"The New Beat Market Exchange" |BeatTips.com

[Sa'id]

In my latest article for BeatTips.com, I discuss the emergence of a "new market" for soliciting and selling beats. Read the article, and let's build about it in our community.

"The New Beat Market Exchange"| BeatTips.com

— Sa'id

[dkelloway]

I agree with the article. I find that the new system has many advantages and disadvantages. For example, if I wanted to get a beat to Raekwon it would be much easier for a newcomer like me when he posts his email up on twitter. However, if I did build up a name for myself, I would be upset that artists could get quality beats at a much lesser price instead of going to a household name and paying $25,000 per beat.

[Sa'id]

Originally Posted by dkelloway

I agree with the article. I find that the new system has many advantages and disadvantages. For example, if I wanted to get a beat to Raekwon it would be much easier for a newcomer like me when he posts his email up on twitter. However, if I did build up a name for myself, I would be upset that artists could get quality beats at a much lesser price instead of going to a household name and paying $25,000 per beat.

dk,

I hear you, but did you ever consider the fact that $25,000 might have always been too much to pay for a beat in the first place? Beatmaking is a new musical phenomenon, as such, the price parameters and ceiling was being set—in real time—in the 1990s. And what was the price parameters and ceiling for beats based on? Well, in many ways, the model for previous music producers.

But after while, it became clear that not all beatmakers were actually in the studio with rappers "producing," helping out song ideas, vocal coaching, mixing, etc. As such, beat prices necessarily had to go down. Think about it: If a beat goes to a rapper, without the beatmaker's presence, well, then what you have is a situation were the "building materials" (the beat) are being bought wholesale. That is to say, the beat, without the beatmaker's input, should be less expensive. Add to that mix the fact that the number of able beatmakers grew exponentially over the pass 10 years, and what you get is a dramatic drop in beat prices.

Hence, the notion of you being "upset," if you built up a name, because an artist could get quality beats at a lower price isn't reasonable. In an competitive environment, it's usually those persons with the highest quality products, at the best prices, who are the most successful.

Thus, the only thing that can assure decent beat prices and pay parity in the new beat market exchange is a beatmakers' union. I've been calling for the creation of a union for beatmakers for the past seven years. And now that the bottom-lines of some of the most well-known beatmakers are getting pinched, I think now is the time. As you know, in 'The BeatTips Manual,' I breakdown exactly what I think such a union should stand for and look like.

— Sa'id

[GeeWiz86]

yeah but also with so much technology that makes beat making "easier" or should I say more accessible to the public, it's driving down the value of true beatmaking producers. I think we all have come across a $20 beatmaker peddling crappy as beats. So until this influx of bedroom beatmakers evens it self out, we just gotta grind harder at getting at rappers and singers directly thru facebook or like dk said combing thru twitter looking for email addresses

[Sa'id]

Originally Posted by GeeWiz86

yeah but also with so much technology that makes beat making "easier" or should I say more accessible to the public, it's driving down the value of true beatmaking producers. I think we all have come across a $20 beatmaker peddling crappy as beats. So until this influx of bedroom beatmakers evens it self out, we just gotta grind harder at getting at rappers and singers directly thru facebook or like dk said combing thru twitter looking for email addresses

GeeWiz,

Of course there's an influx of lesser quality beatmakers, due in large part to a number of reasons, including widespread accessibility to music production tools. However, you can't keep anyone what out of the competition—whack or not. Hence, the only solution is to solidify the beatmaking trade, and organize a union, wherein membership isn't that easy to get into. In a scenario like this, where the union contracts with labels (major and indie), beat prices get guaranteed, across the board, for all quality beatmakers.

By the way, Gee Wiz, please read my article, "The New Beat Market Exchange." I used the article to set off this thread.

— Sa'id

[dkelloway]

I hate that $20 a beat business. What does that say about the beatmaking craft? seriously...

And Sa'id, the more I think about it, the more I understand where you're coming from about that quality product. It's kinda like a Mercedes car, people would be willing to spend that extra $20,000 on that brand name since they know that the suspension and handling will be top notch quality-- much like a producer like DJ Premier if offering a product with top quality drum programming which offers a dope groove for an artist to rap over.

[dkelloway]

As for the beatmakers union, I have a business degree and I have studied on several occasions what is needed for a successful union...fundamentally if all beatmakers fly together wage, everyone would pay "dues" and then in return the union would bargain beat prices that would be up to 20% higher (on average) for a beatmaker that is a part of a union than if he/she wasn't a part of the union.

[Sa'id]

Originally Posted by dkelloway

As for the beatmakers union, I have a business degree and I have studied on several occasions what is needed for a successful union...fundamentally if all beatmakers fly together wage, everyone would pay "dues" and then in return the union would bargain beat prices that would be up to 20% higher (on average) for a beatmaker that is a part of a union than if he/she wasn't a part of the union.

DK,

Yeah, that's the idea... But dig it, if the beatmakers' union that I envision were to make a deal with the labels (majors and indies), price points could be "locked in," as it would be in the labels best interest—when it comes to commercial releases—to NOT do business with non-union members. Thus, if done right, beatmakers would aim to be a part of the union, as opposed to not being a part of it. The end result: A win/win situation for everybody...more overall quality, better overall pay for ALL beatmakers.

— Sa'id

[dkelloway]

Originally Posted by Sa'id

DK,

Yeah, that's the idea... But dig it, if the beatmakers' union that I envision were to make a deal with the labels (majors and indies), price points could be "locked in," as it would be in the labels best interest—when it comes to commercial releases—to NOT do business with non-union members. Thus, if done right, beatmakers would aim to be a part of the union, as opposed to not being a part of it. The end result: A win/win situation for everybody...more overall quality, better overall pay for ALL beatmakers.

— Sa'id

good post...I read over the theory behind this in the BeatTips Manual but is the only way to get this theory into practice is lobbying to record labels?

[john carlo]

What up Beat Tips fam,
Just read the article. I definitely agree with the major points here. One thing not mentioned which in my opinion is a MAJOR factor of why beatmakers are not getting the big bucks anymore (besides technology and the influx of producers) is because of how this generation consumes music. Many people don't buy cd's anymore, nor do they even buy downloads. You can get just about any music you want through various piracy sites. I'm not advocating that (though I've done it on occasion), I'm just saying the music industry is changing and isn't finished yet. Consider this fact, the hipster band Vampire Weekend just released their second album that made it to the top ten billboard chart. The significance: They are the first INDIE label to do it. The lines between the major and indie markets are becoming more and more blurred. Labels aren't sure how to cope. A beatmakers union, as far as I'm concerned, would be a major step forward in aiding the process and leveling the playing field of beat prices.