# Beat licensing in India: how it works, explained simply

> Beat licensing in India works like everywhere else: you pay a producer for written permission to use their beat in your song. A lease (non-exclusive) lets many artists use the same beat. An exclusive licence takes the beat off sale. The licence, not the payment, is your proof of rights.

Canonical: https://airtune.in/learn/licensing/beat-licensing-india/
Updated: 2026-11-08
Publisher: Airtune (https://airtune.in/?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=beat-licensing-india)

Beat licensing in India is how artists get the legal right to record and release a song on a beat they did not make. The producer keeps the copyright in the beat. You buy a licence: a written contract that says how, where and how widely you can release your song.

**In short**

- **A licence is written permission** to use a producer's beat in your own song.
- **Leases are cheaper and shared;** an exclusive takes the beat off sale for new buyers.
- **Keep your licence PDF safe:** it proves your rights, a UPI screenshot does not.

## What is a beat licence?

A beat licence is a contract between a music producer and an artist. It gives the artist permission to use the producer's beat in a new song. The producer still owns the beat.

The licence lists what the artist may do: release the song on streaming services, make a music video, perform it live, or use it in film and ads. It also lists what the artist may not do, such as resell the beat or claim it through YouTube Content ID. Most licences also ask for a producer credit, such as "Prod. by" and the producer's name.

In India, as in most countries, copyright protects music from the moment it is made. So using a beat without permission puts your song at risk of being taken down. A beat licence turns that risk into clear, written rights you can show a distributor or platform.

## How does beat licensing work?

Beat licensing works in four steps on most online beat stores, including Airtune. First, you find a beat and play the preview, which usually has a voice tag. Second, you choose a licence type, such as an MP3 lease, a WAV lease, a stems licence or an exclusive.

Third, you read the terms and pay. Fourth, you download the untagged files and your licence agreement. The terms decide what you can release, so read them before you pay, not after.

A good store shows the full terms on the beat page and fills in both names when the payment goes through. On Airtune, the licence is signed in your legal name at checkout and saved as a PDF with a QR code and a verify link. If a producer later sells the beat exclusively to someone else, a licence you already bought stays valid.

1. **Find a beat** and play the tagged preview.
2. **Pick a licence type** that matches your release plans.
3. **Read the terms and pay** in rupees by UPI, card or netbanking, or in US dollars by card if you are abroad.
4. **Download your files and licence PDF**, and keep the PDF safe.

## What types of beat licences are there?

There are two main types of beat licences: non-exclusive leases and exclusive licences. A lease lets you use the beat while the producer keeps selling it to other artists, so it costs less. An exclusive costs more because the producer stops selling the beat to anyone new.

Leases usually come in steps that differ by the files you get. An MP3 lease is the entry step. A WAV lease gives better audio for release, and a stems licence gives each instrument on its own track, so a mix engineer can balance your vocals properly.

Some stores cap streams or sales on cheaper leases, so always check the limits. On Airtune, every Easy licence (MP3, WAV and Stems) allows unlimited audio streams and unlimited monetised music videos. The Exclusive licence adds the project file and takes the beat off sale.

| | Easy MP3 | Easy WAV | Easy Stems | Exclusive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Files | MP3 | MP3 + WAV | MP3 + WAV + stems | All files, including the project file |
| Audio streams | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Monetised music videos | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Film, TV and ads | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Beat taken off sale | No | No | No | Yes |
| Minimum price on Airtune | ₹499 or $14.99 | ₹999 or $29.99 | ₹1,999 or $49.99 | ₹4,999 or $99.99 |

Producers set their own prices above these minimums, and some offer only some licences. The exact terms for each beat are on its page before you pay. See [Airtune licensing](https://airtune.in/licensing?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=beat-licensing-india) for the full rights table.

## How much does a beat licence cost in India?

A beat licence in India usually costs a few hundred rupees for a basic MP3 lease and several thousand rupees for an exclusive. The producer decides the price. It depends on the licence type, the producer's demand and the files you get.

On Airtune, producers cannot price below a floor: ₹499 for Easy MP3, ₹999 for Easy WAV, ₹1,999 for Easy Stems and ₹4,999 for Exclusive ($14.99, $29.99, $49.99 and $99.99 in US dollars). There is no maximum, so a well-known producer can charge much more, especially for an exclusive. Indian buyers pay in rupees through UPI, cards or netbanking, and buyers abroad pay in US dollars.

When you compare stores, compare the rights as well as the price. A cheap lease with a low stream cap can cost you more later if your song takes off and you must upgrade. Our guide on [how much to charge for beats](/learn/guides/how-much-to-charge-for-beats/) explains pricing from the producer's side.

### Worked example: lease or exclusive?

A rapper in Pune plans a first single.

At the floor prices, an Easy WAV costs ₹999 and an Exclusive starts at ₹4,999, a gap of ₹4,000. Both give unlimited streams and monetised videos on Airtune. The extra ₹4,000 buys the stems, the project file and a beat nobody new can lease.

## Is a leased beat safe to release on Spotify and YouTube?

A leased beat is safe to release on Spotify, JioSaavn, Apple Music and YouTube if your licence allows those uses and you follow its terms. Check that the licence covers streaming and music videos before you upload. Check that any limits are high enough for your plans.

Give the producer credit exactly as the licence says, on every release. Do not register the song with YouTube Content ID unless your licence allows it. The same beat may be in other artists' songs, and your claims would hit their videos.

Because a lease is non-exclusive, other artists can release songs on the same beat, which is why leases cost less. If you want nobody new to use it, buy the [exclusive licence](/learn/licensing/exclusive-beats/). Keep your licence PDF safe, because distributors sometimes ask for it before they approve a release.

> **Watch out:** never register a leased beat with YouTube Content ID. Claims on other artists' videos can get your licence ended.

## What should I check in a beat licence agreement?

Check five things in any beat licence agreement before you pay: the names, the rights, the limits, the restrictions and the law. Both the producer and you should be named in your legal names. The rights should cover streams, sales, music videos, live shows, radio, and film or ads.

Look for any caps and the term, meaning whether the licence expires. Look for restrictions such as producer credit, no resale and no Content ID, and for the law that applies in a dispute. Airtune licences follow Indian law.

Also check how you can prove the licence later, because a PDF with a verify link or QR code beats an email receipt. On Airtune, the contract is between you and the producer, and Airtune stores a locked copy that neither side can quietly change. Read more in our guide to the [beat licence agreement](/learn/licensing/beat-licence-agreement/).

> This is general information, not legal advice. For a big deal, ask a music lawyer.

## Next steps

1. **Learn the lease options** in our guide to [leasing beats](/learn/licensing/lease-beats/), and start with a lease to test a song.
2. **Follow the safe buying steps** in [how to buy beats online in India](/learn/guides/buy-beats-online-india/).
3. **Find a beat** when you are ready: [explore beats on Airtune](https://airtune.in/explore?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=beat-licensing-india).

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Every Airtune beat comes with a signed licence. Easy MP3, WAV, Stems and Exclusive licences, with the full terms shown before you pay. https://airtune.in/licensing?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=beat-licensing-india

## Sources

- [Airtune licensing page (licence types and rights table)](https://airtune.in/licensing?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=beat-licensing-india) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [Airtune policies (Buyer Agreement, Refund Policy)](https://airtune.in/policy?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=beat-licensing-india) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [Intellectual Property India (Copyright Office), Government of India](https://ipindia.gov.in/) (checked 2026-11-08)