# How to verify a beat licence: 3 checks before release

> To verify a beat licence, check it against the store's own record, not just the PDF. On Airtune, scan the QR code on the licence PDF, or enter the 8-character code printed under it at airtune.in/verify/license. You see the licence as Airtune issued it and whether it is still valid.

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

You verify a beat licence to make sure it is real, issued to the right person and still valid. Distributors, labels, video editors and brands do this before they put money or their name behind a song. A PDF alone can be edited, so the check needs a record that the buyer cannot change.

**In short**

- **Check the issuer's record**, not just the PDF someone sends you.
- **On Airtune, scan the QR** or enter the 8-character code on the verify page.
- **"Issued, then withdrawn" means** the licence was real but is no longer valid.

## How do you verify a beat licence?

You verify a beat licence by answering three questions: is it real, is it for the right people and beat, and is it still valid? A licence that passes all three is proof you can rely on. A licence that fails any one is a reason to stop and ask before you release, sign or pay.

The first check matters most. Only the store or producer who issued the licence can confirm it is real. That is why a verify link or QR code beats an email receipt or a screenshot.

The second and third checks catch honest mistakes as well as fraud. A licence can be real but issued to someone else, or for a different beat. It can also be real but withdrawn later, for example after a refund. Check the names, the beat title and the status every time, even when you trust the person.

The three checks:

1. **Real:** the issuer's own record shows the licence.
2. **Right people and beat:** the buyer's name, the producer and the beat title match.
3. **Still valid:** the licence has not been withdrawn or ended.

## How do I verify an Airtune licence with the QR code?

To verify an Airtune licence, scan the QR code on the licence PDF with your phone camera. It opens Airtune's verify link for that licence. You then see the licence as Airtune issued it, from Airtune's own record.

No QR scanner nearby? Open the verify page at airtune.in/verify/license and type the code yourself. The verify page explains that every Airtune licence carries a QR code and the 8-character code printed under it. You can paste the full verify link instead of the code.

Once the result loads, compare it with the PDF you were sent. The beat, the buyer and the status should all match. If anything differs, trust the verify page over the PDF, because the page reads Airtune's stored record. Artists can test their own licence this way before sending it to a distributor.

Steps:

1. **Open the licence PDF** and find the QR code.
2. **Scan it**, or go to the [Airtune verify page](https://airtune.in/verify/license?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=verify-beat-licence).
3. **Enter the 8-character code** printed under the QR, then press Check.
4. **Compare** the buyer, beat and status with the PDF.

## What do the Airtune verify results mean?

The Airtune verify page gives one of three results: "Verified original", "Issued, then withdrawn" or "Verification unavailable". Each one tells you something different, so read the exact words before you act.

"Verified original" means Airtune issued this licence and it is valid. "Issued, then withdrawn" means the licence was genuine but is no longer valid, for example because the purchase was refunded. "Verification unavailable" means the page could not confirm the licence at that moment. Treat that as unproven, not as fake, and check the code before you try again.

A withdrawn licence is the one to take seriously. Under Airtune's Refund Policy, a refund voids the licence, stops downloads and requires the buyer to delete the files. A song released on a withdrawn licence has no licence behind it. If you are a distributor or label, ask the artist to sort it out before release.

| Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| **Verified original** | Issued by Airtune and valid | Go ahead |
| **Issued, then withdrawn** | Real once, not valid now | Do not release on it |
| **Verification unavailable** | Could not be confirmed now | Recheck the code, try again or ask the artist |

**Worked example.** Say a buyer in Kolkata finds on day 3 that the WAV file is broken, and reports it. The producer does not send a working file within 14 days, so Airtune approves a full refund. Once the refund is approved, the same QR code now shows "Issued, then withdrawn". The PDF on the buyer's phone looks the same as before. Only the verify page shows that it no longer counts.

## Can someone fake a beat licence PDF?

Anyone can edit a PDF, so a beat licence PDF on its own is weak proof. Names, dates and rights can be changed with free tools in minutes. That is the main reason to check every licence against the issuer's record.

Airtune is built around that problem. At checkout, Airtune stores a locked copy of the contract: the exact licence version, the price, the parties and the terms. Airtune keeps each issued licence with its SHA-256 fingerprint, a unique code made from the file's contents. An edited PDF cannot change what the verify page shows, because the page reads the stored record, not the file you hold.

The same lock protects buyers. A producer cannot quietly change the terms of a licence after you buy it. Later edits to a licence only apply to future sales. If the PDF and the verify page ever disagree, the verify page is the one to trust.

> **Watch out:** a licence sent as a screenshot or a re-typed document cannot be checked. Ask for the original PDF with its QR code.

## Who can see my licence details when someone verifies it?

When someone verifies your Airtune licence, they see a limited public view, not your full contract. The public check confirms the licence and its status. It shows a redacted version, so a distributor or label can trust the licence without seeing every detail of your deal.

The full licence PDF is private. On Airtune, only the buyer, the producer and Airtune's legal team can open the full contract, and access is logged. You decide who gets the PDF itself.

This balance is useful for artists. You can put the verify link in an email to a distributor, a label or a video team. They get a check they can trust, and your full contract stays between you and the producer. The licence record is permanent, even if the producer later unlists the beat or leaves Airtune, so later checks still work.

## How do you check a beat licence from another store?

To check a beat licence from another store, first look for a verify link, QR code or certificate number on the licence and use it. If the store offers no such tool, you need to check with the store or the producer directly.

Start with the basics. The licence should name the producer and the buyer, the beat title, the date and the rights. The payment record should match the store, the date and the price. A licence with no buyer name, or a name that does not match the artist, is a warning sign.

Then contact the source. Ask the store's support to confirm the order, or ask the producer to confirm the sale in writing. Producers can usually see their sales, so a real buyer is easy to confirm. Keep the reply with the licence. Our guide to the [beat licence agreement](/learn/licensing/beat-licence-agreement/) lists what a complete licence should contain.

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

## Next steps

1. **Test your own licence** on the [Airtune verify page](https://airtune.in/verify/license?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=verify-beat-licence) before you send it anywhere.
2. **Releasing soon?** Read [can I release a leased beat on Spotify](/learn/licensing/release-leased-beat-on-spotify/).
3. **Learn the basics** in [beat licensing in India](/learn/licensing/beat-licensing-india/).
4. **Buying a beat?** Follow our guide to [buy beats online in India](/learn/guides/buy-beats-online-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=verify-beat-licence

## Sources

- [Airtune: Verify a licence](https://airtune.in/verify/license?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=verify-beat-licence) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [Airtune licensing page (verification, QR and SHA-256 fingerprint)](https://airtune.in/licensing?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=verify-beat-licence) (checked 2026-11-08)
- [Airtune Refund Policy](https://airtune.in/policy/refund-policy?utm_source=learn&utm_medium=markdown&utm_campaign=verify-beat-licence) (checked 2026-11-08)