In Phoenix, Arizona, far from the quiet farm town in upstate New York where he grew up, 23-year-old Pieper Beats is carving out a career that at one time may have felt unattainable. For many, a small-town life often means small-town ambitions, and the idea of pursuing music full-time seems more like a pipe dream than a possibility.
Growing up, Pieper didn’t have a blueprint for becoming a producer. But he had YouTube and BeatStars. Both platforms served as his creative laboratory, allowing him to experiment with styles, genres, and keywords. What started as a hobby quickly became a passion.
“Through that process, I found what I enjoyed making the most, what fulfilled me, and also what resonated with artists and garnered the most attention,” Pieper recalls. “When I started creating Mac Miller and Kota the Friend type beats, I noticed that not many producers on YouTube or BeatStars were catering to that audience, and I found my niche.”
Finding his niche was just the start. For two years, Pieper uploaded beats to YouTube with remarkable consistency, taking feedback from artists and fellow producers to refine his craft—a piece of advice he frequently shares with up-and-coming producers.
His persistence paid off with small victories, like his first sale—a $20 beat purchased while he was out with family. That moment was a revelation: his passion had the potential to become a sustainable career.
“Once I started fully uploading beats consistently, I was maybe uploading beats once every few days. After doing that consistently for probably two years, I started getting some sales. I wasn’t getting a crazy amount, but I was making enough to call it a part-time job.”
As Pieper’s skills grew, so did his confidence in pricing his beats. While many new producers assume that selling beats at a lower price will attract more buyers, Pieper discovered the opposite: increasing his prices to reflect his quality brought him greater success.
However, the feeling of imposter syndrome that can come along with charging more for your tracks remained a challenge. “It’s something I still face,” Pieper admits, acknowledging a struggle shared by many creatives. To combat this, he focused on elevating the perceived value of his beats through meticulous branding and marketing.
Pieper’s branding is deliberate and cohesive. His Instagram, for instance, features a consistent theme: Pieper playing guitar as the foundation of a beat, paired with a simple overlay of his DAW. While it may not be the flashiest approach, it’s one that he can implement authentically and consistently.
As his customer base expanded, Pieper turned to email marketing to safeguard his business. It was a strategic move to ensure he could maintain contact with his audience, regardless of changes on social platforms.
“Let’s say Instagram shuts down, you can’t contact [any of your customers]. But if you have an email, you can. You always have that, and you can always get in touch with them if you have to.”
With email marketing in place and steady sales rolling in, Pieper set his sights on publishing—a step many producers overlook until they land a significant placement. For Pieper, that moment came with Diego Gonzalez’s “You and I,” a song that sits at over 115 million Spotify streams.
“Before [the placement], I didn't have any big songs out. I would get royalty checks every once in a while. It took me getting one big song out, and then I realized just how much publishing can be a passive income, basically. If you have these big songs coming out that consistently get good streams, that can feed you for a while.”
Still, getting to the point of knowing terms to negotiate when an opportunity like this came along wasn’t always intuitive. A key lesson came from BeatStars’ Director of Music & Creator Development, Mike Trampe was: “If a label hits you up about a beat, instead of giving them a price, ask them to provide the terms for masters, publishing, and an advance, so that way they give you the offer first.”
Looking ahead, Pieper dreams of sync placements in films, commercials, and video games, alongside releasing more beat tapes that blend his producer identity with his artistic ambitions. At the heart of it all, his mission remains rooted in purpose.
“To keep myself at peace. As long as I’m making music that I’m happy with, and people out there are happy with it and are still supporting me, then I know that I’m doing something right.”
When RicoRunDat sold his first beat on BeatStars for $7.50 as a sophomore in high school, he felt his world change. He immediately ran downstairs to share his achievement with his parents.
“They were like, ‘nice,’” he remembers, laughing. “But to me, it was like, ‘This is crazy. I managed to make money out of thin air.’ That’s what it felt like.”
He knew he wanted to chase that feeling, and he did, many times over. While residing in Toronto, Canada, Rico has consistently made sales, so much so that he’s able to make this a full-time living out of his career. Though he’s only 21 years old, he’s figured out the process to becoming a full-time creative.
Like many creatives who find success at an early age, Rico made some mistakes with money. After his first sale for $7.50, he raised his prices. He sold more beats at a consistent rate, so many that he splurged on a $1,000+ pair of shoes when he was 17.
“I’m glad I did stupid stuff like that because I learned what to do and what not to do with my money,” he claims.
Now, he chooses to reinvest his earnings into his craft, and sets aside a much smaller portion to enjoy. He prefers to invest in synthesizers and other equipment to make his beats better. As a solo entrepreneur, he prioritizes setting aside money for taxes and bills. He then breaks down the rest of his spending into buckets: “What type of equipment do I need right now? Where should I travel to? What type of stocks should I invest in? How much should I put back for enjoying life?
“At the end of the day, we don’t make this money for no reason,” he says. “You gotta have fun in life, too.”
Though Rico looks back on the $1,000 shopping spree with a bit of embarrassment, his intentions were in the right place. He believes that investing in his image is a crucial piece to his business, especially when working in-person or in studios. Success in becoming a producer can really boils down to how well you present yourself.
For Rico, simplicity is key for his brand. His BeatStars and Instagram profiles are minimal. No “Type Beat” or rapper names are found in the titles of his beats. His recent tracks feature black-and-white images of rappers for a clean, clear look.
His Instagram follows the same minimalist approach. Film cameras and similar settings are his preferred aesthetic for photos he’s featured in. Rico’s secret to branding really isn’t a secret at all: he thinks of himself as an artist. When a project is coming out, he posts more frequently on social media - clips from podcasts he’s featured on, unreleased photos from business trips. There are no hired photographers or creative directors, no official marketing budget, just a keen eye for quality and filtering out what doesn’t fit.
Early in his career, Rico gained recognition for being the go-to producer for Pop Smoke and King Von type beats. Instead of relying on traditional email marketing strategies to retain his customers, he focused on building a brand that made him synonymous with a specific sound.
This approach highlights that success doesn't always follow the same path. While many may prioritize email marketing to keep buyers updated on their latest projects, Rico trusts that his strong brand will naturally draw people back to his profile.
"When I send out my samples and beats," Rico explains, "I don't like to send them to 400 different people. I prefer to stick to a smaller group of about 15-20 people and build off of that, creating a tight-knit group of collaborators that I genuinely enjoy working with."
However, as the popularity of Pop Smoke's and King Von's sounds has waned, Rico has noticed a slight decline in his consumer base. This has prompted him to adapt and diversify his sound, illustrating the potential pitfalls of aligning too closely with a single artist's style.
Because there’s no active management company involved in Rico’s career, relationships and collaborations are the lifeblood for his career.
For example, his placement with Lil Durk and Rob 49 came through his good friend and collaborator, DJ FM CT, who is signed to Lil Durk. The process for landing the placement was relatively simple: Rico sent DJ FM CT a sample, he made the beat, and likely at some point, CT played the beat for Durk and secured the song.
“The network of people you have around you is everything,” Rico says.
Rico's journey is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and strategic thinking. From his first $7.50 beat sale in high school to making a full-time living as a producer, Rico's journey is not just about talent; it’s rooted in learning, adapting, and building meaningful relationships.
When asked if he has any keys for success for others who are pursuing a career full-time, he says, simply: “Consistency, and stay true to who you are.
This question resonates with many creators, including one of our top-selling producers, Eeryskies. In a BeatStars interview, he shared his thought process after completing a track he loved: “How can I make sure I get the most amount of eyes on this as possible?”
The answer is clear: BeatStars Promote—a powerful tool to supercharge your marketing strategy.
Promote is a digital advertising solution tailored specifically for creators on the BeatStars platform. Whether you’re an emerging artist or an established producer, Promote is designed to help you grow your following by connecting with a wider audience and understand your reach through tags and analytics.
You'll gain access to a detailed analytics dashboard for deeper insights into your audience and enhanced discoverability (including custom and global targeting) options designed to help connect with more listeners and potential customers.
Launching a campaign is quick and easy:
Before we dive into tips for promoting your tracks, albums, sound kits, and profiles, take a look at our comprehensive guide filled with best practices, expert tips, and step-by-step instructions. From crafting effective campaigns to mastering the bidding system, this guide has everything you need to succeed.
Update Your Bio
When promoting your BeatStars profile, revisit your bio and really utilize that real estate. Your bio is one of the first things that visitors will see, and can set the tone of their first impression of you. What type of sound do you typically go for? What does your profile say about your brand and the type of music you make?
Leverage the Repost Function
As you gain followers from Promoting your Profile, use the Repost function to share your beats with your audience. This will help you capitalize on your new followers by getting your music on their BeatStars feed.
Take the Time to Do an Overall Refresh
Make sure everything you offer in your store is up-to-date before promoting your profile. If you’ve been neglecting setting up a service, memberships, merchandise, or updating your licenses, then now is the time to do it! Running routine audits of your site is a great way to ensure that all of your information is correct and ready for first impressions.
Title Your Tracks with Trending Searches
Keep an eye on trending genres, searches, or type beats. For example, if Afrobeats or Lil Baby is trending on BeatStars, then try promoting a track that caters to that trend.
Run Ads During Holidays and Seasonal Events
Run ads on your tracks during holidays or special events. The BeatStars Marketplace sees an influx of buyers from November to December with people looking to purchase gifts, make songs for loved ones, or finish out the year strong with new songs. Running ads during the holidays can cut through the noise of competition as other producers on BeatStars run end-of-year deals. If you have an anniversary coming up, such as your one year on BeatStars, celebrating with special discounts can entice current fans and ring in new ones.
Try Out Various Discounting Methods
When you’re promoting a track, experiment with offering BOGO deals. If buyers are coming onto BeatStars to buy a track regardless of a ‘Buy One Get One’ deal, buyers may feel more inclined to buy an additional track to unlock a free one.
Align Your Campaign with a Release Date
When dropping an album or beat tape, try aligning BeatStars Promote with your release date. If you plan on executing a huge marketing push the week your album comes out, then be sure to set your time and ad duration to span across the release week. Once your ad campaign has ended, go back and look at your ad’s insights to see what day your ad performed best. This information could in turn be used in future BeatStars Promote campaigns, and can help you determine your ROI after launching an ad campaign.
Title Your Album with Trending Searches
Similar to the ‘Promoting Your Tracks’ tip, compiling an album showcasing tracks that fit trending searches is another great way to increase your streams and sales. Keep in mind that this is a more timely drop, but when done correctly, can increase the possibility of landing more track sales. An example of an album name for something like this could be, 'Album Name | Featuring Drake Type Beats'.
Include Sound Kits as a Key Part of Your Product Offering, Alongside Beats
Offering sound kits can expand your customer base beyond just artists to include other producers who are always looking for fresh sounds to inspire their work. Unlike beats, which primarily attract artists, sound kits appeal to fellow creators seeking high-quality sounds like drum loops, kicks, 808s, synths, and short vocal samples to enhance their own beats. By marketing sound kits, you tap into a broader market, establishing yourself as a go-to resource for producers looking to diversify their sound libraries.
Sound Kits to Build Relationships with Other Producers
One great benefit of promoting sound kits is using them as a tool to build relationships with other producers. After someone purchases your kit, send a follow-up email expressing your excitement about their purchase and ask if they’d be willing to share what they create with it. This not only adds a personal touch but opens the door for meaningful connections. If they end up creating something impressive, it could lead to future collaboration opportunities, whether it’s co-producing beats, sharing insights, or even joint projects.
Content ID & More enables you to see where your tracks are being used and ensures that others can’t claim your work. But what happens if you want to allow specific customers to use your music in their content? That’s where allowlisting comes in.
What is Allowlisting?
Allowlisting (also known as “Whitelisting”) is a process that lets you permit certain customers to use your content without triggering Content ID & More claims.
How Does BeatStars’ Allowlisting Process Work?
On BeatStars, users of Content ID & More have an option to allowlist specific buyers:
Differences between Content ID & More and Allowlisting
When you upload an audio track to YouTube Content ID and do not place an allowlist on matching videos, you become eligible to earn revenue from those videos. This process ensures that content creators who use your music without proper licensing do not profit unfairly from your work.
For instance, if a creator has not purchased a license, or if they have acquired a license that does not include YouTube monetization rights, these are examples where you would refrain from allowlisting their videos. This practice safeguards your revenue stream and ensures that only those who comply with your licensing terms benefit from monetization.
On the other hand, if a license is sold that includes YouTube monetization rights, it is essential to allowlist the relevant video or channel. This step recognizes the legal use of your music by licensed users, allowing them to monetize their content without interference.
It is important to note that purchasing a non-exclusive license at any time does not grant the buyer the right to submit their newly created song to any Content ID service. This protection maintains control over your intellectual property and prevents unauthorized use or distribution.
By carefully managing allowlists and adhering to proper licensing practices, you can optimize your revenue and maintain the integrity of your content in the digital space.
Additional Resources:
Digital platforms are your virtual real estate. Just as you protect your physical property, securing your tracks' identity across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Meta is crucial. Imagine a trending sound on TikTok used in countless videos—there's a producer entitled to revenue from that usage.
What is Content ID & More?
In 2007, YouTube introduced a service called Content ID to help copyright owners easily identify and manage their intellectual property on the platform. This system works by scanning the copyright owner’s content against a database of files submitted by other rights holders. Over time, more social platforms that use music as a part of the user experience – like Meta and TikTok – added their versions of Content ID as well.
Content ID allows copyright owners to determine what action to take when their sound used within a video on a social platform matches their work. If a match is detected, a Content ID claim is generated. The system assigns a digital fingerprint (more on that below) to each piece of content, enabling copyright owners to efficiently identify, manage, and monetize their works.
Building on the success of these Content ID models, BeatStars has streamlined multiple monetization programs into one solution called Content ID & More to track your music across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
Why Every Track Has a Digital Fingerprint
When you upload a track to BeatStars' Content ID & More system, it is assigned a unique digital fingerprint. This digital fingerprint monitors your track's use across TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. It will also appear within the platforms’ sound libraries, making it available for users to discover and use.
Registration Criteria
If you are a Pro member, you can easily submit your tracks for Content ID & More from your Studio dashboard under the Features tab on the left-hand side, without any additional cost.
Here’s what you need to know about registering your tracks for Content ID & More:
PRO TIP: Avoid submitting ambient sounds, white noise, ASMR effects, or music designed for sleep, as these sounds are often indistinct and can lead to conflicts with other creators. Similarly, tracks created specifically for video games may cause issues with Content ID and should not be submitted.
Why The Earliest Registration Always Wins
Content ID operates on a "first registration" system. This means that whoever registers a unique sound first is recognized as the master owner. Essentially, the first person to register holds the keys to the content. If someone else later tries to claim that same sound, it creates a conflict within the Content ID & More system, temporarily halting the video from monetizing until the issue is resolved between the copyright holders—whether that’s the label, artist, or producer.
PRO TIP: Register your tracks through our Content ID & More platform as soon as they’re created—before they’re downloaded, purchased, or discovered by buyers. This helps you maintain control over your intellectual property (your tracks) and prevents others from claiming ownership first. Think of it like holding the keys to your own house: if you wait, someone else could try to claim ownership, leading to legal disputes later on.
The Power of UGC
Now that we’ve covered the technical details, let’s talk about how all of this comes together. Every time you upload your tracks, they will be listed in Meta and TikTok’s sound libraries. Meaning, that now millions of influencers and general creators will have access to your sounds. Let’s check out a few case studies of tracks that became widely popular on social media.
L. Dre – ”Steven Universe”
L. Dre was an early adopter of TikTok, capitalizing on the platform before it became widespread. Inspired by another producer's success with remixes, L. Dre followed a similar path, remixing popular songs that quickly went viral. He maintained his visibility by consistently releasing remixes and eventually shifted to remixing theme songs from shows like Gravity Falls and Up.
His remix of Steven's Universe went viral after a fan suggested it in the comments. L. Dre didn’t actively promote the track, instead letting it resonate naturally with his audience. Though he released the beat in March 2020, it didn’t gain traction until October, when it began to spread widely across TikTok.
This organic success opened doors to major brand deals, including partnerships with Honda and Samsung. These companies saw the potential in aligning with L. Dre as his music gained momentum on TikTok.
Jawsh658 – ”Laxed (Siren Beat)”
Jawsh created the beat in New Zealand without the intention of going viral. But after uploading it to YouTube, someone posted it to TikTok, and it quickly became the soundtrack to a viral dance trend. Eventually, Jason Derulo noticed the track and collaborated with Jawsh on the song “Savage Love,” leading to over 1 billion streams and more than 31 million TikTok videos featuring his beat.
L. Dre and Jawsh658's stories are perfect examples of how a viral hit can generate huge opportunities—and with tools like Content ID & More, you can make sure you're compensated for it.
PRO TIP: To mirror the success of producers like L. Dre and Jawsh658, and maximize revenue from user-generated content on platforms like BeatStars:
Additional resources:
In the competitive and constantly evolving music industry, it's crucial for producers to establish a unique identity.
SHYY highlighted three key strategies that have been instrumental to his success: building a distinct sound, creating a consistent brand image, and practicing discipline and consistency. Here’s how these strategies can help you grow your business.
1. Build Your Unique Sound
One of the most effective ways to get noticed is by developing a signature sound. As a producer, this approach not only helps you stand out but also makes you more recognizable in a crowded marketplace.
Initially, it’s important to focus on one particular style or sound that can define you. This helps create a strong association between your name and the type of music you create. As you grow and expand, you can experiment with other sounds, but building that initial foundation is key.
2. Establish a Strong Visual Brand
Your brand goes beyond just your music. When potential customers visit your store, they should instantly recognize your style, not just from the sounds, but visually as well. Your cover art plays a significant role in this. Consistency in your visuals is just as important as consistency in your music.
Avoid posting random or mismatched images, such as switching between a photo of a rapper for one cover artwork and an image of a beach for the next. This lack of consistency can confuse your audience and dilute your brand identity. By maintaining a cohesive visual aesthetic, you create a stronger connection with your audience and make it easier for them to recognize and remember your brand.
In Studio, you can utilize our seamless Canva integration to easily design and import your artwork during the track creation process. Simply click "Edit Artwork" button, and you’ll be able to import any designs you've created directly from Canva.
3. Be Disciplined and Stay Consistent
Discipline is the backbone of success in any business, and production is no exception. Posting beats regularly, without fail, should be your baseline standard for building momentum. In SHYY’s case, whether he was sick, traveling, or busy with other commitments, he maintained a consistent schedule that shows professionalism and dedication. This discipline not only builds trust with your audience but also reinforces your presence in the industry. Over time, this steady output is what will grow your business.
Additional resources to help you build your brand:
Right from the moment you visit the PROKits section on BeatStars, the kits are featured prominently, giving them immediate front-page access. This visibility can be crucial in reaching more producers who are actively searching for new sounds.
The benefits of offering PROKits
One of the primary benefits of creating a PROKit is the increased opportunity for discovery. Producers who only offer beats for purchase have less chances to be found through the BeatStars search function. But, if you expand your offerings by creating sound kits, services, or playlists, you’re opening multiple avenues for discovery.
Think of it like this: the more ways people can search and find you, the better. By being in the PROKit program, you’re giving yourself additional chances to be discovered by a wider audience.
Free downloads for Pro users
One of the most intriguing aspects of BeatStars PROkits is the way they’re offered to users. Each month, users with a Pro subscription are given ten credits per month to redeem for free kits.
Since users are limited in how many kits they can access each month, there’s always a chance they’ll come back to explore more options and purchase more in the future.
Why give away kits for free with credits?
You might be wondering why producers would give away sound kits for free in the first place. The key here is opportunity. Just like offering free downloads of beats, providing free access to kits creates more chances for placements. If more people are using your sounds in their productions, the likelihood of landing a successful track increases.
It’s worth noting that when someone redeems a PROKit using their credits, you won’t receive direct monetary compensation. However, if they choose to purchase the kit outright without using credits, you will earn compensation for that sale. This flexibility ensures that PROKits are accessible to everyone, whether they are using Pro subscription credits or making direct purchases, giving you the potential for both exposure and revenue.
Still, the benefits of offering free kits can help you build your email list and targeted advertising audience, allowing for more strategic marketing in the future. You still retain ownership and can set terms for usage. By providing these kits, you’re essentially increasing the chances that someone will use your sounds in a project that gains traction.
Maximize exposure
At the end of the day, success as a producer often comes down to numbers. Yes, the quality of your music is vital, but the more people who have access to your sounds, the better your chances of success. You don’t want to limit yourself by only offering paid kits or tracks. Some producers or artists might not have the budget to buy multiple kits, and by offering them for free via credits, you’re opening the door to more potential collaborations and placements.
It’s all about accessibility, opportunity, and collaboration. When you make your sounds more widely available, you increase the chances that someone will use them in a project, potentially leading to more exposure.
Take advantage of every opportunity
If you’re a producer looking to increase your chances of success, don’t pigeonhole yourself into offering only one type of product. By creating PROKits, you’re giving yourself additional visibility and multiple pathways for discovery. Whether people redeem them with credits or purchase them outright, offering a variety of sound kits can expand your reach and increase your chances of landing more placements.
Additional resources:
We have made the track uploading process more streamlined and catered toward your needs as a creator. Here are a few things that are new about it.
FILES & BASIC INFO
You'll still have the ability to upload multiple audio files for a track, just like in Marketplace. But now, rather than a top-down form to fill out, you easily just have a four-step process to follow. When uploading your files, simply drag and drop your files into the designated upload boxes, and you're all set. From there, you can add descriptions, photos, and even specify the track type.
We’ve added two new features: Review Submission feature. Now, at any point during the uploading process, you can easily review your track and the information you've entered. This gives you the flexibility to make any necessary changes before finalizing your upload.
Also, whenever you're ready to move on to the next step in the uploading process, your inputs and the tab’s title will light up in green. This visual cue lets you know you've successfully entered all the required information before proceeding.
When you’re ready to upload your music, you’ll complete four steps in total. First, is making sure you’re uploading all of your proper information and file types. Below is a comprehensive list of the files you’ll need to have ready to go.
Untagged .wav/.mp3 – An uncompressed audio file, meaning it retains the full quality of the original recording.
PRO TIP : When uploading your tracks, ensure that your cover art aligns with a consistent branding style. On BeatStars, you can take advantage of our Canva integration to easily design your artwork and import it directly into your upload. Simply click the "Edit artwork" button under the "Artwork Image" section, and from there, you'll be able to import any designs you've created in Canva.
Keep in mind when you’re creating, it’s important to maintain a cohesive theme across all your artwork so your audience can easily recognize your brand. This could mean using similar photo styles or color schemes, but avoid reusing the same image repeatedly. Find a balance between consistency and variety, and don’t hesitate to experiment with different designs until you find your brand identity.
METADATA
Once you have all the proper file types uploaded, you'll move on to your metadata. This step includes all the familiar fields from Marketplace, but with some upgrades. You'll be able to select the genre, and the key and BPM will be automatically updated once the track has been uploaded.
You can also define the mood your beat fits and list the instruments used. Providing this detailed information increases your track’s chances of standing out, as many artists filter their searches by mood or specific instruments.
Keep in mind that just because a tag may have a lot of search volume, doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the tag you should stick to. This section of your uploading is all about finding your niche tags that have longevity.
PRO TIP: Use Spotify to help you find relevant tags.
Step 1) Start by searching for the most popular artist whose style your beat resembles and use their name as a tag. For instance, you could use "Gunna" as the first tag.
Step 2) Next, scroll down to the “Fans Also Like” section. Identify an artist with a smaller following and use their name as another tag. In this example, we’ll use “Yung Nudy,” who has a smaller monthly listenership.
Step 3) Finally, explore the “Fans Also Like” section of the second artist to find another relevant artist for your third tag. For this example, "SahBabii" will be the third tag.
By following these steps, you not only tag a highly relevant and popular artist but also position yourself to invest early in the area of an artist who hasn't yet gained widespread recognition.
Here’s a time saver: use the new Autofill Metadata button in the top right corner to set up templated metadata entries, allowing you to upload everything instantly.
COLLABORATORS
If you have collaborated with any other producers, you can easily manage the publishing and revenue splits here. Once the track is uploaded, it will automatically appear on both your profile and the profiles of any collaborators involved.
If you have received an invite for a collaboration, you can look at the top right corner of your Studio Dashboard, and click your notifications icon to see which tracks you have been invited to. If you don’t see a notification, you can directly visit the "Collabs" sections in your account and specifically filter for “Invitations” in the dropdown tab.
PRO TIP: The revenue split between you and your collaborators should be determined by the agreement reached among all parties involved. Typically, publishing is divided equally among the collaborators unless otherwise specified.
MONETIZATION
This is the tab to set your prices for each license type, from Basic to Exclusive, giving you full control over how your tracks are sold.
But before setting a price for your tracks, it's important to carefully evaluate several key factors. Consider the following questions to develop a strategy that works best for you:
Once you have answers to these questions, you can choose one or more of the strategies below:
TIERED INDIVIDUAL PRICING
Great for:
Examples of tiered pricing:
Unlimited lease – $250
TIERED BULK PRICING
Great for:
DISCOUNT PRICING
Great for:
FREE DOWNLOADS
Great for:
CONTENT ID
As a Pro user, you can submit your tracks to Content ID, enabling them to be tracked across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. If anyone uses your tracks without your permission as the copyright holder, you can file a claim. Additionally, your tracks will be included in sound libraries on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, allowing influencers and everyday users to feature your sounds in their content—entitling you to earn revenue from their use.
Pro Tip: Register your tracks through our Content ID platform during the uploading process—before they’re downloaded, purchased, or discovered by buyers. This helps you maintain control over your intellectual property (your tracks) and prevents others from claiming ownership first. Think of it like holding the keys to your own house: if you wait, someone else could try to claim ownership, leading to legal disputes later on.
Publish Track
Once you’ve reviewed all the details (by clicking the "Review Submission" button at the bottom left), your track will be live on your store.
Publishing Splits: A Standard 50/50 Share
No matter how a deal is structured, publishing should be split evenly—typically 50/50 between the producer and the artist. This split ensures both parties are fairly compensated for their contributions, irrespective of other deal components like advances or master points.
Advances: Flexibility Is Key
The typical advance for producers generally falls between $2,500 and $5,000. However, this range is not set in stone. We've encountered deals with both lower and higher figures, as various factors can influence the final amount. The artist's status (whether they're independent or signed to a major label), the project budget, and the number of producers working on the album all play a role in determining advance payments. For example, if an album has multiple producers contributing to each track, advances might be lower to accommodate the budget.
Master Points: Negotiating the Right Deal
Master points—representing a producer's share of revenue from master recordings—typically range between 2% and 5%. It's rare to see deals offering more than 5%, but some may go as low as 1%. In some cases, artists may refuse to offer master points altogether. When this happens, it's important to negotiate for a higher advance to balance the deal. For instance, if the offer includes 6% of the masters but a lower advance of $1,500, the flexibility in negotiations can make it work.
Key Takeaways for Producers:
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A key way to foster long-term connections with your buyers is by utilizing the tools available in your Studio, particularly the option to offer personalized coupons. After every sale, it’s important to send a thank you message to your customer, acknowledging their purchase. This is a prime opportunity to enhance your relationship. To go the extra mile, create a personalized coupon specifically for them.
Here's what it could look like in practice: once you thank your customer, offer a discount on future purchases. You can adjust the discount—whether it’s 10%, 5%, or another amount—and personalize the coupon with their name for a special touch. You can easily do this by navigating to your Studio dashboard and selecting Marketing > Discounts > Coupon Codes.
By offering a custom discount code, you show that you value their experience and are invested in building an ongoing partnership. This added effort can turn one-time buyers into loyal customers and drive more sales over time.
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Over the last 16 years, the growth and success we've experienced are largely due to one key factor: the invaluable feedback we receive from our community.
This year, we took that feedback loop to a new level by introducing the BeatStars Community Council. This initiative was designed to strengthen our connection with producers, making them active participants in helping us improve our product. It’s one thing for a company to develop products for its users - it’s something entirely different to co-create with them, allowing nearly real-time feedback to shape the development process.
Every quarter, our team meets with a core group of influential producers to showcase our ongoing projects and gather immediate, actionable insights directly from those who use our platform the most. This collaboration enables us to refine our offerings in ways that truly serve the needs of our community. As Norma, one of our Council members, noted, “I don't know any platforms that take this initiative to learn from their members, to get some feedback and be better.”
During these meetings, we covered several essential topics to enhance the user experience. The feedback we have received has been instrumental in making key features more user-friendly. Some of the most significant improvements include:
Beyond refining our existing features, these meetings have also sparked forward-thinking discussions. We asked our council members to weigh in on emerging topics like integrating AI into their workflows and the types of educational content that would be most beneficial at this stage in their careers. Rob EVN, another Council member, expressed his gratitude, saying, “It showed me that BeatStars really values its community and wants to hear from us directly. It’s cool knowing that what I say can actually make a difference.
Our ultimate goal with the BeatStars Community Council is simple: to embed our community's voice into every aspect of our operations. We worked with our Council Members to develop a Council Charter, which emphasizes direct communication, transparency, and feedback between the community and employees on BeatStars products and services.
We extend our deepest thanks to our council members for their honest, thoughtful feedback. It has influenced the way we approach product development, always with our community at the forefront.
Before setting a price for your tracks, it's important to carefully evaluate several key factors. Consider the following questions to develop a strategy that works best for you:
Once you have answers to these questions, you can choose one or more of the strategies below:
TIERED INDIVIDUAL PRICING
Great for:
Examples of tiered pricing:
TIERED BULK PRICING
Great for:
DISCOUNT PRICING
Great for:
FREE DOWNLOADS
Great for:
PRO TIP: You can always use the Top Charts as a reference to gauge the going rate for beat prices. This can help you set a competitive price that aligns with market trends while still attracting potential buyers.
Properly entering your metadata into BeatStars’ platform is a powerful tool in your arsenal. This is where you can significantly enhance your potential for success. By filling out these fields properly, especially tags, you increase your chances of achieving organic success on the BeatStars platform significantly.
In BeatStars Studio, you can add up to three tags to your beat. Keep in that just because a tag may have a lot of search volume (like “Drake” or “Future”), doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the tag you should stick to. This section of your uploading is all about finding your niche tags that have longevity.
PRO TIP 1: You can (and should) use Spotify to help you find relevant tags.
Step 1) Start by searching for the most popular artist whose style your beat resembles and use their name as a tag. For instance, you could use "Gunna" as the first tag.
Step 2) Next, scroll down to the “Fans Also Like” section. Identify an artist with a smaller following and use their name as another tag. In this example, we’ll use “Young Nudy,” who has a smaller monthly listenership.
Step 3) Finally, explore the “Fans Also Like” section of the second artist to find another relevant artist for your third tag. For this example, "SahBabii" will be the third tag.
By following these steps, you not only tag a highly relevant and popular artist but also position yourself to invest early in the area of an artist who hasn't yet gained widespread recognition.
PRO TIP 2: Single-word searches have higher search volumes on BeatStars than multiple-word searches. For example, there are more searches for “Drake” than “Drake Type Beat.” We’ve listed below the top 20 most-searched terms of the last three months (as of August 2024) across Marketplace and Pro Pages:
1. Trap
2. Drill
3. Free
4. Boom bap
5. Afrobeat
6. Pop
7. RnB
8. Juice Wrld
9. Drake
10. Hip-hop
11. Rap
12. Gunna
13. Sad
14. Future
15. Travis Scott
16. Lil Baby
17. BoomBap
18. Reggaeton
19. Country
20. Guitar
Now that you’ve got the tools, take advantage of these insights and make your uploads work harder for you. Keep experimenting, but most importantly, stay consistent!
One of the first steps to take to ensure your music is ready to sell is making sure that it’s at the highest level of quality possible. Sure, the beat itself may be creatively sound, but is the quality top-tier?
A great way to test whether your music is up to standard is by using BeatStars Top Charts. These charts feature some of the best-performing tracks on the platform, providing a benchmark for quality.
Compare your music to 3-5 creators in a similar sonic lane and evaluate how your music stacks up. If you feel as if your music is lacking in comparison, consider investing in mixing and mastering services.
Once you hear where your song can be improved, you can use BeatStars to help you find mixing and mastering services:
1. Go to the search bar, type in the service you’re looking for.
2. Click the drop-down filter on the left to “Services,” and find someone within your budget.
3. Reach out to multiple mixing and mastering engineers with your music, and some examples of what you want your music to sound like. Here is a list of our suggested mixing and mastering providers:
Heath Stone
Munya
Plantcham
As you take these steps to elevate the quality of your music, remember that investing in professional mixing and mastering services isn't just about meeting a standard—it's about making your tracks stand out in a competitive marketplace. By ensuring your tracks are polished and ready for artists to work with, you not only enhance their appeal but also increase your chances of meeting your ultimate goal: landing more sales.
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