Beat licence agreement: what it includes and how to get one
A beat licence agreement explained: what a good one includes, how to get one, how Airtune's signed contract works, and why free templates are risky.
A beat licence agreement is the written contract between a producer and an artist that says how the artist may use a beat: files, rights, limits, credit and the law that applies. You get one when you buy a licence. On Airtune it is signed in your legal name and saved as a verifiable PDF.
On this page
A beat licence agreement is the contract that turns “I paid for a beat” into “I have the right to release this song”. It names the producer and the artist, lists the files and the rights, sets the limits, and says which law applies in a dispute. Many people search for it as a “beat license agreement” or “beat license contract”; it is the same document.
In short
- The agreement is your proof of rights; a payment screenshot is not.
- A good one names both parties and lists files, rights, limits and law.
- On Airtune it is made at checkout, signed in your name and verifiable.
A distributor, YouTube or a label may ask for this contract. This guide explains what a good one contains, how to get one, and how Airtune makes and stores yours. For licence types, see beat licensing in India.
What is a beat licence agreement?
A beat licence agreement is a contract in which a music producer gives an artist permission to use a beat in a new song, on stated terms. The producer usually keeps the copyright in the beat. The artist gets written rights, such as releasing on streaming services, making music videos, performing live, or using the song in film and ads.
The agreement also lists limits and duties. Common ones are a required producer credit, no resale of the beat, and no YouTube Content ID claims.
There are two main kinds. A non-exclusive agreement, called a lease, lets the producer keep selling the beat to others, while an exclusive agreement takes the beat off sale for new buyers. Both should name both parties, the beat, the price and the date, so the artist can prove their rights and the producer can show what they allowed.
What should a good beat licence agreement include?
A good beat licence agreement answers every question a distributor, label or lawyer might ask later. It should name the producer and the artist in their legal names, identify the exact beat, and state the price and date. It should list the files delivered, such as MP3, WAV, stems or the project file.
It should state the rights clearly: streams, sales, music videos, radio, live shows, and film or ads, with any caps written as numbers. It should say how long the licence lasts and whether it is exclusive. It should also list restrictions such as credit wording, no resale and Content ID rules.
It should explain who owns the master and publishing shares, and whether you may register the song with a society such as IPRS. It should disclose any samples in the beat. Finally, it should name the governing law and courts, and give you a way to prove the agreement is real.
- Parties: both legal names, the beat title and the date.
- Files and type: what you get, and lease or exclusive.
- Rights and caps: written as numbers, not “limited”.
- Term: how long the licence lasts.
- Restrictions: credit line, resale ban and Content ID rules.
- Ownership: master and publishing split, and society registration.
- Samples: any sample in the beat, and its clearance.
- Law and proof: governing law, courts and a way to verify the contract.
How do you get a beat licence agreement?
The easiest way to get a beat licence agreement is to buy the beat from a store that issues one at checkout. You choose a licence, read its terms on the beat page, and pay. The store fills in both names and gives you the contract with your files.
If you buy directly from a producer by UPI or bank transfer, ask for a signed agreement before you pay. Make sure it names you and lists your rights. Do not accept “I’ll send it later” for a paid release.
On Airtune, every paid beat licence comes with a contract made from the producer’s terms, so you never draft one yourself. You find it in your account under Licences, next to your downloads. If you agree a different price or terms in chat, those terms go into the same contract.
Watch out: paying a producer privately by UPI gives you a receipt, not rights. Get the signed agreement first.
How does Airtune’s signed licence contract work?
Airtune’s signed licence contract is made, signed and stored in a set order, so neither side can quietly change it later. Before you pay, you see the real licence page with the full terms. At your first paid checkout, you save your legal name and give e-signature consent once.
The moment you pay, your name and the producer’s name are filled in. Airtune stores a locked copy of the exact terms, price and parties with a digital fingerprint (a SHA-256 hash), and the database blocks any later edit. If the producer edits the licence later, contracts already sold do not change.
A PDF follows, with a certificate number and a QR code linking to the Airtune verify page. The contract is between you and the producer; Airtune is not a party to it. Airtune keeps the record permanently, even if the producer leaves.
- Before payment: you read the full terms on the beat page.
- At payment: names are filled in and a locked copy is stored.
- After payment: the PDF with QR code and verify link is ready to download.
- If you negotiated: the agreed terms are added as a labelled addendum.
- If you are refunded: the licence shows as withdrawn and downloads stop.
Anyone can scan the QR code or use the Airtune verify page to check a licence. It shows “Verified original”, “Issued, then withdrawn” or “Verification unavailable”. The public check shows a redacted view; only you, the producer and Airtune legal can open the full contract.
Worked example: one licence, start to finish
An artist in Lucknow buys an Easy WAV licence at ₹999. Her contract names her and the producer, and lists MP3 + WAV files, unlimited streams and unlimited monetised videos.
Her distributor asks for proof, so she sends the PDF, and they scan the QR code to see “Verified original”. If her files had been broken and the purchase had been refunded, the same check would show “Issued, then withdrawn”.
Is a free beat licence agreement template safe to use?
A free beat licence agreement template can be a useful starting point, but using one without a lawyer is risky for any deal that matters. Most templates online follow another country’s law. Terms about courts, royalties or performing rights societies may not fit India.
Many templates are written for one store’s licence types and miss things you need, such as sample disclosure, a clear term, or what happens when someone buys the exclusive. Some contain clauses that clash with each other.
A template also does nothing about proof. A Word file sent on WhatsApp is easy to edit, and it can be hard to show which version both sides agreed to. Producers selling directly should have a music lawyer review their template once, and artists should prefer a store that issues a signed, locked contract they can verify later.
This is general information, not legal advice. For a big deal, ask a music lawyer.
Next steps
- Run the checklist above on the terms of your next beat before you pay.
- Choose your licence type: read leasing beats or exclusive beats.
- Buy safely with the steps in how to buy beats online in India.
- See how Airtune contracts work on Airtune licensing.