If you’ve spent any time in the music industry — or really any creative industry — you’ve probably noticed a pattern: someone else decides what your work is worth.

Labels decide what artists get paid. Publishers decide what songwriters earn. Platforms decide the per-stream rate. And everybody just… accepts it. Because that’s how it’s always been.

We wanted to do something different.

On the BuyDemoTracks Hook Marketplace, Featured Artists set their own rates. And before you wonder if that’s chaotic or unfair — let me explain why it’s actually the smartest thing we could have done.

The Old Way: One Rate Fits Nobody

In traditional music economics, rates are standardized. Session musicians get union scale. Songwriters split publishing according to formulas. Everyone fits into boxes.

The problem? No two artists are the same.

An artist with 200,000 TikTok followers and a track record of viral covers brings a fundamentally different value proposition than an emerging artist with 2,000 followers who’s just getting started. A vocalist with professional studio equipment delivers a different product than someone recording on their phone.

A flat rate pretends these differences don’t exist. Artist-set pricing acknowledges reality.

How It Works

When a Featured Artist joins the BuyDemoTracks platform, they set their own rate for covering hooks. This is what songwriters pay when they want a specific artist to perform their hook.

Some artists price at $50. Some at $500. Some at $2,000. And every price point serves a purpose in the ecosystem.

Emerging artists can price affordably, making it easy for songwriters to take a chance on fresh talent. These artists get experience, build their portfolio, and develop relationships with songwriters. As their audience grows and their skills sharpen, they adjust their rates accordingly.

Established artists with proven audiences and professional-quality output price at a premium — because they’re delivering premium value. When they cover a hook, it reaches tens or hundreds of thousands of people. That reach has tangible, measurable worth.

Mid-tier artists find their sweet spot somewhere in between, balancing accessibility with fair compensation for their time and talent.

The market sorts itself out. Naturally. Without us dictating terms.

Why This Is Better for Artists

Let’s talk to the Tylers of the world for a moment — the Featured Artists who make this marketplace come alive.

You know your worth better than we do. You know your audience size, your engagement rate, the quality of your recordings, the time you invest in each cover. You know whether you’re doing this as a creative outlet or as a primary income stream. Pricing should reflect your reality, not our assumptions about it.

You can grow into your rate. When you’re starting out, a lower rate gets you more opportunities, more covers, more visibility. As you build your reputation on the platform, you can raise your rate. It’s a natural progression that rewards growth instead of locking you into a number.

You’re never undervalued. In a flat-rate system, high-performing artists subsidize the platform by accepting less than they’re worth. Artist-set pricing eliminates that. If your covers consistently drive results, your rate should reflect that — and you’re the one who gets to make that call.

You maintain autonomy. This might be the most important one. When you set your own rate, you’re making a business decision about your creative work. That’s empowering in an industry that has historically stripped autonomy from artists at every turn.

Why This Is Better for Songwriters

Now let’s talk to the Jamies — the songwriters browsing Featured Artist profiles, looking for the right voice for their hook.

I know what you might be wondering: “If artists set their own rates, how do I know I’m getting good value?”

Great question. Here’s why this model actually protects you:

Transparency. Every Featured Artist’s rate is visible upfront. No hidden fees, no surprise invoices, no “let’s negotiate” awkwardness. You see the price, you see the artist’s profile, you see their previous work. You make an informed decision.

Market accountability. An artist who prices at $1,000 but delivers mediocre covers won’t last long at that rate. The marketplace creates natural accountability — artists who consistently deliver quality at their price point build strong reputations. Those who don’t adjust or get outcompeted.

Choice at every budget. Whether you’re testing the waters with your first hook or investing seriously in getting it covered by a top-tier artist, there’s an option for you. A $79 hook paired with an emerging artist’s $75 cover rate means you can get your song out into the world for under $200. That’s remarkable.

Quality signals. Artist profiles include their audience size, engagement metrics, previous covers, and ratings. You’re not guessing. You’re choosing based on real data. And often, the artists who price themselves higher are worth it — because their cover reaches a larger, more engaged audience.

Why This Is Better for the Marketplace

Zoom out for a second and look at the ecosystem level.

Artist-set pricing creates a healthy, diverse marketplace. You get a range of options at different price points, serving different needs. A songwriter testing a hook can start affordably. A songwriter ready to invest in a proven artist can do that too. Everyone has a path.

It creates natural quality incentives. Artists are motivated to deliver great work because their reputation directly impacts their ability to command their rate. There’s no hiding behind a standardized fee — your work speaks for itself, and your pricing reflects your confidence in it.

It enables real partnerships. When an artist charges what they believe they’re worth and a songwriter voluntarily pays that rate, the relationship starts on solid footing. Nobody feels shortchanged. Nobody feels exploited. It’s two professionals choosing to work together on terms they both agreed to.

And honestly? It just feels right. In a world where algorithms decide what music gets heard, where streaming platforms pay fractions of a cent, where creative people are constantly told to work for “exposure” — letting artists set their own rates is a small but meaningful act of respect.

The Trust Factor

I want to address something directly: trust.

If you’re a songwriter, you might worry that artist-set pricing means overpaying. If you’re an artist, you might worry about pricing yourself out of opportunities.

Both concerns are valid. And both are handled by the marketplace itself.

Artists who overprice relative to their value will see fewer bookings and adjust. Songwriters who underspend might not get the results they hoped for and invest more next time. The feedback loop is built in.

But beyond the mechanics, there’s a deeper trust at play. We trust songwriters to know what they can invest. We trust artists to know what their work is worth. We trust the marketplace to create fair outcomes through transparent, voluntary exchange.

That trust is foundational to everything we’re building.

It’s About Respect

At the end of the day, artist-set pricing comes down to one word: respect.

Respect for artists as business owners, not just performers. Respect for songwriters as informed buyers, not just customers to be charged. Respect for the creative process as something valuable enough that the people doing the work should have a say in what it costs.

We think that’s how a marketplace should work. And based on what we’re seeing, so do the songwriters and artists who are joining every day.

Ready to Join the Marketplace?

Featured Artists: Set your rate. Build your profile. Start covering hooks that inspire you — on your terms.

[Become a Featured Artist →]

Songwriters: Browse Featured Artists at every price point. Find the perfect voice for your hook. Make an informed choice.

[Browse Featured Artists →]

Great music happens when talented people work together on terms that feel fair. That’s what we’re building here.