The buyer can download an MP3 file, if noted here. The MP3 file comes in 320 kbps sound quality.
WAV file
The buyer can download a lossless file (usually in WAV file format), if noted here.
Please note that while the vast majority are indeed WAV files, the producer might also opt to upload another format like AIFF. The key point here is that the file is lossless (so of higher sound quality than an MP3 file).
Trackout/stem file
Tracked-out stem files are collections that contain a track split into several musical elements: A drums stem, a bassline stem, a harmony stem, and a lead stem for example.
The trackout also usually includes the original stereo master of the track for standard playback.
Audio tags
A “tagged beat” is an instrumental that contains distinct audio watermarks. The purpose of audio tags is to prevent piracy and to build brand-awareness. Sometimes it also serves to encourage serious recording artists to purchase a higher-priced license option. If you see a “one” here this means that the audio tag only appears once in the song. This is often called a “producer tag”, used to build brand-awareness.
If you see “multi” here, then the audio tag is repeated multiple times throughout the song.
Sales limit
A sales limit states how many copies of the resulting work can be sold.
Say for example the sales limit is 5,000. That means the buyer can sell up to 5,000 CDs or digital downloads of the resulting work. If the buyer sells more units, then he or she needs to purchase a new license.
Paid streams limit
It shows how many paid streams the buyer is allowed. This limit applies to paid streams on services such as Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube.
Free streams like the ones on SoundClick do NOT count towards this limit.
If the buyer achieves more paid streams, then he or she needs to purchase a new license.
Publishing split
This split determines how any publishing royalties of the resulting work are divided between the buyer and the producer (who sells the beat license). This includes writer’s share and publisher’s share, unless noted otherwise.
For example, lets say we have a “60/40” split,
this means we have a “60% buyer / 40% producer” split.
In this case the buyer would be entitled to 60% of the publishing royalties of the resulting work, the selling producer to 40%.
Must credit producer
If this applies, the seller has to be credited. This usually happens in the song description or byline like “beat produced by [name of seller]”.
Exclusive rights
By licensing a track the selling producer is granting the buyer the right to use the track for their own use in a new track/song. If a buyer acquires the exclusive rights then no one else can purchase any licensing rights to that track anymore. This exclusivity is valid for the length of the licensing deal.
Even in the case of an exclusive license deal, all other previously granted licenses remain valid until they expire. In all cases, ownership of the original track that is licensed remains with the selling producer at all times.
License duration
This determines how long the agreement is valid. The term’s starting date is the date the license has been purchased.
Discount
This means if you buy one license you get another X licenses for free. So if it states “Premium license: buy 1 get 2 free” then you can place 3 songs in the shopping cart with a “Premium” license and you just pay the price for one.
Discounts are applied automatically and only valid for purchases in the same shopping cart.
