If you only need the finished instrumental, start by looking at the WAV license. If your mix needs separate instrumental parts, look at STEMS. If you need the unlimited distribution allowances listed here, look at UNLIMITED. Then read the agreement. The biggest price is not a substitute for checking what you’re buying.
This guide compares the SLAKIN contract previews available on this site. BeatStars lets producers set their own licenses, so another producer’s WAV or unlimited tier may mean something different. You can inspect the actual terms in the cart before paying. BeatStars explains how producer-specific licenses work.
What changes between the three tiers?
Scroll sideways to see the full table.
| Included / allowed | WAV | STEMS | UNLIMITED |
|---|---|---|---|
| License fee | USD $50 | USD $100 | USD $200 |
| Untagged MP3 + WAV | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Track stems | No | Yes | Yes |
| Audio streams | 500,000 | 1,000,000 | Unlimited |
| Distribution copies | 500 | 1,000 | Unlimited |
| Monetized music videos | 1 | 2 | Unlimited |
| Monetized video streams | 500,000 | 1,000,000 | Unlimited |
| Radio stations | 2 | 2 | Unlimited |
These figures come from the WAV, STEMS and UNLIMITED contract previews. The agreement presented at checkout governs the purchase. Save that agreement with your files.
Do you need stems to record vocals?
You can record vocals against a finished instrumental. Stems become useful when the mix requires independent control over parts of the beat: changing an instrumental element’s level around the vocal, for example, rather than turning the whole instrumental down.
People use “stems” loosely. Technically, a stem may combine related tracks, while individual track exports are separate parts. Ableton’s guide makes this distinction. Before choosing a tier for a specific mix request, ask what the supplied track stems contain. Buying a stems license does not by itself promise the original DAW session, every plugin or MIDI files.
If someone else is mixing your song, ask them what they need before buying. “Can you turn down just that instrument?” is a useful question to answer while the purchase is still a decision.
What does unlimited actually mean here?
The UNLIMITED tier removes the listed caps for audio streams, distribution copies, monetized music videos, monetized video streams and radio stations. It still has a contract. It is a non-exclusive license, and the current preview sets a ten-year term.
The following points appear across all three SLAKIN previews:
- The producer retains ownership of the original beat. The agreement describes ownership of the new composition separately.
- Publishing is split 50% to the producer and 50% to the artist.
- The artist owes a 10% royalty on Net Receipts under the agreement’s reporting and payment terms.
- Renewal or renegotiation after the ten-year term requires mutual agreement.
- TV, film, advertising and other commercial synchronization need explicit consent.
- Content identification registration, including YouTube Content ID, needs explicit consent.
- The original beat cannot be resold or sublicensed on its own.
Read the ownership, royalties, clearances and restrictions sections as carefully as the stream limit. A larger allowance does not remove those provisions. The preview also assigns responsibility for any required third-party clearances; ask about a specific track if that is relevant to your release.
Choose for a release plan you can describe
For a single with one video, write down the formats you need, the platforms you intend to use and whether anyone needs separate instrumental parts. Compare that plan with the WAV and STEMS limits. For a broader campaign, count the planned videos and distribution uses as well as your streaming expectations.
If your plan includes an advertisement, a film placement or Content ID, contact me about that use directly. Selecting UNLIMITED is not the approval step for those uses.
The site offers license upgrades by paying the difference. Send the beat name and your existing license so the upgrade can be arranged. Do that before exceeding an existing allowance; don’t assume an upgrade has happened because you intend to buy one later.
What if you want a beat made only for your project?
The three catalog tiers above are non-exclusive. If you want production made for your project and never sold to someone else, the one-on-one production page is the relevant starting point. We agree on scope and terms before starting. The catalog price table does not define that custom agreement.
Ready to pick the music first? Browse the beat catalog, keep a shortlist and check the license for the track you actually choose. The paperwork is easier when there is a song attached to it.