If you’re a songwriter with a drawer full of songs, you’ve probably had this thought:

“If I put my song online, what stops someone from stealing it?”

That’s not paranoia. That’s wisdom.

Songwriters have heard the horror stories — shady deals, unclear contracts, “opportunities” that quietly take your rights.

So let me be direct:

BuyDemoTracks is not a publisher. We don’t want your publishing. We built a marketplace — and protection is built into the model.

Here’s how it works.

1) Timestamped Proof of Authorship

The moment you upload a hook, the system creates a recorded timestamp tied to:

• Your account
• Your uploaded file
• The hook listing

That timestamp matters because it creates a paper trail that’s hard to dispute.

Even if you never take legal action, proof changes behavior. People are far less likely to do shady things when they know there’s an audit trail.

2) Watermarked Previews (So Artists Can Hear It Without Taking It)

A marketplace has to balance two needs:

• Artists need to preview hooks to know what they’re buying
• Songwriters need confidence that previews can’t be lifted and reposted as-is

That’s why previews are designed to be listen-able but not copy-able.

You want an artist to hear enough to fall in love with the hook — but not enough to rip it clean and treat it like their own.

Watermarking plus platform controls creates that “taste test” without giving away the whole meal.

3) Licensing Is Built Into the Transaction

The biggest protection isn’t technical. It’s legal.

When an artist purchases a hook, the terms are clear:

• You keep songwriter credit
• The artist gets the rights they need to perform/post the hook under the agreed usage
• The transaction creates a record of permission

This is the difference between “posting a song online” and “selling a hook in a marketplace.”

A marketplace creates structure.

Structure creates safety.

4) You Control What You Share

A hook is intentionally a small slice of the full song.

That’s not because we want to limit you.

It’s because the hook is the best unit for discovery — and it lets you:

• Test demand without giving away the entire composition
• Keep the verse/story for the full version
• Decide your next move based on real response

If a hook takes off, you still have leverage.

You still have the deeper song.

5) Featured Artists Are Vetted

We don’t build this marketplace by letting anyone with a microphone run wild.

Featured Artists are performers with:

• Active audiences
• A track record of posting consistently
• A real identity and public presence

Vetting doesn’t eliminate risk completely — nothing does — but it dramatically reduces the likelihood of bad actors.

6) Optional Copyright Registration (If You Want Maximum Peace of Mind)

Some songwriters already handle copyright registration on their own. Some don’t.

That’s why we offer it as an optional add-on:

$65 per song — and we handle the filing.

It’s not required to use the marketplace.

But if you’re the type of songwriter who sleeps better knowing every “i” is dotted, it’s there.

7) Clear Philosophy: You’re the Hero, We’re the Guide

This matters.

A lot of platforms quietly position themselves as the owner of the relationship.

We don’t.

Our job is to:

• Help your songs get heard
• Create a safe path for artists to perform them
• Make the process simple, fair, and transparent

Your job is to write.

And keep writing.

Practical Tips (Because You Should Still Be Smart)

Even with protections, here are a few best practices:

• Keep your original drafts/voice memos saved (dated files help)
• Document co-writer splits before uploading
• Upload only what you’re comfortable sharing (start with hooks)
• Use the optional copyright add-on if you want formal registration

This isn’t fear-based — it’s just professional.

The Bottom Line

You shouldn’t have to choose between:

• Keeping your songs “safe” in a drawer, unheard
• Or putting them online and hoping nobody takes advantage

The Hook Marketplace exists to give you a third option:

Get your songs heard — with protection baked into the process from day one.

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Ready to list your first hook?

[List Your First Hook →]