What kind of license should I offer with a free beat?

Beat Store : https://stephenallenmusic.beatstars.com/

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.