FAQ

Frequently Asked

Everything you need to know about buying, licensing, and using beats from the catalog.

Buying & Delivery

How quickly do I get the beat after buying?

Instantly. Once checkout completes on BeatStars, you'll receive an email with a download link for your files and your signed licensing contract. There's no manual delivery. It's fully automated 24/7.

What file formats do I receive?

Premium Lease: MP3 and WAV files (both untagged).

Unlimited Lease: MP3, WAV, plus track stems (separated drums, 808, melody, etc).

Exclusive: Every format plus full project stems.

Are the MP3 and WAV files tagged?

The previews on the website have a producer tag. The files you download after purchase are 100% untagged and ready for release.

What payment methods do you accept?

Checkout runs through BeatStars, which accepts all major credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay. Everything is processed securely.

Do you accept refunds?

Digital downloads are non-refundable once delivered. This is standard for beat stores. If there's a technical issue with your files, contact me within 48 hours and I'll make it right.

Can I get a bulk discount?

Yes. Premium and Unlimited leases are Buy 2, Get 1 Free automatically. Add three beats to the cart and the discount applies at checkout.

Licensing

What's the difference between a lease and an exclusive?

A lease is a non-exclusive license. You get rights to release a song with the beat, but the beat stays in the catalog and other artists can lease it too. An exclusive means the beat is removed from sale permanently and you get exclusive rights to the master recording you create with it. The producer retains ownership of the underlying composition and keeps a publishing share, which is standard practice across independent beat licensing. See the full comparison →

Can the same beat be leased by multiple artists?

Yes. That's what "non-exclusive" means. Until the beat is purchased exclusively, multiple artists can lease it. If you want the beat to be yours alone, buy the Exclusive license.

What happens to my lease if someone buys the beat exclusively later?

Your lease remains valid. Exclusive purchases don't retroactively cancel previous leases. You can keep your existing release up and operate within your lease terms. The beat just stops being available for new leases.

Can I upgrade from Premium to Unlimited later?

Yes. Reach out and I'll credit your Premium purchase toward the Unlimited upgrade.

What if my song exceeds the 100,000 stream cap on the Premium lease?

Congrats on the traction, that's a good problem. You'll need to upgrade to the Unlimited lease to keep the song distributed beyond the cap. I'll credit your original purchase toward the upgrade.

Using the Beats

Can I put songs with leased beats on Spotify and Apple Music?

Yes. Every license tier allows distribution to streaming platforms. The Premium lease caps total streams at 100,000 across all platforms; Unlimited and Exclusive have no stream caps.

Do I need to credit DJ Smalls on my song?

Yes — producer credit is required on all licenses, including exclusives. Credit "Prod. DJ Smalls" (or "Prod. by DJ Smalls") in the song title and video descriptions.

Can I use the beat in a music video?

Premium lease: yes, but non-monetized videos only.

Unlimited and Exclusive: monetized music videos are covered.

Can I perform the song live?

Premium lease: non-profit live performances only.

Unlimited and Exclusive: paid performances (festivals, tours, ticketed shows) are covered.

Can I use a leased beat in a TV show or film?

For indie projects and smaller productions, the Unlimited lease typically covers sync use. For major film/TV placements, streaming platform originals, or national advertising, reach out for a custom sync license or exclusive.

Can I register the song with a PRO (BMI, ASCAP, SOCAN)?

Yes, but split the publishing correctly. On leases, the producer retains their share of composition rights, typically 50% writer/publisher split. I'll provide the info you need when you reach out.

Custom & Exclusive

Do you accept custom beat requests?

Yes. Custom production is available at a negotiated rate depending on complexity and turnaround. Send a message through the contact page with references, tempo/key if known, and your release timeline.

How do I purchase an exclusive?

Exclusives aren't priced publicly because every situation is different: how many leases exist, how old the beat is, the genre, the buyer's project. Reach out and I'll quote you within 24 hours.

What exactly does an exclusive include?

When you purchase an exclusive, you get:

  • The beat is removed from sale and no new licenses are sold to other artists
  • Exclusive rights to the master recording you create (your song is yours, treated as a work-for-hire)
  • All file formats including full stems
  • Unlimited streams, sales, radio, sync, and paid performances with no caps

What it doesn't include: full transfer of the underlying beat/composition. The producer retains ownership of the composition and a publishing split, which is how independent beat licensing works across the industry (BeatStars, Airbit, and every major lease platform). Prior non-exclusive leases granted before your purchase also remain valid, but the beat cannot be licensed to anyone new. For a full copyright buyout of the composition itself, that's a separate negotiation beyond the standard exclusive.

Can exclusives be paid in installments?

Yes. For larger exclusive deals, installment plans can be arranged. Terms are laid out in the contract before any payment changes hands.

Do you produce for signed artists and labels?

Absolutely. Label deals, A&R partnerships, and signed-artist placements are all welcome. Use the contact page with "Label inquiry" in the subject for faster routing.

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