AwhiteNFTEAM
Music industry and the creation of beats
I would like to create a application were I create beats for people to use in their music or any form of sound.
How much effort would I have to put into createing this business and do I have to go to college? #business #engineering #engineer #music #computer-engineer
4 answers
Jared Chung
Jared’s Answer
When you say "application", it sounds like you're talking about building a piece of software. If that's the case, then you are talking about (1) an engineering goal, and (2) an entrepreneurial goal.
For part (1): To build a piece of software that creates beats will require you gaining some engineering skills. I build software businesses, and I would definitely recommend that you to go college to learn how to develop software. There will be innovation in the music industry every year for a long time, so building your software development skills will definitely come in handy in the future. You should look at the computer programming questions on CareerVillage as well. This could be a very rewarding career, and could open up a lot of future entrepreneurial ventures for the astute observer who has their eye open for a market opportunity! Don't forget, though, that to do well in an engineering school, you're going to need to be comfortable with math and science!
For part (2): The entrepreneurial challenges, there are definitely a lot of things to learn about entrepreneurship, but being a part of NFTE is going to give you a lot of those basics that will get you started. The short answer to your question is that ALL entrepreneurial ventures are challenging to build. They all take 110% of your time. If you're really driven by a vision for what success looks like, you're in a much better position to be able to weather the challenges you will inevitably face in your entrepreneurial ventures. I suppose that's true for life in general.
Jay (Brett) Jenkins
Jay (Brett)’s Answer
1) how much of your passion lies in creating the application to create beats
2) how much of your passion lies in creating the beats themselves
There already exist some phenomenal software tools to record beats and sound effects. If your passion lies in making the software, a college education in software development is going to be a great next step. If your passion lies in making music, find an existing tool that does most of what you need it to do and start producing content now.
Starting any business venture will take a considerable amount of effort and time. That shouldn't be a deterrent as long as you have an interest in what you are pursuing.
Anuj Gupta
Anuj’s Answer
Building this is a high-effort endeavor because you are essentially launching two businesses at once: a tech startup and a music brand.
Here is how the effort breaks down:
Software Engineering (High Effort): Building a smooth, web-based audio tool or an e-commerce platform that handles high-quality audio files, user accounts, and secure payments requires strong coding skills (JavaScript, Web Audio API, or backend languages).
Music Production (Medium to High Effort): You need to consistently create high-quality, original, and commercially viable beats that artists actually want to buy.
Business & Legal (Medium Effort): You will have to handle marketing, copyright laws, and licensing agreements (e.g., deciding between exclusive and non-exclusive rights for your beats).
The Bottom Line
If you already know how to code and make beats, you could launch a basic version in a few months. If you are learning both from scratch, expect to put in 1 to 2 years of daily, consistent effort to get a high-quality application off the ground.
Anuj Gupta
Anuj’s Answer
Here is the honest breakdown of what it takes to start a beat-making or beat-selling business:
1. Do you have to go to college?
No. In the music production and beat-selling industry, no one cares about a degree. They only care about how good your beats sound and how well you market them. You can learn everything you need via YouTube, online courses, and daily practice.
(Note: If you want to build the actual software/app from scratch yourself, a Computer Science or Software Engineering degree can help, but even then, coding is highly self-teachable.)
2. How much effort will it take?
A lot. It is a highly competitive market, but very doable if you treat it like a real job.
Your effort will be split into three main buckets:
The Craft (High Effort initially): Learning Music Production Software (DAWs like FL Studio, Logic Pro, or Ableton), music theory, mixing, and mastering so your beats sound professional.
The Business (Continuous Effort): Setting up a platform to sell them (like BeatStars, Airbit, or your own website), understanding licensing contracts (exclusive vs. non-exclusive rights), and managing finances.
The Marketing (Highest Effort): Posting consistently on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to get artists to notice you. Content creation will take up just as much time as making the music.
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