Personalized Song FAQ: Pricing, Process & Everything You Need to Know

What's Your Beat is a personalized song studio run by Richard Nelson. You share your story — a person, a memory, a moment — and Richard turns it into an original song that couldn't exist for anyone else. Whether it's grief, love, a milestone, or faith, the process always starts with what you've actually lived through. Commissions start at $49.

Most personalized song services use templates, fixed lyric structures, or fully automated AI with no human involvement. At What's Your Beat, Richard reads every story personally and shapes the creative direction of every commission — the lyrics, the emotional arc, the sound. The result is a song that feels like it was made for you, because it was.

Each month, Richard quietly selects one person from recent commissions and refunds them in full — no application, no announcement. It's simply something Richard does on his own because he believes some stories deserve music regardless of the price. There's no way to apply. The best thing to do is commission a song and share your story honestly. Learn more about the Compassion Fund.

Standard commissions (Starter and Tribute) are delivered within 7 days. Legacy commissions include priority 48-hour delivery. If you need it faster, the 24-Hour Emergency Priority add-on ($100) is available at checkout — only one slot per day, so add it early if your timeline is tight.

The more you share, the better the song will be. Richard asks about the person or moment you want to honor, your preferred music style and mood, and any specific memories, phrases, or details that matter to you. The most meaningful songs come from specific, honest details — an inside joke, a place, a habit, a single moment. Share only what you're comfortable with, but know that real details are what make the difference.

Revision rounds are included with Tribute (one round) and Legacy (two rounds) commissions. Richard will work to get it to a place that resonates. Because AI tools are part of the process, exact sonic recreations aren't always possible — but the emotional core of your commission is always honored.

If a name or word is mispronounced, that's a free fix on every tier — no revision round needed. Just reply to the delivery email.

Virtually any genre — Country, Rock, Pop, Acoustic, Celtic, Hip-Hop, R&B, Piano Ballad, EDM, Folk, Indie, Afrobeat, Lofi, Spiritual, and many others. If you have something specific in mind, just describe it in your story. You can also select "Surprise Me" and let Richard choose the style that fits your story best.

Both, honestly. Richard works closely with AI music tools to find the sound and lyrics that fit your story — but the creative direction, the emotional interpretation of what you shared, and the decisions about what the song actually says all come from Richard. Think of it as Richard using AI the same way a filmmaker uses a camera: the tool matters, but so does who's behind it and why.

Yes. The 24-Hour Emergency Priority add-on ($100) drops delivery to under 24 hours. Only one slot is offered per day — once claimed, it resets at midnight. The 48-Hour Rush Delivery add-on ($50) is also available for Starter and Tribute commissions, and is included automatically with Legacy. If your situation is extremely time-sensitive, email hello@whatsyourbeat.com directly.

After payment, you'll receive a confirmation email from songrequest@whatsyourbeat.com. Your private access code is shown immediately after checkout — bookmark the song delivery page so you're ready. When Richard finishes your song, he'll email you to let you know. That email is your signal that your access code will now unlock your song.

Enter your private access code at whatsyourbeat.com/song-delivery to listen, download, and manage your commission — all in one place. No attachments, no file-sharing links, no account required.

Yes. Enter the recipient's email address at checkout and the access code and delivery notification will go to them directly. Or enter your own email and share the code with them yourself when the timing is right — useful for surprises.

Yes. Global Streaming Submission to Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and other major platforms is included with the Legacy tier ($199) and available as a $50 add-on for Starter and Tribute commissions. Richard handles the entire distribution process. Once it's live, he'll send you the song title so you can find and share it.

Absolutely. Streaming submission is always optional. If you don't add it, your song stays completely private — between you, the people you choose to share the file with, and Richard. Nothing is ever released publicly without your explicit decision to do so.

All music, lyrics, and recordings remain Richard's intellectual property. You receive a personal, non-exclusive licence to listen, download, and share the song for non-commercial purposes. Commercial use — ads, paid campaigns, selling it — requires written permission. Reach out to discuss if you have a commercial need.

Your story is read only by Richard and used solely to create your song. It's never shared, sold, or used for any other purpose. If you add Streaming Submission, only the finished song and its title become public — nothing from your personal submission appears beyond what's in the song itself. Full details in the Privacy Policy.

Yes, at any time. Reply to Richard's delivery email or email privacy@whatsyourbeat.com and your submission will be removed promptly — no questions asked.

Yes, as long as it's legal and respectful. Richard uses his judgment with complex topics and will let you know if something doesn't feel like a fit. The goal is always to handle real, vulnerable stories with care — and create something that feels honest and safe for everyone involved.

Pronunciation fixes are free on every tier, no revision round needed. Just reply to Richard's delivery email, describe what you're hearing, and he'll send an updated version. This is a detail Richard takes seriously — it matters when you're playing a song for someone you love.

Yes. Pets are family, and the grief of losing them is real. Richard is honored to help celebrate the life and love of a cherished companion through music. Select "Pet Tribute" as your category on the commission form and share your story.

Add the 24-Hour Emergency Priority at checkout ($100) and note in your story that this is for an upcoming service. If your situation is especially time-sensitive, email hello@whatsyourbeat.com directly and Richard will do everything he can to help.

Absolutely. Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, proposals, graduations, new babies, friendship milestones, faith journeys — Richard creates songs for all of life's chapters. A song that makes someone laugh at their own inside jokes is just as meaningful as one that makes them cry.

Currently yes — songs are created in English due to the tools Richard uses. That said, the emotions and melodies in the music are universal, and many people whose first language isn't English have found their commissioned song deeply meaningful regardless.

Try refreshing the page or switching to a different browser. The form works best on current versions of Chrome, Firefox, or Safari with cookies enabled. If the issue persists, email hello@whatsyourbeat.com and Richard will help you complete your commission another way.

Your access code is in the confirmation email sent from songrequest@whatsyourbeat.com right after checkout. Check your spam folder too. If you still can't find it, email hello@whatsyourbeat.com with your name and the email you used at checkout and Richard will resend it.

Yes. Commissions are welcome from anywhere in the world. Payments are processed in USD via Stripe or PayPal, and your song is delivered digitally regardless of your location.