08 December 2023

As an artist, when it comes to choosing which license to purchase for a beat, there are three main things to consider together when making your decision…

Audio Quality/Mixing

Your choice of license will determine what files are included with your purchase. Most basic level licenses (cheapest) will usually only include an MP3 file of the beat. While the quality is high, it is not as high as its WAV alternative due to the compression codecs that are involved with MP3. Additionally if you were to spring for a premium license with included audio stems/trackouts, you (or your mixing engineer) will have infinitely more control over the final outcome of your track; having the freedom to process, level and eq audio at the instrument level rather than being restricted to one collective audio file.

Your Budget

Beat license prices can range from below $30 to… well anything! Don’t feel like you need to go for the most expensive one just because it’s there; and on the other hand, don’t always grab the cheapest option if you can benefit from other licenses. Basic level licenses are generally there to enable artists with a very low budget to still get access to high quality production. You should always consider the other costs of creating and putting out your song, for example, cost of studio time, mixing, mastering, artwork, music video, promotion etc. It all adds up, so make sure to look at the bigger picture when it comes to your budget and choosing a license.

Extra tip: Check for bulk/multi-buy deals. A lot of producers offer these and they can save you a decent amount of money.

You as an Artist

When you purchase your license, you will have a set number of streams/sales that can be generated unless you go with the unlimited or exclusive options. If you’re the kind of artist that’s on the verge of blowing up and could generate any number of streams/sales but can’t afford to shell out for the exclusive license, then the unlimited would be the best choice. Alternately, don’t feel like you have to spend more money on licenses that, realistically, you don’t need (you can usually upgrade later if needed)

In Conclusion

Consider all of these three things together when it comes to choosing your license. Understand which audio files are important to you, look at the bigger picture when it comes to your budget for your track/project and make decisions based on where you are in your career as an artist. I hope this has helped you understand how to choose which license option is right for you.