A Dutch producer named YoungKio uploads a beat to Beatstars, licenses it to a young rapper named Lil Nas X for $30, who uses TikTok to help make it the biggest song of 2019. A few months later, the relatively unknown DJ Track Addict posts a viral video making a beat on an MPC and within a couple hours he agrees to collaborate with Meek Mill.
Being a beat maker has completely changed the last few years. It’s easier than ever to make and release music. With the rise of new platforms that offer pre-cleared, affordable beats and samples, combined with a new generation of social media savvy creators, more and more producers are able to make a living through their music. And sometimes even make number one hits.