licensing agreement is a legal agreement between the producer and client giving permission to use the beat. There are two types of beat licensing agreements that can be made: non-exclusive and exclusive.
WHAT IS NON-EXCLUSIVE BEAT LICENSING?
Non-exclusive beat licensing, also known as leasing, means that you are selling the right to use your beat to multiple people. This means that you can sell the same beat to multiple artists or performers, and they can use it for their own projects. The buyer of the beat typically receives a digital file of the beat and a license agreement outlining the terms of use, such as how many copies they are allowed to sell and how they can use the beat. Non-exclusive licenses can have limitations on streams, sales or views and have an expiration date. Therefore, if the client has reached the maximum number of sales or streams the license will have to be renewed.
Non-exclusive beat licensing is a great option for beatmakers who are just starting out and want to build up their customer base. It allows you to sell your beats to multiple buyers, which can help you earn more money in the long run. Non-exclusive licensing also allows you to keep ownership of your beat, which means you can continue to sell it to other buyers in the future.
However, there are some downsides to non-exclusive beat licensing. Since you are selling the same beat to multiple buyers, you may not be able to command as high of a price for your beat. Additionally, since multiple people are using the same beat, it may not be as unique or exclusive. Therefore, exclusive beats might be the way to go if you want to be the only artist using the sound you buy.
WHAT IS EXCLUSIVE BEAT LICENSING?
Exclusive beat licensing means that you are selling the right to use your beat to one person or entity exclusively. This means that the buyer of the beat is the only person who can use it, and you cannot sell the beat to anyone else. The buyer typically receives a digital file of the beat and a license agreement outlining the terms of use.
Exclusive beat licensing is a great option for producers who have a unique sound and want to command a higher price for their beats. It allows you to sell your beat for a higher price since it's exclusive and can't be sold to anyone else. Additionally, since only one person can use the beat, it's more exclusive and unique.
However, there are some downsides to exclusive beat licensing. Since you are selling the beat to only one buyer, you may not earn as much money in the long run or reach a wider audience as you would with non-exclusive licensing.
RESOURCES TO GET STARTED SELLING BEATS
BUILD A WEBSITE
One of the best ways to sell your beats online is to build your own website. This allows you to have complete control over your brand and your beats, and you can sell them directly to customers without having to pay a commission to a third-party platform. You can use a website builder like WordPress or Wix to create your own website quickly and easily. You should create a professional web presence where clients can buy beats, pay for services, and learn about you as an artist. Make sure the focal point of your website is the music player. You should feature your highest-quality beats on the main page, make it as simple as possible for clients to send you funds, allow visitors to make offers, negotiate prices, and offer different license options. Here are some steps to get started with building your own website:
Choose a website builder platform, such as Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.
Purchase a domain name that reflects your brand.
Choose a theme or template that suits your style and brand.
Create a store page where customers can purchase your beats.
Set up payment processing through a service like PayPal or Stripe.
PROMOTE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media platforms are powerful tools for promoting your beats and getting your name out there. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook can help you build a following and connect with potential customers. Market beat packages, promotions, and limited-time offers to get the ball rolling. Your outreach shouldn’t consist of posting “New beat, check it out” repeatedly. Get creative, clients want to learn more about you, what you do, and how you do it. Here are some tips for using social media to promote your beats:
Create a social media account specifically for your beat selling business.
Use hashtags relevant to your beats and genre to make them more discoverable. For example, if you produce trap beats, use hashtags like #trapbeats, #trapmusic, and #trapinstrumentals.
Share snippets of your beats on your social media accounts.
Engage with your followers by responding to comments and direct messages.
Collaborate with other producers and artists on social media.
SIGN UP FOR ONLINE MARKETPLACES
If web design isn’t in your budget, check out these online marketplaces that do all the work for you. Sell your beats online by creating a profile for free on all these platforms. Upgrade to premium memberships to access more features. Most if not all of these platforms do not take a percentage of your music sales! Here are some popular online marketplaces to sell beats:
Beat Stars - Arguably the most popular beat-selling platform connecting you with over 2 million potential clients. Sign up and you can sell up to 10 tracks for free. Upgrade your plan to $9.99 monthly for unlimited tracks or sign up for an annual plan for a one-time payment of $19.99. You get to keep 100% of your earnings through this platform.
Airbit - The second most well-known platform to start your career selling beats. Similarly to Beat Stars, you can sell up to 10 beats for free but Airbit offers a less expensive upgrade for unlimited tracks at only $7.99!
TrakTrain -This platform offers 15 tracks to sell when you get started with a free account! If you've sold your 15 tracks upgrade your plan for $8.09/monthly to sell up to 100. But if you're looking for an unlimited plan, this is the most expensive platform offering it for $17/monthly.
BeatClub - A newly-created platform by Timbaland that looks to have a lot of industry-first resources for producers. Request an invite by sharing your name, email address, and a link to your music. The subscription plan details include industry placement opportunities, members-only phone calls, discord and live stream channels, professional feedback, Beatclub creator software products, and so much more. J.cole, Justin Timberlake, and Mike WILL Made it are just some of the exclusive members of BeatClub.
Don't be afraid to send beats to artists you aspire to work with. Sometimes, getting an established artist to use your beat for free might payoff in exposure by reaching new audiences. Or maybe you spot an upcoming on-the-rise artist; you could offer production and build a relationship with him/her. This approach isn’t guaranteed and we strongly believe that all artists should be paid for their work. But there are plenty of examples of producers that hit success through these tactics.
Selling beats online can be a lucrative business for producers looking to monetize their skills. Whether you choose to sell exclusive or non-exclusive licenses, use social media to promote your beats, sign up for beat selling stores, or build your own website, there are plenty of options available to get started. With the right strategy, hard work, and consistency, you can turn your passion for music into a lucrative career. Remember to always prioritize quality and authenticity in your beats, and the sales will follow.
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