Jason Berger Speaks To Billboard About Musicians’ Use Of Licensed Beats

Philadelphia, Pa. (February 14, 2024) - Philadelphia Partner Jason C. Berger was recently quoted in a Billboard magazine article exploring the burgeoning market for licensing pre-made instrumental tracks.

The article, titled "Buying Beats Online Is Common, Convenient, and Risky," details both the benefits and potential pitfalls for musicians who opt to license instrumental beats from one of a growing number of online stores.

The article notes that, for up-and-coming artists, licensing beats can be an affordable - some deals start at just $2.99 - and efficient way to build songs and broaden their audience. However, these licensing agreements typically place significant limitations on an artist's use of the beat, often by capping the number of streams a song can earn. And if the song becomes a hit, the artist will have to attempt to buy the beat outright to gain exclusivity, according to the article.

Mr. Berger told Billboard that it is critical for unsigned artists to parse through and understand these agreements before signing them.

“Read through the terms and conditions,” he said. “There’s nothing worse than you not understanding how something is going to play out based on an agreement you’ve already entered.”

Mr. Berger is a member of Lewis Brisbois’ Entertainment, Media & Sports Practice. His expertise lies in recognizing talented artists, individuals and companies, developing strategies to achieve long-term success, and protecting their interests by rigorously negotiating and drafting the agreements forming the basis of their business relationships.

Learn more about Lewis Brisbois’ capabilities in this area by visiting our Entertainment, Media & Sports Practice page here.

Read the full Billboard article here (subscription may be required).