Why selling beats online still matters (US perspective)
Music producers are content creators in today’s music economy. Whether you make trap loops, cinematic beds, or pop instrumentals, there’s demand across YouTube creators, podcasters, ad agencies and independent artists. If your hard drive is full of unused beats, turning them into income via online marketplaces is a realistic revenue stream — often hundreds (or more) per month if you play your cards right.
Some platforms target corporate licensing (ads, TV, film), others focus on hip-hop leasing and artist collaboration. In the U.S. market you can combine both approaches: place mainstream-ready beats on stock/licensing sites while using BeatStars/Traktrain for direct artist sales and leasing.
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How to read this guide
Below are eight platforms arranged roughly from corporate/stock marketplaces to artist-centric beat markets. For each: target buyer, licensing model & prices (where publicly available), pros & cons, and U.S.-focused tips (promotion, pricing, payout methods). I cite current platform info after each platform section.
1. Audiodraft — enterprise & custom audio briefs
Best for: producers who want high-value, custom corporate work (ads, audio branding).
How it works: Audiodraft runs open calls and curated projects; clients (brands/ads/tech companies) pay budgets and producers submit custom music. They also operate curated libraries with set licensing tiers. Example license pricing for exclusive work has been shown in Audiodraft examples (packages often start several hundred dollars for custom work). Sellers can receive significant shares depending on agreements.
US tip: Prepare a professional portfolio and fast turnaround — corporate buyers value clean stems, cue sheets and quick revisions. Target creative agencies and production houses in LA, NYC and major ad hubs.
2. Sellfy — your own branded digital store (zero sales commission)
Best for: producers who want full control and a branded storefront.
Pricing model: monthly subscription tiers (Starter, Business, Premium). Sellfy’s plans vary (examples: Starter ~$22–29/mo, Business ~$59–79/mo, Premium higher) and the platform advertises 0% transaction fees on paid plans (be mindful of payment processor fees like Stripe/PayPal).
Pros: full branding, email marketing, instant payouts, embed anywhere, unlimited products.
Cons: no built-in music buyer marketplace — you must drive traffic.
US tip: Pair Sellfy with targeted Facebook/Instagram/TikTok ads aimed at independent rappers, singer-songwriters and YouTube creators. Offer bundle deals and time-limited discounts to convert traffic. Use US-friendly payout methods (Stripe / PayPal) and clearly list licensing terms.
3. Traktrain — producer-to-rapper marketplace (hip-hop focus)
Best for: hip-hop/trap producers looking to reach rappers and indie vocalists.
Model & fees: Traktrain allows free accounts, and paid tiers (around $9–$19/mo) unlock extras; the site promotes 0% commission on MP3 beat sales (you keep revenue aside from standard Stripe/PayPal processing fees). Free plan limits (e.g., selling only a set number of leased copies) vary by account. Traktrain reports high monthly traffic from artists in the hip-hop niche.
US tip: Optimize tags (trap, boom-bap, west-coast, NY, drill) and add short vocal demos to showcase how a rapper could use the beat. Network with US-based producers and rappers on IG and rap forums.
4. SoundClick — long-standing hip-hop marketplace
Best for: producers targeting rappers and artists who prefer legacy beat stores.
Plans & fees: Free, Silver (~$8/mo) and Gold (~$15/mo) plans; free/silver plans typically incur ~15% commission, while Gold can reduce commission to 0% on sales. SoundClick has a longstanding reputation in hip-hop beat leasing.
US tip: SoundClick’s audience skews to vocalists looking specifically for beats. Use it as a complementary channel to BeatStars/Traktrain if you want broad exposure in rapper communities.
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5. BeatStars — mainstream artist marketplace + streaming monetization
Best for: independent producers who want broad reach, leasing tools and modern monetization.
Model & payouts: BeatStars offers free and paid subscription tiers. Paid tiers (Pro, Unlimited) unlock higher revenue shares and advanced features; free tier typically yields lower retained revenue (e.g., free accounts keep less, paid accounts can keep up to 100% depending on the plan). BeatStars also provides publishing options and ways to monetize streams in some bundles.
Pros: large user base, easy licensing templates (lease, non-exclusive, exclusive), built-in player, integrations and apps.
Cons: competitive marketplace — promotion is essential.
US tip: Use BeatStars + TikTok challenges and short video teasers to drive artist interest. Offer a “beat pack” discount for new producers in the U.S. college/mixtape scenes.
6. PremiumBeat — curated stock music for film, TV & ads
Best for: composers focused on sync licensing and premium stock music.
Licensing & prices: PremiumBeat sells single track licenses with tiered pricing for web/social ($39–$59 examples) and expanded professional licenses ($199+). Because PremiumBeat (Shutterstock family) caters to higher-tier clients, payouts and selection are curated on submission.
US tip: If you want placements in US TV, indie film or ad campaigns, craft stems, variations (00:30, 00:15 cuts) and descriptive metadata. Target music supervisors and use US-centric metadata (e.g., “commercial lifestyle”, “news underscore”).
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7. AudioJungle (Envato) — massive marketplace for production music
Best for: producers selling royalty-free stock music to video makers, marketers and creators.
Fees & model: AudioJungle (part of Envato Market) uses tiered author fees — non-exclusive authors often earn higher percent per sale (e.g., examples show ~55% for certain non-exclusive sales; exclusive authors get a sliding scale ~12.5–37.5% depending on sales and terms). Envato publishes author fee schedules and fixed buyer fee tables for licenses.
US tip: You’ll compete with thousands of tracks — invest in great thumbnails, clear titles and license-friendly descriptions. Focus on short, loopable tracks used by YouTube creators, marketers, and social advertisers.
8. Pond5 — big stock marketplace for audio & video
Best for: creators who want exposure across audio and video buyers (broad, corporate + creative clients).
Commissions & process: Pond5 pays contributors a percentage of sales; current contributor guidance shows around ~30% for music and sound effects (exact tiers vary and exclusivity may change the split). Pond5 enforces content checks and may require ID for verification; payouts are monthly and include PayPal among payout options.
US tip: Price strategically — Pond5 buyers expect variable pricing. Submit polished WAV masters, include metadata and consider exclusivity for higher placement or algorithmic preference.
Practical U.S.-oriented selling & promotion tips (actionable)
Price tiers & license wording: US buyers expect clear license tiers — offer Beat Lease (non-exclusive), Non-Exclusive (higher price), and Exclusive (top price). Offer optional stems and instrumental/vocal splits.
Optimize metadata for search: include BPM, key, genre, mood, instrumentation, intended uses (YouTube, ad, podcast). US search queries often include “royalty free beat for YouTube”, “trap beats lease”, “commercial music license”.
Use multiple channels: place high-rotation beats on BeatStars/Traktrain, and evergreen, library-friendly tracks on AudioJungle/Pond5. Sell exclusives via Sellfy or direct contract.
Payout setup for US sellers: US creators benefit from PayPal, Stripe, or Payoneer. If selling to US clients, ensure tax forms and W-9/W-8 handling are correct (platforms often request tax info).
Promotion: short demo reels on Instagram Reels/TikTok, collaborations with US vocalists, submitting to US playlists and YouTube channels that accept beats. Use retargeting ads to artists who visited your beat preview pages.
Protect yourself legally: use clear license contracts (date, buyer, scope, term, territory), keep proof of sale, and register important works with a performing rights organization if you intend to collect publishing.
Quick comparison table (summary)
- Audiodraft: Corporate/branding; custom pricing; big agency clients.
- Sellfy: Your storefront; subscription fees; 0% platform commission.
- Traktrain: Hip-hop niche; 0% commission on MP3 sales; free & paid tiers.
- SoundClick: Legacy hip-hop marketplace; free/Silver/Gold plans with commissions.
- BeatStars: Large marketplace; subscription tiers; advanced artist tools.
- PremiumBeat: Curated sync/TV/ads; fixed license pricing; Shutterstock network.
- AudioJungle: Envato stock marketplace; tiered author fees; huge buyer base.
- Pond5: Wide stock marketplace; ~30% typical royalty for music; monthly payouts.
Final checklist — Quick launch plan for US market
Pick 2–3 platforms to start (BeatStars + AudioJungle/Pond5 or BeatStars + Sellfy).
Prepare 10–20 polished beats with WAV + MP3 + stems.
Create clean metadata, 30–60s previews and thumbnail artwork.
Set tiered prices (lease $15–$50, non-exclusive $75–$300, exclusive $300–$2000 depending on quality).
Promote via short-form video + targeted ads + outreach to US rappers and YouTube creators.
Route payouts to PayPal/Payoneer and file platform tax forms properly.
