So, you’re ready to set the world on fire with your flame bars or sublime singing. Just one slight problem. BEATS!
But fear not, lease beats have you covered. But where do you start as a newcomer? In this guide we will walk you through the complete process of searching, buying and using your first non-exclusive lease beat.

Understanding Lease Beats

If you’re an artist stepping into the world of purpose-made backing tracks for the first time, non-exclusive lease beats are an excellent starting point. These beats are crafted by producers with the intention of being paired with vocal performances. They come with a generally affordable set fee and a licensing agreement, giving you the rights to use the beat under specific terms.

Unlike exclusive beats, which can be prohibitively expensive, a single lease beat can be used by multiple artists. This shared usage is what makes them a budget-friendly option, perfect for artists beginning their journey. By choosing lease beats, you can focus on refining your vocal artistry without the financial burden of exclusive ownership.

Lease beats also offer an invaluable opportunity to develop your sound and grow your audience. When listeners hear your tracks, they won’t know—or care—that the beat is non-exclusive. Especially if the beat is free of producer tags. What they’ll notice is the professional quality of the production and how seamlessly it complements your performance.

Searching for the Perfect Beat!

So you have decided that using a lease beat is the way forward. Let’s look at some of the key beat hunting grounds…

Specialist Beatselling Sites

There are many dedicated beat selling marketplaces online offering an ear melting array of beats for every occasion. The two biggest players are BeatStars and Airbit although there are many others including Premium Beat, TrakTrain and Soundclick. And excitingly we have also started to sell beats on RouteNote Create.

The great thing about using a dedicated beat selling site is you have access to a wide range of search criteria. You can search by genre, type artists, mood, instrumentation, BPM and even key. These filtering tools will help narrow down the thousands of beats on offer to your own specific requirements. It is therefore very important that you start off with some kind of idea or vision about the sort of track you want to make as this will directly influence your beat choice. If you need some inspiration maybe think about some released tracks that inspire you and search for similar elements within these tracks.

Social Media

While Beatselling sites remain the most popular option there are other avenues worth exploring when beat hunting. Social media for instance can be a goldmine for finding hidden beat gems. Due to their highly algorithmic nature once you start digging around for beats and liking peoples pages and posts your feed will be awash with a wall of sounds. Unlike beatselling platforms it is aften easier to establish working relationships with producers that connect with you. The clue is in the ‘Social’ part of the title.

YouTube

Another great resource for beats is the world’s second largest search engine – YouTube. Just type in your favourite artist followed by type beats and a long list will almost certainly present itself (Whether they sound like that artist’s beat’s is another thing, however). Again, with YouTube, it’s about harnessing the power of the algorithm. It is worth setting up a YouTube account and curating personal playlists of your favourite beats. Before long the all-knowing youtube will start giving you more of what you want.

Beatmakers personal websites

Once you find a producer whose beats truly resonate with you, it’s worth checking out their personal website if they have one. Many beatmakers host their own selling platforms on e-commerce platforms such as shopify. These websites can be a goldmine as they often feature exclusive tracks, bundles, or discounts not available on larger platforms.

In most cases, producer websites serve as a secondary step in the discovery process. They’re ideal for when you’re ready to form a more consistent relationship with a producer whose sound aligns with your vision. Keep them in mind as you build your network and refine your artistic style.

Be Wary

Finally a word of caution. When searching for beats, it’s essential to ensure the producer or platform you’re dealing with is reputable. Issues like beat theft, plagiarism, and the use of uncleared samples are unfortunately common in the beat-selling industry. To protect yourself and your music, take some time to research the producer before making a purchase. Look for reviews, testimonials, or evidence of their credibility, such as a consistent portfolio or established presence on trusted platforms.

If you’re uncertain about a producer or platform, trust your instincts. Stick to options that offer transparent payment processes and clearly defined licensing agreements. Reputable producers will always provide straightforward terms and won’t hesitate to answer questions about their beats or policies. Taking these precautions not only ensures a smoother creative process but also helps safeguard your career from potential legal or ethical complications.

Beat Selection

Now time to narrow down the search and select the right beat or beats for your first project…

Feeling

While it’s important that your chosen beat compliments your vocal style, range and ability it must also connect with you emotionally. It has to inspire your best vocal performance so you really do have to feel the beat in every sense. You also have to consider whether you are trying to fit a beat to your song vision or whether you want the beat to inspire your lyrical direction. This will affect both your search criteria and eventual choice.

Sonics

Another crucial aspect to consider is how the beat sounds sonically. Focus on beats with a polished mix and dynamic arrangement. A high-quality beat will sound clear and balanced, with each element—drums, melody, and bass—distinct yet cohesive. You must also be aware of how busy the beat is. While changes in arrangement and complex layering can provide variety and interest they should not be so much that they overshadow your vocal. Having a firm grasp of all these aspects will ensure your vocals will sit well in the mix.

Pricing

It would be remiss of me if I didn’t mention the financial aspect of beat sourcing. Even if a beat is non-exclusive prices can range dramatically. They can start from as little as $10 all the way up to over $100. There are often different pricing tiers that can affect what you pay. You will need to assess all these things and work out what is the best scenario for you and your project.

The key is to not settle for the first option—explore until you find a track that speaks to you on a personal level. Remember, the beat you use for your first release will act as the foundation for all your music to come, so choose one that feels like a natural fit.

Understanding Lease Terms and Licenses

While searching and selecting beats can be a really fun and enjoyable process closely going over the paperwork might not seem as exciting. It is however an important aspect of using a leased beat

Lease agreements vary, but as mentioned previously many offer tiered options such as MP3 leases, WAV leases, and Trackout leases. Each tier provides different levels of quality and flexibility. For example, MP3 leases are the most affordable but offer lower-quality audio, while WAV and Trackout leases deliver higher fidelity and allow for advanced mixing and customization. If you’re testing the waters with your first single, an MP3 lease might suffice.

Other key aspects to look for include usage rights, streaming limits, and distribution caps. For instance, a basic lease might allow 10,000 streams, while a premium option could increase that limit to 100,000 or more. If you plan to distribute your track widely or monetize it, ensure the license supports those activities.

Understandibly, if this is your first project as an artist you will have no real idea of how your track will perform. In which case it could be worth opting for less optimistic leases that allow for renegotiation if your track starts to gain traction.

Finally, always read the fine print. Some agreements require you to credit the producer (e.g., “Prod. by [Producer Name]”), while others restrict use in certain contexts like commercials. Legitimate producers and platforms provide transparent agreements, so if anything feels off, or you don’t understand something, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. Understanding these details ensures you know where you stand and you will not get hit with any surprises down the line.

Here at RouteNote Create Beats we want to simplify this process as much as possible. Thats why we offer just one blanket licence that covers all the beats on our platform. And what’s more, it has no caps or usage restrictions and all the beats are offered as high-quality wavs.

For a much more detailed dive into all things clerical regarding licence agreements check out This Blog.

Purchasing your Beat

Purchasing a lease beat is a straightforward process on most platforms. Start by browsing for beats that fit your vision and checking the licensing options available. Once you’ve chosen your beat, add it to your cart and select the license type that suits your needs. Once the license has been selected proceed to checkout.

Trusted platforms like BeatStars and Airbit offer secure payment methods, including PayPal and credit cards, making transactions safe and hassle-free. Once payment is complete, you’ll receive an email with download links for your beat files and the licensing agreement.

It’s important to organize these files immediately as sometimes links expire or you may lose the original email. Create a dedicated folder for your project and save the beat, the agreement, and any receipts. Having everything in one place makes it easier to reference the terms later and ensures a smoother workflow during recording and production. Remember, you may need the license agreement for digital distribution purposes.

For a simple breakdown of how to find and purchase a beat on RouteNote Create check out this guide.

Conclusion

And there you have it. From initial search to completed purchase, this guide should provide you with all the ammo necessary to go out there and scoop the perfect beat for your project. So if you have always been promising yourself and others that you have what it takes to make some noise in the music biz then a little thing like your backing track shouldn’t hold you back. You have a world of beats of every style, mood and out there to discover and make use of so what are you waiting for?

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Remember – RouteNote Create now offers some of the best beats on the block.  sign-up now to check em out!