Who owns a beat after purchase?

Beat lease (non-exclusive)

The beat maker retains 100% ownership of the composition and master. You receive a license to use the beat under specific terms (stream limits, distribution limits, time limits). The beat maker can lease the same beat to other artists. No split sheet is needed because you don’t own the composition — but you may want one if you’re writing lyrics and melody over it, creating a new co-owned work.

Exclusive purchase (with co-ownership)

You buy exclusive rights to the beat. The beat maker can no longer sell or lease it to others. But “exclusive” doesn’t always mean full ownership transfer. In many exclusive deals, the beat maker retains 20–50% of the composition. Document this with a split sheet. See what percentage a beat maker gets for standard ranges.

Exclusive purchase (work-for-hire)

The cleanest arrangement: you pay a fee, the beat maker signs a work-for-hire agreement, and all rights — composition, master, publishing — transfer to you. The beat maker retains nothing. This is the only way to guarantee 100% ownership of a purchased beat.

What if there’s no written agreement?

Without a written agreement, ownership defaults vary by jurisdiction. In many cases, the beat maker retains copyright because they created the work. A PayPal receipt or DM saying “it’s yours” is not a legal transfer of ownership. Always get it in writing.

Which document do you need?

Lease: the beat license agreement from the beat maker (not covered by CAZEN’s tools). Exclusive with co-ownership: create a split sheet. Exclusive work-for-hire: create a work-for-hire agreement. Not sure? Read beat license vs. exclusive rights for the full comparison.