Pop Beats for Singers: Where to Buy Them and How to Choose

In short: pop beats are sold on big platforms, in producers’ own stores and through YouTube. If you sing, look for a beat that leaves room for your voice, has a chorus that lifts and is in a key you can reach. A lease usually costs between $20 and $150. My pop beats are mostly piano ballads and emotional pop, in the style of Olivia Rodrigo, Lewis Capaldi and Adele, from $24.95. See my pop beats →

What kind of pop beat do you need?

• Piano ballad, 60 to 80 BPM: piano, strings and very few drums. The sound of Adele or Lewis Capaldi.
• Emotional pop with more movement, 85 to 110 BPM: piano or guitar with fuller drums. Closer to Olivia Rodrigo or Gracie Abrams.
• Dance pop, 110 BPM and up: synths and a steady kick, made to dance to.

Most of my catalog is in the first two groups.

Where can you buy pop beats?

• Big platforms: lots of producers in one place, but each one has different license rules, and the platform takes a commission.
• The producer’s own store: you buy directly from the person who made the beat, usually at the same price or better, and you can ask them questions.
• YouTube: search “artist name + type beat” and look for the store link in the description. Don’t rip the audio from YouTube: without a license, the song can be taken down.

What to check before you buy

• Room for your voice: the verses should be quieter so the lyrics come through.
• A chorus that lifts: in pop the chorus is what people remember. The beat should open up there.
• The key: sing the chorus over the beat. If you strain on the high notes, it isn’t your key.
• The length and structure: listen to the full beat and check that there is space for the verses and choruses you have.
• The license: how many streams it covers, which files you get and that it comes in writing, in your name.

Olivia Rodrigo, Adele and other pop type beats

When a beat is called “Olivia Rodrigo type beat” it means it sounds like her style. It isn’t her song and she isn’t on it. It’s an original beat you can license and use for your own song. Type beat vs. custom beat →

You can listen to them by artist: Olivia Rodrigo, Lewis Capaldi, Adele and Justin Bieber.

How much does a pop beat cost?

• Basic, $24.95: MP3, up to 150,000 monetized streams. For your first song or to test.
• Premium, $39.95: WAV, up to 350,000 monetized streams. For a release you’re going to promote.
• Unlimited, $99.95: no stream limit, with the stems.
• Exclusive: price agreed for each beat. Only you can use it and it comes off the store.

All of them let you release the song on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube. If you buy 2 beats, you get 1 free. With Basic, Premium and Unlimited, if YouTube puts a Content ID claim on your song, send me the link and I remove it. Compare the licenses →

Pop beats to start with

• I Wait For You: Lewis Capaldi x Adele type beat, piano ballad. 60 BPM, G#m.
• Moments: Adele x Lauv type beat, piano and strings. 67 BPM, Ab.
• Always: Justin Bieber x Olivia Rodrigo type beat, piano and guitar. 65 BPM, Am.
• Summer: Olivia Rodrigo x Miley Cyrus type beat, uplifting. 70 BPM, F.
• Clarity: Lewis Capaldi x Lauv type beat, sad pop. 76 BPM, Am.
• Luna: Olivia Rodrigo x Gracie Abrams type beat, piano and synth. 102 BPM, F#.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a pop beat cost?

A lease usually costs between $20 and $150, depending on the license. In my store pop beats start at $24.95.

What does "Olivia Rodrigo type beat" mean?

It means the beat sounds like the style of that artist. It is not one of her songs and she is not on it. It is an original beat made in that lane. Type beat vs. custom beat →

Can I sell my song if I made it with a leased beat?

Yes. Every license includes commercial use, so you can release it on Spotify and make money with it, within the limits of your license.

Do I need the stems?

Not to release a song. They help if someone is going to mix your song properly, because they can adjust each instrument around your voice. They come with the Unlimited license.