To lease or buy & Independent Artist of the Week.

Hey, it’s TJ Miller, you want some game? Let's Tip Unda The Hat! 

This week, leasing,  Let’s go -  

Here’s how a lease works, a producer or copyright owner leases their beat or track to be used by other artists for a price, and term set by the owner. The track can only be used for a certain amount of time or sell a certain amount of copies. Once the lease terms are up, you can agree to longer terms. Keep in mind the owner also has the option to make the same deal with as many artists as he chooses. Meaning the track can make tons of money with different artists. 

So you ask why would I “lease” a track? Simple, for artists that don’t have a producer, or that want to do mixtapes or promos it’s a cheaper price, and gives them a hot track to perform on. If the new song “blows up,” the lessee can renegotiate for an exclusive track that already has momentum and a sales history. 

There are usually four types of leasing licenses. All four will depend on where you are on your musical journey. First is the mp3 license. This is for the cats just getting started, first single, first mixtape etc. It is the cheapest of the four and lesser in quality because it’s an mp3. Terms usually exclude live televised performance or radio, but this will get you going on YouTube, your website and your other social platforms. And yes you can sell it and put it on Spotify, usually for a small amount of units, somewhere in the 1,000 unit range and 5,000 streams. Next is the wave file license. Bigger better quality, not compressed so it sounds better, for more money of course. You get to sell more units, stream more and can approach a limited number of radio stations; so it’s mo money for both of you. Next is the Track out license or stems. Now you are spending more money, and it is the most expensive of the non exclusive tracks; but you have more control and usually worth the money if you have some traction and momentum to your career. Here you can remix and remaster to make it more “your'' track. As the lessee you get more sales, more streams, more radio, live performance, video if you want as well. Please remember all of these licenses are negotiated between the owner and the lessee, these are just very general terms and gives you a gage to go by. Lastly of course is the exclusive, the owner still retains writers royalties, but now you have your very own track to get down on. And once the other artists that had non exclusive deals terms run out, they will not be able to renegotiate for longer than their original agreement. Just like leasing a car - get it? 

Ok, so need a track? Lease it, you have options. 

This week's Independent Artists of the Week Wes Stephenson along with, Larry Davis and Medrick Greely, are featured at The Jazz Jam at Jazz Becuzz tonight Tuesday at 8:30 CST on Facebook and YouTube live. Click on the name, click on the pic to hear a sample, then tune in tonight on Facebook and YouTube live.  

For more information or to hire Unda The Hat as your brand or label consultant send a message via undathehat.com. See you next week. 

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