How to Create (and Sell) Beats
If you think about it, making beats is a dream job. You can mess around with cool sounds all day, and if you’re good, you get paid, and the rapper might even shout out to you at the beginning of the song. The next time you hear Megan T’s “Body” of the Stallion, listen to her say, “And if the beat goes live, you know Lil Joo did it.”
How steep should be Lil Ju? It can be assumed that this is pretty cool. If you agree, here are some tips on how to create and sell beats.
Be inspired
Beat artist Tasha , also known as Natasha Home, told Lifehacker that she grew up in a musical, artistic family. Her parents ran a club in Australia, and her mom controlled the sound, letting Tasha hang out at the mixing console. Her grandfather was a pioneer in computerized music, and they encouraged her to leave, set up a “fake radio station” and make music.
Even if your family isn’t all that musical or you don’t know where to start, start by listening to a variety of music and sounds. Find out who you like and what you like, then get to work figuring out how those sounds were made. Check out the technology and equipment you need.
“I started making beats in high school,” said artist Mighty Mark . “I used to rap, and then a school friend gave me a copy of the computer music program Fruity Loops, now called FL Studio, and I found I could make my own rap beats. In the end, I gave up rap and focused more on producing. “
Mighty Mark recommends really learning your craft and using all the resources available like YouTube, Skillshare, and Twitch. Connect with other authors and learn from them.
Also, he added, learn about the publishing industry and the general business behind selling music. No matter what you do in life, it will come in handy.
Do not be afraid to experiment, try new things and – if you don’t feel something – move on to other undertakings in space, as Mighty Mark did. This is your art, so do whatever you want! Well, almost whatever you want, ”as Tashi warned:“ Don’t copy anything. Find out why you like it and always follow your heart. You will be much happier in your job if you match who you are and how you feel. “
Find out what you can do
Not every beatmaker will get this Megan Thee Stallion shout, but there are many other cool things you can do.
“The beatmaker usually just creates instrumental compositions for the performers that they can compose or rap, or releases instrumental compositions, so I tend to lean more towards the music producer myself,” said Mighty Mark. “I create beats. I release my own beats and singles. I create beats for the artists, but I also instruct the artists how to approach the recording from the top down. “
Tashi agreed, adding, “I tried to make beats for other artists, but I didn’t feel it was viable because the artists I knew and could contact couldn’t afford to buy beats.”
Note this: Before you try to sell to others, think about your reach and competitiveness. Use your bits in your own project, or think of other ways to increase sales like Mighty Mark does through consulting.
Promote yourself
Once you’ve mastered your sound – or at least one of its ever-changing eras – and come up with a plan for what you would like to do with it, it’s time to release that music to the world. But don’t be discouraged if you don’t succeed right away.
“I regularly published my music on MySpace and sent it to the radio, but they never played it on Australian radio, saying it was too experimental,” recalls Tashi, who is currently releasing an album with Leaving Records.
She took this rejection as a lesson in which companies she really would like to work for: “I submit my music to compilations that have music that I think works for me. I have released a lot of small labels, mostly cassette labels. I love supporting small labels because they also help spread experimental music. “
Mighty Mark takes a different approach, selling directly to his clients via email or letting them participate in the art process.
“My marketing is pretty much word of mouth,” he said. “People hear the work I do for other artists and then they come to me for that sound. Potential buyers also listen to my solo releases, and this piques their interest in working with me. I also allow artists to record private sessions with me, and I make the beat live in front of them. “
No matter how hard you try, persistence is critical.
“Continue to work!” – said Tashi. “I got out of my rut, pushing. It’s really worth it. “