Quit your job and make money creating music.

THE DREAM.

Except it’s not a dream. It’s true for many producers who played their cards right and kept going. Here’s a quick guide to get started on how to sell beats online with a winning hand.

What you’ll need:

• Good music
• Some marketing
• Consistency & the right mindset

That’s it. It’s really that simple. But just because I say simple I don’t mean easy.

Probably, in the beginning you won’t be making thousands of dollars per day, and that’s ok, you need to be ready to put in the work and don’t get discouraged on days where things move slower.

With these elements – good music, marketing and consistency – there is a good chance that one day BeatStars might make a tweet about you:

Ready?

Let’s go!

 

Understanding the Beat Selling Industry

Before delving into the details of selling beats, it's crucial to get the dynamics of the beat selling industry. This knowledge will help you position yourself effectively and maximize your chances of success.

And the demand for beats extends beyond artists. Content creators, filmmakers, and advertisers, also seek high-quality beats to enhance their projects. From YouTube videos to commercials, beats add an extra layer of depth and engagement to diverse forms of media.

The Demand for Beats

The first question to ask yourself is: Why do people buy beats? Artists, both aspiring and established, are constantly on the lookout for captivating instrumentals to complement their lyrics and melodies. Beats serve as the foundation of a song, creating the mood and atmosphere that captivate listeners. As a beat producer, your role is to meet this demand by offering high-quality, unique, and inspiring beats.

Researching Your Target Market

To effectively sell beats, it's essential to identify your target market. Who are the artists or genres that resonate with your sound? Research popular artists within those genres, analyze their musical style, and tailor your beats accordingly. By understanding your target market's preferences, you can create beats that cater to their specific needs.

Competitor Analysis

Analyzing your competitors is another critical aspect of understanding the beat selling industry. Investigate successful beat producers in your niche, assess their branding, pricing, and marketing strategies. Identify what sets them apart and learn from their successes and failures. This knowledge will help you position yourself uniquely and develop a competitive advantage.

Creating High-Quality Beats

The foundation of a successful beat selling business is in the quality of your tracks. Creating exceptional beats that resonate with artists and listeners is crucial for attracting potential buyers. Here's a couple things you should focus in as you advance:

Master Your Production Skills

Invest time and effort into mastering your production skills. Study music theory, learn different production techniques, and experiment with various software and equipment. With time, the more proficient you become, the better you'll be able to translate your creative vision into polished beats.

Pay Attention to Sound Selection

Carefully choose sounds and samples that complement each other and create a cohesive experience. Experiment with different instruments, textures, and effects to add depth and uniqueness to your beats. Aim for a balance between familiarity and innovation, ensuring that your beats have a distinct character that sets them apart. Also, always make sure that you can use the sounds or samples without any problems.
All these free guitar loops are 100% royalty free so you never have to worry about copyright issues. 

Focus on Arrangement and Structure

Create beats that have a well-defined arrangement and structure. Pay attention to the intro, verses, choruses, bridges, and outros. Build anticipation and momentum throughout the track, guiding the listener on a captivating musical journey. A well-crafted arrangement enhances the overall impact of your beats and makes them more appealing to artists looking for versatile compositions.

The loops here at Mostro have a few secret tools that will help you with this. The Creative Control Layers and Speed Foundation Files will help you make better arrangements and build the foundation of your beat in no time, and even all the free loops have them. 

Polish Your Mixing and Mastering

A polished mix and master can make a significant difference in the overall quality of your beats. Focus on balance and EQ to create a clear and better sound. Pay attention to the dynamics, stereo imaging, and overall tonal balance.You can consider outsourcing the mixing and mastering process to a professional to ensure the highest quality of your vision.

Stay Unique and Authentic

While it's important to stay aware of industry trends, try to develop your own unique style and sound. Embrace your creativity and let it shine through in your beats. 

Artists are often searching for beats that stand out and have a distinctive personality. Remember that the music industry is a people industry. 

Quality Control and Feedback

Consistently review and assess the quality of your beats. Seek feedback from trusted sources, such as fellow producers or artists. Constructive criticism can help you identify areas for improvement and refine your craft. Continuously strive for growth and push the boundaries of your creativity.

By focusing on creating high-quality beats, you increase your chances of attracting artists and content creators who are willing to invest in your productions. Remember, quality is not just about technical proficiency; it's also about infusing your beats with emotion, authenticity, and a unique artistic perspective.

Your Producer Tag

Producer tags are audio snippets that serve as a signature for their work. Almost every song has one so you’ve probably heard a few before! They are great both for branding and getting recognition and also to avoid people from using your beats without the explicit rights to do so.

Build Your Online Presence

Once you have crafted your beats, it's time to establish a strong online presence. Creating a platform to showcase your work and attract potential buyers is crucial for your success as a beat producer. 

Get your own Professional Website

A professional website serves as your virtual storefront, allowing artists to discover and purchase your beats. This is like inviting everyone who stops by to your studio, it is your presentation card. Use it well. 

Develop a Strong Social Media Presence

How could we forget about the big names in the content industry? Instagram and TikTok are the main platforms to get your beats out there. 

Just remember, don’t use these platforms to spam your followers or anyone else. Social Media is great for expressing yourself, and really showcase your personality.

Nowadays, people want to know who you are, what you do and your story as a whole with its ups and downs. Keep it simple and honest, and bring your audience into your creative process, daily life and things you enjoy. 

Treating your followers as close friends will lead to more engagement and inevitably make them a part of your creations. 

Both YouTube and all the other social platforms like Instagram and TikTok thrive on the concept of content marketing. This means creating content that indirectly promotes your products or services, either by entertaining or educating your audience.
You need to create content to capture the attention of music artists. The more eyes and attention you get, the more chances you’ll get for people to buy your beats. It’s a numbers game.

Build your email list

Emails are BY FAR the most valuable asset in today's internet economy. Email marketing outperforms all the other conversion rates for regular ads and organic marketing, so it’s very important that you focus your effort in getting the emails of potential customers so that afterwards you can keep in touch, send updates about your newest projects, drive traffic to your youtube, and so much more. Just remember not to spam them! EVER!

Explore Marketplaces

In addition to your website and social media presence, consider leveraging beat selling platforms. Websites like BeatStars, Airbit, and SoundClick offer dedicated marketplaces where artists can browse and purchase beats. By listing your beats on these platforms, you can tap into a larger pool of potential buyers and increase your visibility within the beat selling community.

Where to sell beats?

Your own website 

You can sell beats online through your own website or a third party storefront. Owning your own  site is financially smarter and gives you more control. It also boosts your branding and professionalism, and allows you to sell other products like merch.

Beatstars

BeatStars is a popular platform to sell beats online. Creators have made over $100 million selling 1.3 million digital products. You can start selling for free with up to 10 tracks, or upgrade for unlimited tracks and premium features. Paid subscribers keep 100% of earnings, free users pay 30%.BeatStars also serves as a distribution platform, allowing you to release your beats and earn from streaming and download platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and SoundCloud.

Airbit

Airbit is a popular beat marketplace with 800k users and $45M annual earnings pool. Join for free, upload beats, set prices, and start selling. Airbit offers templates, collaboration tools, and YouTube monetization. Platinum plan costs $7.99/month and includes unlimited beats, $100 promo credit, and no commission.

Audio Jungle

AudioJungle is part of Envato Market, a major marketplace for digital products. One great thing about AudioJungle is that you can sell various audio files, including beats, music packs, sound effects, and audio logos.

Similar to Airbit, AudioJungle has a large customer base and offers excellent discoverability. This means you don't have to spend as much time marketing your tracks compared to selling on your own website.

Premium Beat

PremiumBeat is a music library owned by Shutterstock where artists can sell beats. To submit your beats, they must be original, you must own the copyright, and you must agree to exclusivity. This may not be suitable for producers who prefer multiple platforms and they do have a lot of strict guidelines to follow. 

Bandcamp

Bandcamp is an artist-friendly online music store where you can sell beats and connect with fans. You keep 85% of your earnings, and what's unique is that you can set a minimum fee while giving fans the option to pay more (which they often do).

TrakTrain

TrakTrain offers 15 MP3 uploads, no commission fees, and customization options. You can collaborate, offer free downloads, schedule releases, and use marketing tools to promote your beats.

AudioDraft

Audiodraft is a major player in the industry and ideal for those looking to establish an audio brand in the corporate world. They have a pricing policy based on the duration of the license, with producers earning 70% of revenue from sales. Audiodraft is known for connecting large clients, tech companies, and multimedia firms with music, sound design, and audio branding professionals. They have a vast community of over 20,000 creators from various countries. While it offers opportunities to monetize skills beyond beat selling, success depends on obtaining contracts with larger clients and putting in the necessary effort.

Soundee

Soundee is a marketplace for selling beats with good profit-sharing options. It's less competitive than Airbit and BeatStars, and offers advanced features like crypto payments.

Soundclick

SoundClick is a renowned music marketplace with a long history. It boasts a vast library and is one of the few platforms that allows free users to upload an unlimited number of tracks.

Although there is no limit on track uploads, it's important to be mindful of data limits. Additionally, there is a 30% fee on sales of licensed beats.To avoid fees, you can upgrade to the Gold membership for $15 per month.

Soundgine 

Soundgine is a versatile marketplace that allows producers to sell a variety of audio content, such as hip-hop beats, sound effects, TV and movie scores, songs, and albums. It is incredibly easy to use: simply sign up, create your beat store, upload your audio, set up your payment gateways, and you're ready to start selling. You have the freedom to set your own prices for different licenses and even offer membership subscriptions to your customers. Additionally, you gain access to a cutting-edge music player that allows customers to preview your tracks and share your music on social media. Plans start at $9.99 per month.

SoundCloud

SoundCloud, founded in 2007, is one of the most well-known and oldest online platforms for independent music creators. It has served as a go-to platform for selling beats online and promoting up-and-coming artists. On SoundCloud, creators can choose to upload their beats for free or upgrade to a SoundCloud Pro Unlimited membership to get access to valuable creator tools. What makes SoundCloud stand out is its fan-powered royalty system, in which artists are compensated based on the amount of time their devoted fans spend streaming their beats. To receive royalties, artists must be members of the Pro Unlimited program or Repost by SoundCloud. SoundCloud provides a great opportunity to sell beats and connect with a devoted fan base.

Marketing and Selling Your Beats

Once you have established your online presence, it's time to focus on marketing and selling your beats effectively. Implementing the right strategies will help you reach your target audience and close sales.

Post on social media

If you are reading this, that means you have the possibility to make so much money with just your laptop and the internet. There are only two key aspects to this: getting to the right people and standing out to them. Thankfully, with some tweaking the algorithms usually take care of the first part, but the hard part is finding a way to get people to stop scrolling and listen to your stuff for a moment in their busy lives. Show your work as much as you can and get creative.
Here’s 3 free tools that can help you with that. 

Create Attractive Beat Descriptions

When listing your beats on your website or beat selling platforms, write captivating and informative descriptions. Highlight the unique qualities of each beat, describe its mood and potential usage, and provide any additional information that would interest potential buyers. Use language that evokes emotion and creates a vivid image in the artist's mind. Today this is easier than ever with so many free AI tools on the market, like chatgpt. 

Collaborate with Artists

This is a mutually beneficial strategy for marketing your beats. Reach out to artists within your niche and offer them free or discounted beats in exchange for exposure or shout-outs on their social media channels. This collaborative approach can significantly expand your reach and attract new buyers.

Offer Licensing Options

To cater to the diverse needs of artists, consider offering different licensing options for your beats. These options may include leases, exclusive rights, or custom beats. Clearly outline the terms and conditions of each licensing option, including usage rights and distribution limitations. Providing flexibility will attract a wider range of artists and increase your chances of making sales. Here’s a guide on how lincensing for music works and why you need them, plus a free licensing template.  

Implement Effective Pricing Strategies

Determining the right price for your beats can be challenging. Research the market rates for beats within your genre and adjust your pricing accordingly. Consider offering discounts or limited-time promotions to entice potential buyers. Remember, finding the balance between affordability and value is key to maximizing your sales.

Check your mindset

Probably the hardest aspect of starting a business is changing your mindset to become resilient and consistent regardless of immediate result. 

You need to have a constant state of evaluation and reassessment so that you can fix whatever is not working and at the same time keep your head cold and not take anything personally. 

It can sure be overwhelming but keep in mind that slow and steady always wins the race. What is important is that you ditch whatever excuses are floating in your head,just start and never stop. 

 

Now, I know there must be a bunch of questions on your mind right now. I hope these will cover some of them: 

How do beginners sell beats?

Beginners can sell beats by starting with online marketplaces specifically designed for selling music, such as Airbit, BeatStars, or Soundgine. These platforms provide a user-friendly interface for uploading and showcasing beats, setting prices, and handling transactions. It's important for beginners to focus on building a strong online presence by promoting their beats through social media, networking with other artists and producers, and actively engaging with potential customers. Building a professional website or utilizing platforms like SoundCloud can also help beginners gain exposure and attract buyers. Additionally, offering free downloads or collaborations with other artists can be a valuable strategy to gain recognition and establish a customer base.

How much can you sell beats for?

The price range for selling beats can vary widely depending on factors such as the producer's experience, the quality and uniqueness of the beats, the target market, and the licensing terms. Prices can range anywhere from $20 to several hundred dollars per beat. Some producers also offer different pricing tiers based on the type of license, with higher prices for exclusive rights. It's important for producers to research the market, understand the value of their beats, and consider factors like demand, competition, and the specific needs of potential buyers when determining their pricing strategy.

Is it legal to sell beats?

Yes, it is legal to sell beats as long as you have the necessary rights and permissions. When selling beats, it is crucial to ensure that you own the copyright to the beats or have obtained the necessary licenses from the original creators. If you have created the beats entirely on your own, you automatically own the copyright. However, if you have used any samples or copyrighted material in your beats, you may need to obtain proper clearances or licenses to sell them legally. It is recommended to familiarize yourself with copyright laws and seek legal advice if you have any uncertainties about the ownership or licensing of your beats.

Can you make money selling beats?

Yes, it is possible to make money selling beats. Many producers have successfully built lucrative careers by selling their beats online. The demand for high-quality beats is constantly growing, and artists, content creators, and businesses are always in need of unique and professional music to enhance their projects. By establishing a strong online presence, marketing your beats effectively, and leveraging various platforms and marketplaces, you can attract customers and generate sales. The amount of money you can make selling beats varies depending on factors such as your skill level, the quality of your beats, your marketing efforts, and the size of your customer base. With dedication, consistency, and the right approach, selling beats can be a viable source of income for aspiring producers.

Can you sell beats with samples?

Selling beats with samples can be a complex legal issue. It is generally recommended to avoid using copyrighted samples in your beats if you intend to sell them commercially. Using samples without proper clearance or permission from the original creators can lead to copyright infringement and legal consequences. However, there are instances where you can use samples legally, such as when you obtain the necessary licenses or use royalty-free sample libraries. It is important to understand copyright laws and seek proper clearance for any samples used in your beats to ensure you are selling your work legally and avoiding potential legal issues in the future.

Is selling beats profitable?

Selling beats online can be profitable for many producers. With the increasing demand for music production in various industries, including music artists, content creators, and businesses, there is a market for high-quality beats. By leveraging online platforms and marketplaces dedicated to selling beats, producers can reach a wide audience and generate income from their creations. The profitability of selling beats online depends on various factors, such as the producer's skill level, the uniqueness and quality of the beats, effective marketing strategies, and the size of the customer base. Consistency, professionalism, and adapting to market trends can contribute to the profitability of selling beats online.

Conclusion

Selling beats is an exciting opportunity to monetize your musical talent and connect with artists worldwide. By understanding the industry, creating high-quality beats, building an online presence, and implementing effective marketing strategies, you can increase your chances of success. Remember to continuously refine your craft, adapt to market trends, and stay persistent in your efforts. Now, go forth and conquer the beat selling world!