When To Buy Exclusive Beats And When To Download Non-Exclusive Beats

When you’re buying pop beats and pop backing tracks when should you download an exclusive beat and when should you lease a lease beat? Are lease licenses even worth selecting as a serious reggae or pop artist? Read the remainder of this post below to figure out how to make the right buying decision to make the most of your paper!

Q: When downloading rap beats should I purchase an exclusive license or go for the non-exclusive instrumental?

A: It all depends on what you plan to do with the track you are going to create. An exclusive license gives only you the right to create and market a song with that beat. With an exclusive, no one else can record a track and release it for sale using the backing track - your beat-maker can’t resell it to another singer or artist. These licenses can become pricey. On the other hand, a non-exclusive instrumental is sort of like a beat rental. You have the right (sometimes with conditions) to record a song on the beat however you might not be the sole person. The producer may keep selling that same beat over and over to other artists.

If you’re releaseing a mixtape or a short EP or pretty much anything you’re going to use largely for building buzz then a lease beat is most likely best. They are cheap ($25-$75), solid and chances are you will not come across another artist that uses the same backing track and has the same fan-base as you. (Even if you do, it’s for a mixtape - so it’s not a gigantic deal. Different artists use the same backing tracks all the time). But if you’re recording a commercial album or single you plan on selling in stores, touring off of and marketing to radio and other media outlets you’re going to probably want an exclusive track. That way no one else will hear or have access to the beat before you release your song. And when it is published to the public and someone else uses it for a freestyle or mixtape, it will be known as your beat - you have rights to the exclusive license. This can also be great for your own marketing. You are the only singer that can publish a song on that backing track and the beat will be known in the public domain as yours - even if another rapper uses it and jumps on it after).

There are many positives and cons to both kinds of licenses. You have to figure it out and make a decision about what the purpose of your track is in the marketplace and make your purchase based on that. Take the time to strategize your release, and it will pay off. Keep in mind, this is your career - take it seriously!
If you want to learn more about the urban music business, look out for my other articles in this series! You can also email me anytime! Hope this way helpful,