See how BeatStars works, what its producer plans cost, and whether this beat-licensing marketplace suits producers and artists.
Category
Media & Audio/Video Tools
Pricing
Selling on BeatStars requires a paid producer subscription rather than a free plan, with tiers reported around $19.99/year (Starter) and $19.99/month (Professional, unlocking the Pro Page storefront); buyers pay per-license prices set by each producer, and BeatStars has been reported to apply a marketplace service fee (around 12%) on in-marketplace purchases.
BeatStars is a subscription-based music licensing marketplace founded in 2008 by Abe Batshon. Producers upload original beats and instrumentals and sell them under non-exclusive leases, premium leases with stems, or full exclusive sales, with industry-standard license contracts generated automatically for each deal. Sellers get a customizable storefront, an upgradable standalone "Pro Page" site, and built-in analytics on plays, sales, top tracks, and traffic sources, while buyers -- largely independent artists, rappers, and songwriters -- can browse, preview, and purchase instrumentals directly. Selling on BeatStars requires a paid producer subscription rather than a free plan, and higher tiers add features like Spotify/Apple Music distribution. Dedicated iOS/Android apps, including the seller-focused BeatStars Studio, let producers manage their catalog and communicate with buyers on the go. In 2020 BeatStars partnered with Sony Music Publishing to launch BeatStars Publishing, extending the platform into publishing administration.
Key Features
Multiple license types — Sell beats as non-exclusive leases, premium leases with stems, or full exclusive sales, with industry-standard license contracts generated automatically for each deal.
Customizable storefront & Pro Page — Producers get a storefront to showcase and sell their catalog, upgradable to a standalone "Pro Page" site on paid plans.
Built-in analytics — Track plays, sales, top tracks, traffic sources, and countries directly from the seller dashboard.
BeatStars Studio mobile app — A dedicated seller app lets producers manage their catalog, sales, and buyer messaging from a phone.
Marketplace buyer app — A separate mobile app lets artists and songwriters browse, preview, and purchase beats on iOS and Android.
Streaming distribution (higher tiers) — Paid plans can include distribution of released tracks to streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Well-established, long-running marketplace (operating since 2008) with a large, active base of producers and buyers
Multiple license types (non-exclusive, premium with stems, exclusive) with auto-generated contracts simplify licensing deals
Built-in analytics and a customizable storefront/Pro Page help sellers track performance and build their own brand
Dedicated mobile apps for both buying and selling (including BeatStars Studio) let producers manage their business on the go
Cons
No meaningful free tier for sellers -- producers need a paid subscription to list and sell beats
Marketplace sales can carry an added service fee (reported around 12%) unless routed through a producer's own Pro Page or outside site
Pricing tiers and fee structure have changed multiple times over the years, which can be confusing for new sellers