You make the beat. You send it. Then what? Without proof, anything can happen. This guide shows producers and beatmakers exactly how to protect a beat before it leaves your hands.
Beatmakers are among the most exposed creators in music. You send beats constantly — via DM, email, WeTransfer, BeatStars, Airbit. Every time you send a beat without a prior proof of ownership, you're taking a risk.
A producer sends a beat to an artist on Instagram. The artist records on it, releases the track. 2 million streams later, the artist claims he "made the beat" — or simply ignores the producer's messages. No signed agreement. No timestamped proof. The producer has nothing.
The fix: deposit your beat on TuneLockr before sending it to anyone. 2 minutes. Free. Your timestamped certificate proves the beat was yours at that exact date — before it left your hands.
Don't just protect the final MP3. Protect every strategic version — the ones you send, the ones that matter.
| What to protect | Format | When | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beat / instrumental (final) | WAV, MP3 | Before sending to any artist | Critical |
| Beat pack / zip | ZIP | Before selling or distributing | Critical |
| Stems (separated tracks) | WAV, ZIP | Before delivering to a client | Critical |
| DAW project (session file) | ZIP | Before co-production session | Important |
| Work-in-progress version | MP3, WAV | Before sharing for feedback | Important |
| Loop / sample (original) | WAV | Before use in a commercial beat | Useful |
WAV, MP3, or ZIP (for stems / full session). You can protect a single beat file or a complete pack. The earlier you protect, the stronger your position.
No credit card required. No membership. Sign up at app.tunelockr.com and get your first deposit free instantly.
TuneLockr calculates a unique cryptographic fingerprint of your beat and records it on the Tezos blockchain — immutable, timestamped to the second, independently verifiable.
Your proof of beat ownership — timestamped, eIDAS compliant, valid for life in 170+ countries. Stored in your TuneLockr library and accessible anytime.
Send via BeatStars, DM, email, WeTransfer — however you want. Your proof predates the send. If anyone disputes ownership, your certificate is your evidence.
Tezos blockchain · eIDAS standard · Lifetime certificate · 170+ countries · No credit card
Protect my beat →Whether you sell leases or exclusives, protection works differently for each — but the principle is the same: protect before you deliver.
| Beat type | What to protect | When | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-exclusive lease | Final WAV/MP3 version | Before listing on BeatStars / Airbit | Your proof remains valid even if multiple artists lease |
| Exclusive sale | Final version + stems | Before delivery to the buyer | Protect before transferring files — your proof is your record of prior ownership |
| Co-production | Your contribution + final version | Before and after the session | Defines your contribution clearly if a split dispute arises later |
| Sync / licensing | Final version + stems | Before pitching to a label, TV, or brand | Sync deals require clean proof of ownership — your certificate documents it |
Key point: selling or leasing a beat does not erase your proof of ownership on TuneLockr. Your certificate documents that you created the beat before the transaction — it's your permanent record, regardless of what happens to the rights afterwards.
The most common mistake. You send the beat via DM with no prior documentation. If anything goes wrong, you have nothing to show.
Not recognized as strong proof. The timestamp can be challenged and the link to the actual file is easily disputed in a serious conflict.
A proof created after you've already shared the beat is much weaker. The whole point is to establish ownership before the file leaves your hands.
If you send a rough version that becomes disputed, you need a proof for that specific version — not just the master you finished 3 weeks later.
Upload your beat file (WAV, MP3, ZIP) to TuneLockr before sending it to anyone. You'll receive a timestamped certificate in 2 minutes — Tezos blockchain, eIDAS standard, valid in 170+ countries, first deposit free. Your proof establishes beat ownership at that exact date, before it left your hands.
Yes. Once you send a beat without prior proof of ownership, it becomes very difficult to prove it was originally yours if a dispute arises. Without a timestamped certificate predating the send, you have no strong evidence. Always protect your beat on TuneLockr before sending it to any artist or client.
Yes — a beat is protected by copyright as soon as it's created. But copyright without proof of creation date is very hard to enforce. If an artist claims your beat was theirs, you need a document that proves you created it first. That's what TuneLockr provides: an irrefutable timestamped proof of beat ownership.
A lease allows multiple artists to use your beat non-exclusively. An exclusive sale transfers full rights to one buyer. For both: protect on TuneLockr before any transaction. For leases, protect the version you're leasing before listing it. For exclusives, protect the final version + stems before delivery. Your proof of ownership remains on record regardless of the license type.
TuneLockr accepts ZIP files — compress your entire DAW project (stems, session files, MIDI, samples) and deposit the archive in one single deposit. This protects your full creative process. Particularly useful before delivering stems to an artist or before a co-production session.
No. Emailing yourself a beat is not considered strong proof in most disputes. The timestamp can be questioned and the link between the email and the actual file can be disputed. TuneLockr uses Tezos blockchain to create an immutable, independently verifiable proof — far more reliable than a self-email.
Complete guide 2026.
Read →Guide complet FR.
Lire →Guide dédié auteurs.
Lire →3 legal methods.
Read →All plans and options.
See →1st deposit free, no CC.
Start →Official resources: WIPO — Copyright · U.S. Copyright Office · eIDAS Regulation
