Beat licensing explained

    Most takedowns and royalty disputes in Kenyan music come from one thing: releasing over a beat nobody licensed. Here is what each tier gives you at StreetChaos, in plain terms.

    Basic

    from KES 1,000

    Tagged/untagged MP3

    Non-exclusive, capped streams, credit required

    Premium

    KES 3,000 – 8,000

    WAV + trackout stems

    Non-exclusive, higher stream cap, credit required

    Exclusive

    from KES 15,000

    WAV + stems + ownership transfer

    Beat removed from catalogue, full ownership

    Which one should you buy?

    Frequently asked

    What is a beat licence?
    A licence is written permission from the producer to record and release a song over their instrumental. Without one you do not own the release, and distributors or YouTube can take it down on a copyright claim.
    What is the difference between Basic, Premium and Exclusive?
    Basic gives you a tagged or untagged MP3 for non-exclusive use with a capped stream count, from about KES 1,000. Premium adds the WAV and trackout stems with a higher cap, about KES 3,000–8,000. Exclusive transfers ownership to you and the beat is pulled from the catalogue, from about KES 15,000.
    Can two artists use the same beat?
    Yes, under Basic and Premium licences — they are non-exclusive by design, which is why they are cheap. Only an Exclusive purchase stops anyone else releasing over that instrumental.
    Do I need trackouts?
    If a separate engineer is mixing your song, yes. Trackout stems let them balance the drums, bass and melody against your vocal instead of fighting a stereo file.
    What happens when I hit the stream cap on a licence?
    You upgrade. The licence stays valid up to its cap; past that you buy the next tier or the exclusive, and the money you already paid is not wasted.
    How do I prove I have the licence?
    The licence PDF is emailed with your files on payment, naming you, the beat and the tier. Keep it — distributors and content-ID disputes ask for exactly that document.

    StreetChaos · streetchaoss.space · Nairobi, Kenya