The blog
Straight talk for independent artists.
From a producer who has done it since 2019. What to set up before your first release, how to buy a beat without getting burned, which license you actually need, and what goes into the records. Short reads, no filler.
Starting out
Starting your music career: what you actually need first
PRO, the MLC, SoundExchange, a distributor, ISRC codes, split sheets, cover art and where the beat lease fits. Prices checked Oct 2026.
· 6 min read
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Buying beats
How to buy beats online without getting burned
What a lease is, what untagged means, MP3 vs WAV vs trackouts, stream limits, instant delivery, and the red flags to walk away from.
· 5 min read
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Licensing
Lease or exclusive: which beat license do you need?
When a lease is enough, when an exclusive is worth it, what "the beat comes off the site" means, and how the publishing split works.
· 5 min read
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Southern Soul
Southern Soul beats: what makes a trail ride record
The sound, the tempos, who it is for, how Cook builds them, and the buy-one-get-one on every Southern Soul lease until Oct 31.
· 5 min read
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