Licensing Basics
Every License Type, Explained in Two Minutes
By the Starchild Music team · September 6, 2026 · 4 min read
The short answer
Starchild has four base licenses — Song $30, +AI Personalization $40, +Instrumental $50, Personalized Productions $60 — plus add-ons: stems packages (per-song pricing), exclusive terms (3/6/12 months from $60), and a $99 royalty-free buyout where offered. Most artists need the $50 instrumental tier.
Seven license options sounds like a menu designed by lawyers. It's actually one simple structure: a base license (choose one) plus add-ons (stack what you need). Here's the whole system.
Base licenses — choose one
- Song License ($30): record and release your version. The default for singers who produce their own tracks.
- Song + AI Personalization ($40): adds a production tailored toward your style — for artists who want a head start on the arrangement.
- Song + Instrumental ($50): adds the full instrumental mix. The performer's and producer's choice.
- Personalized Productions ($60): the song rendered in your chosen style, optionally around your voice. The "hear my record before I cut it" tier.
Add-ons — stack as needed
- Stems Package (per-song pricing): every element isolated, for full production control.
- Exclusive License (3/6/12 months from $60): the song leaves the marketplace during your term. Renewals extend from your end date.
- Royalty-Free ($99, where offered): perpetual buyout on top of a base license — no ongoing royalty considerations.
The honest guidance
Most artists need exactly one thing: the $50 instrumental tier — a song plus the track to sing it over. Add exclusivity only when a real campaign justifies it, and personalization when you want the production to meet you halfway. Every option is visible on each song page, priced before checkout, and documented with a certificate after.
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