Industry Tips On How to Sell Beats Online

[JaxxForever]

These are very basic tips. A spoon-feeding tips for starters.


Quality not Quantity

It does not matter how many beats you make, what matters most is the quality of the music you produce. Speaking of music “quality” it doesn’t also matter if you are a famous producer or an ordinary guy. Make your music as perfect as possible and structure it like a real song
.
Target your Audience

When you complete recording your track, the next thing to do is to understand and analyze where your song could go. You cannot play rock for 50 Cent nor techno tune for Tyrese. You really need to understand who and what you are dealing with and where to expose your music.

Network

This is about relationships. You must also know whom you are going to give your tracks/beats because this is also considered as the starting step for a meeting. This is the time to build an impression, the moment to get demonstrations from artists and producers.

Get Representation

You need a lawyer or a manager, someone credible to run with the beats you made. Make some research, check out music albums, know the manager of the artists and it’s time for you then to reach out.

Work Hard

Be determined and use different ways to sell your records. You have the choice to give it to a manager, an artist, an A&R and a lawyer. If you shop beats without any manager, what drives a lawyer, A&R or a manager to pick your CD? That’s why I’m telling you to be creative.

Please, share your tips also

 

[Sucio]

...still always good to have a ton of beats. What you may think isn't that good, may be the dopest beat an artist ever heard.

But I do agree they do have to be quality.

 

[God]

Focus on differentiation. Learn to be a songwriter, craft real hooks/choruses. Learn how to structure the song properly and then sell it. You'll be able to charge more money.

These are very basic tips. A spoon-feeding tips for starters.


Quality not Quantity

It does not matter how many beats you make, what matters most is the quality of the music you produce. Speaking of music “quality” it doesn’t also matter if you are a famous producer or an ordinary guy. Make your music as perfect as possible and structure it like a real song
.
Target your Audience

When you complete recording your track, the next thing to do is to understand and analyze where your song could go. You cannot play rock for 50 Cent nor techno tune for Tyrese. You really need to understand who and what you are dealing with and where to expose your music.

Network

This is about relationships. You must also know whom you are going to give your tracks/beats because this is also considered as the starting step for a meeting. This is the time to build an impression, the moment to get demonstrations from artists and producers.

Get Representation

You need a lawyer or a manager, someone credible to run with the beats you made. Make some research, check out music albums, know the manager of the artists and it’s time for you then to reach out.

Work Hard

Be determined and use different ways to sell your records. You have the choice to give it to a manager, an artist, an A&R and a lawyer. If you shop beats without any manager, what drives a lawyer, A&R or a manager to pick your CD? That’s why I’m telling you to be creative.

Please, share your tips also

 

[2GooD Productions]

Focus on differentiation. Learn to be a songwriter, craft real hooks/choruses. Learn how to structure the song properly and then sell it. You'll be able to charge more money.

On the subject of tracks with hooks, are people really buying them?
I understand a well structured beat, but dont artists want to write their own hooks.
Im noticing that a lot of the $9.99 lease beatmakers are doing a good business on soundcloud, which makes it harder for someone like me that leases for $50, and if im doing a track with a hook I will be charging $75+
How can you compete with the $9.99 brigade? Some of which are getting really good at production.
Personally the devaluation of beats is what put me off making music for so long, the only reason Im back making music now, is because I have artists to work with, so dont have to worry about knocking out beats for $9.99.
For each track I can spend 3-4 hours production, another 3-4 hours on the mixdown and another hour or 2 on the mastering.
So thats roughly 10hrs per track from start to finish give or take. So at $9.99 that makes my time worth $1 per hour.
Even at $50 Im undercutting myself with a $5 per hour rate, and thats just time spent, without taking into consideration the expertise involved or the money spent on equipment/software.
And Ill tell you now, I just cant sell beats for $50 when kids are selling at $9.99.
Thats why I gave up trying to sell beats.

 

[StressWon]

On the subject of tracks with hooks, are people really buying them?
I understand a well structured beat, but dont artists want to write their own hooks.
Im noticing that a lot of the $9.99 lease beatmakers are doing a good business on soundcloud, which makes it harder for someone like me that leases for $50, and if im doing a track with a hook I will be charging $75+
How can you compete with the $9.99 brigade? Some of which are getting really good at production.
Personally the devaluation of beats is what put me off making music for so long, the only reason Im back making music now, is because I have artists to work with, so dont have to worry about knocking out beats for $9.99.
For each track I can spend 3-4 hours production, another 3-4 hours on the mixdown and another hour or 2 on the mastering.
So thats roughly 10hrs per track from start to finish give or take. So at $9.99 that makes my time worth $1 per hour.
Even at $50 Im undercutting myself with a $5 per hour rate, and thats just time spent, without taking into consideration the expertise involved or the money spent on equipment/software.
And Ill tell you now, I just cant sell beats for $50 when kids are selling at $9.99.
Thats why I gave up trying to sell beats.

Word up 2. i feel u 100%. You're exactly right. When is it worth the time put in? I can't complain, i sell my beats out right for 100 a pop. Exclusive. After someone buys one, I throw them a free one. And if they come back, I give them any beat after the initial purchase for $50. (exclusive) A few years back, I sold a few for 200 a piece. But these lames with that 9.99 bullshit is killing the market. Since everybody is a rapper nowadays, a kid will spend 10 online for a horrible beat cause quite frankly, horrible beats is what the "in thing" is. And I know some of yall may disagree but it is what it is.

 

[2GooD Productions]

Word up 2. i feel u 100%. You're exactly right. When is it worth the time put in? I can't complain, i sell my beats out right for 100 a pop. Exclusive. After someone buys one, I throw them a free one. And if they come back, I give them any beat after the initial purchase for $50. (exclusive) A few years back, I sold a few for 200 a piece. But these lames with that 9.99 bullshit is killing the market. Since everybody is a rapper nowadays, a kid will spend 10 online for a horrible beat cause quite frankly, horrible beats is what the "in thing" is. And I know some of yall may disagree but it is what it is.

The thing is $100 for an exclusive is still cheap. I would want $300+ for an exclusive. But what I want and what I get are two different things. Also another consideration, if you make beats with pre recorded hooks, then the artist that performed the hook would want his cut too, further eating into any money actually made on the beat.
I suppose you could just pay the performing artist a one off hourly rate, but I can see issues arising, especially if a track blows up and the artist you paid peanuts for the hook feels he is "owed" more.

 

[StressWon]

I think when you speak about hooks, it's a musical break as opposed to a performed one. or maybe I'm wrong.

 

[2GooD Productions]

I think when you speak about hooks, it's a musical break as opposed to a performed one. or maybe I'm wrong.

oh in that case then, yes I always make hooks.

 

[Medl4]

@2good you said "For each track I can spend 3-4 hours production, another 3-4 hours on the mixdown and another hour or 2 on the mastering"

that is an insane amount of time for one beat. Maybe your 2nd guessing yourself too much if it takes 2-3 hours to mix the levels let alone master it. Are you mic'ing up live instruments or something?

 

[2GooD Productions]

@2good you said "For each track I can spend 3-4 hours production, another 3-4 hours on the mixdown and another hour or 2 on the mastering"

that is an insane amount of time for one beat. Maybe your 2nd guessing yourself too much if it takes 2-3 hours to mix the levels let alone master it. Are you mic'ing up live instruments or something?

Its not that long to spend on one track.

 

[thedreampolice]

No, I think when we talk about hooks he means vocals and lyrics.

 

[Relic]

2Good, I dont know what you use but Im still using hardware and I think thats what takes us longer, everyone I know cranking out fully produced trax with sung hooks and all for 99 cents a pop are using FL.
Im thinking of switching to FL as a result and then buying maschine later.
Then I too can have fully involved orchestras and banging drums in ultrasimplistic patterns in under 5 minutes and crank out 30 tracks an hour.

 

[2GooD Productions]

2Good, I dont know what you use but Im still using hardware and I think thats what takes us longer, everyone I know cranking out fully produced trax with sung hooks and all for 99 cents a pop are using FL.
Im thinking of switching to FL as a result and then buying maschine later.
Then I too can have fully involved orchestras and banging drums in ultrasimplistic patterns in under 5 minutes and crank out 30 tracks an hour.

LMFAO......yeah just hit the FL "Banga" preset and ya good to go. The song just makes itself after that, while you get stoned and dream of stardom.
I use waves and wavearts plugins to do my mixing and mastering, so its all software, but STILL...
I like to take my time on a track and not just rush to bang out as many as possible, I was doing that 6 years ago, I learned to take my time, quality over quantity..every time.

 

[MitchHolmes]

Word up 2. i feel u 100%. You're exactly right. When is it worth the time put in? I can't complain, i sell my beats out right for 100 a pop. Exclusive. After someone buys one, I throw them a free one. And if they come back, I give them any beat after the initial purchase for $50. (exclusive) A few years back, I sold a few for 200 a piece. But these lames with that 9.99 bullshit is killing the market. Since everybody is a rapper nowadays, a kid will spend 10 online for a horrible beat cause quite frankly, horrible beats is what the "in thing" is. And I know some of yall may disagree but it is what it is.

Yeah those guys kinda fucked up the market because I know photoshop guys charge like 50 to 200 dollars for mixtape covers

 

[MitchHolmes]

So I think I will start selling beats again but instead of 100 a pop or 200 a pop it be be 30$ for a beat 2 for 50$

 

[Greg Savage]

These are very basic tips. A spoon-feeding tips for starters.


Quality not Quantity

It does not matter how many beats you make, what matters most is the quality of the music you produce. Speaking of music “quality” it doesn’t also matter if you are a famous producer or an ordinary guy. Make your music as perfect as possible and structure it like a real song
.

I love this Quality vs Quantity topic because to be honest it doesn't matter depending on what your market is.
There are lot of people who don't want grade A quality they merely are budget shopping. They have a budget they have a time frame they are going to go to the person with a faster turn over rate (who has decent music) vs the guy who has GREAT music but takes a little longer. Great music isn't always needed filler music is.

I make much more money from just ok music than i do from material that I've spent a lot of time on. This is true in every industry

On the subject of tracks with hooks, are people really buying them?
I understand a well structured beat, but dont artists want to write their own hooks.
Im noticing that a lot of the $9.99 lease beatmakers are doing a good business on soundcloud, which makes it harder for someone like me that leases for $50, and if im doing a track with a hook I will be charging $75+
How can you compete with the $9.99 brigade? Some of which are getting really good at production.
Personally the devaluation of beats is what put me off making music for so long, the only reason Im back making music now, is because I have artists to work with, so dont have to worry about knocking out beats for $9.99.
For each track I can spend 3-4 hours production, another 3-4 hours on the mixdown and another hour or 2 on the mastering.
So thats roughly 10hrs per track from start to finish give or take. So at $9.99 that makes my time worth $1 per hour.
Even at $50 Im undercutting myself with a $5 per hour rate, and thats just time spent, without taking into consideration the expertise involved or the money spent on equipment/software.
And Ill tell you now, I just cant sell beats for $50 when kids are selling at $9.99.
Thats why I gave up trying to sell beats.

This all depends on who you market to my friend. A lot of bigger companies are looking for turn around time on projects, they don't want to sit in the studio writing they want to saturate the market with their name.

People are still buying hooks. People are still spending $1000 and up for instrumentals you are not marketing correctly. Most people that complain about competing with the 9.99 and 19.99 (they can make great money). Do you seechefs sitting outside of MC Donalds trying to convince someone to spend $34.00 a plat at Maggianos (if i spelled that right) i doubt it. WRONG MARKET

 

[Relic]

I'm not going to make substandard beats intentionally. That's not in my nature.

 

[Sucio]

I agree with Nnxt.


Sell your beat for a price YOU feel is reasonable, and market it to those who are actually about their biz and are willing to pay that price for a quality product that you're supplying. People who aren't really about that life may not spend the $ to get a quality track, they just want the girls to hear him rapping so he can say he's getting a deal with (put in label name). People always come at me to give them free shit, and I simply reply to them stating that my time is valuable. I may ask for a verse from someone for a record, and at the same token I may hit em off with a beat (BTW Stress, I owe you one, and I'll get at you when I'm back from vacation). Present yourself as professional, and people will treat you as such. Present your music professionally, and you will gain professional clients.

 

[Shaun Letang]

I agree with Greg about the whole market thing. It's like photographers; there are tons who are willing to offer you discount pictures, some of them who will do you a great job.

That said, there are also those who offer something of a similar quality, but due to the way they market themselves, are able to sell their services for 10 or more times more what those discount photographers do. This also means having to do less work to make the same amount of money.

The thing is, there are people who buy these services too. A lot associate higher prices with higher quality, and wouldn't even look into those who market themselves as a budget option.

When it comes to beats, do what you think is best for you and your brand. Higher prices may mean you get less buyers initially, but establish your brand and you can make a lot more long term.

But back to how to sell beats online, I've also written a guide on the subject, I hope it's useful. It's also a beginners guide, but has quite a bit of info. If you've any additional questions, ask away in the guide.

 

[2GooD Productions]

I think it partially comes down to what value you put on your work along with supply and demand.
If there is no demand then it doesnt make sense to charge high. When demand picks up and you have less time to divvy up, then its time to consider upping the prices, because an artist only has so much time, and that time goes to the highest bidder. Until that happens you have to hustle in the right places with the right people.
If somebody wants something for "nothing" then you may have to consider the artist fanbase and talent(publicity to be gained for yourself from their fanbase), or what they can give in return, like Sucio said, a favour for a favour type deal.
You should never really deal with substandard artists as it affects your reputation also, it makes your judgement look poor and never give anything away for "nothing" unless its a sampled track that cannot be cleared or a remix/mixtape, even then you may want to charge just for physical production, the cost of a blank cd etc.
Its bad enough giving stuff away for free, its even worse paying to give stuff away.

For years I got ahead of myself, thinking I was ready when I was not, its only now that I realise I wasnt ready.
Im ready now and things are really starting to look up....watch this space.