Free beats are a great way to attract artists and get your music heard. But to protect your work and encourage future sales, you need to attach a limited-use license that outlines what the artist can and can’t do with the beat.
What a Free Beat License Should Allow
Writing and recording demos Practice/freestyling Non-commercial social media use (optional) Sharing with friends or posting previews (non-monetized)
This gives artists freedom to create—but sets clear limits until they pay.
What It Should Not Allow
Uploading the song to Spotify, Apple Music, etc. Monetized YouTube or TikTok posts Radio play or live commercial performance Selling the song in any form Claiming ownership or publishing rights
These activities should only be unlocked with a paid lease or exclusive license.
How to Add This to Your BeatStars Page
Enable the Free Download Gate and attach your license terms
Use a PDF or plaintext file as the license download
BeatStars automatically tracks and delivers the agreement
Bonus Tip: Collect Emails When Offering Free Beats
Add an email requirement to your free download
This builds your fanbase and gives you leads to follow up with
You can later offer exclusive discounts or upgrade offers
Final Thought:
Your free beat license is the bridge between exposure and income. It lets artists create safely while giving you leverage to upsell a paid license once the song is ready to release.
