Calling All Composers In The Industry, Composers in the Music Industry Options

[Mac-Dee]

Hey fellow composers

I am a composer from australia who is starting out

I am getting my first jobs and charging low but i want to know what should i be charging
what do composers in the industry charge lets say for a 3:30 song
or a 1:00 add . Is there a standard rate or wage rate i should charge or any info on where to go to find this info would be of great help

Thanks in adv

cheers

[formatj]

Hey Mac-Dee,

I am a composer from Australia too. Rates vary from country to country. In Australia we would be lucky to get 10-40% of what someone would get in the USA.

There are no set rules for fees here. Music for a television commercial for example can range from AU$2,000-$20,000 for a composer's fee as a rough guide. It depends on what the commercial is for, what type of music (e.g orchestral vs electronic), who the composer is.

What sort of composing work do you mean? Music for TV/film etc..
Who are you "selling" a 3:30 song to?

[UP Multimedia]

I'm a Dual Citizen USA-AUS... "Mate, Australia is the worst paying of anywhere in the Free-World! TV, Film, Music... Really bad. I fought with Unions there all the time... When they, Australian companies, i.e., Ad Agencies, TV Producers and other such exploiters use 'Outside' Material... i.e., The Stones, they pay the going rate... When they use "Home Grown" unknowns, like you and I... they will screw you, won't kiss you and forget getting a call. I 'really' hope you are the one to change this "Bloody Aussie Trend". Could you be 'The Music Mesiah'?

Melbourne and Sydney are the same... Perth, Queensland and Adelaide... Get out the KY Jelly.

[formatj]

Mate, Australia is the worst paying of anywhere in the Free-World!  TV, Film, Music... Really bad.

so true!!

[Arnolfo]

"Mate, Australia is the worst paying of anywhere in the Free-World! TV, Film, Music... Really bad."

You should know about Portugal (EU) where you work for free, and sometimes, even the expenses are on you.
For some of us, it's either that or nothing at all.

[UP Multimedia]

You have to change this... working for free does nothing to stop the exploitation. Music is the power. As long as one person gives in it makes it more difficult for hundreds of others. Sell your music somewhere else... You are no longer confined to 'One Place' with internet you can travel the Planet... If your music is good... and when you start making lots of money can I borrow some? Good luck.

[usgang]

I'm a Producer/Musician that resides in Sydney and agree with the resentment!Unfortunately our union,guild and other bodies don't have the power to establish any form of standard code.Ever since television was introduced into this country there was a guesstimate of what a standard fee should've been and that my dear friends was pretty dismal and nothing has really improved since..according to CPI.
Today it's basically enterprise bargaining!!

[Mac-Dee]

Duuuuuude ! now that sux

All musians should voice together and get this standard happenin cause we are the ones who will get ripped of in the end

[mortalengines]

This sounds like the same story just about anywhere you go (including the good ol' USA- my home). Most of the musicians who are lucky enough to even have a hit record don't see that much actual money. They call it "paying your dues". Basically working for free or next to it. There are some successful score writers/sound designers/etc. but for every one who gets paid, think about the thousands who don't.

[usgang]

Where can we start to get together when our relevant unions have failed us.Everything is based on demographics.The larger the population obviously the better the negotiating deals!I haven't heard of anybody doing production work for free in this town(Sydney)....word would spread like wildfire not to mention what it would sound like!!
On the other scale...Major Labels!..give' em a wide berth!!
The power of the internet is the future...your destiny is in your hands!

[formatj]

To the Australian screen composers (TV/film/advertsing etc) wait a few months. There is an industry document being worked on that will give "suggested" rates that should be released later in the year, I'll keep you informed.

Meanwhile I would suggest that you don't do work for free unless it is a job where everyone is working on it for free (e.g. a student film etc..). You only devalue yourself and the whole industry.
How many other professions do work for free? Try calling a plumber/lawyer/accountant/.....(insert any other profession here) and ask them to do some work for you for free

Also don't fall into the trap of doing work for free with the promise of future paid work, I guarantee you will be waiting forever for that phone call.

[mortalengines]

You are absolutely correct. In terms of media these are the "best of times and the worst of times" (to coin a phrase). Back in the day (60s & 70s) nobody knew what would sell, so alot of labels, large & small, would just proverbially, "throw crap at the wall and see what sticks." Bands like Pink Floyd & Zappa & King Crimson actually made it on this merit alone. Nowadays, there is too much money at stake: a label will spend six to seven million dollars on a band thay may or may not ever make ANY money at all. THIS is what dictates the homogeneity in the current music (for entertainment or film) business. The internet is a heck of an open door to exposure with a great opportunity & it has really opened up alot of avenues for creative collaboration that wouldn't have existed even 10 years ago. I was just reading about someone getting a record deal on the virtue of their MY SPACE site. THAT is powerful.

[UP Multimedia]

I think the Forum is giving birth to a new possibilty... Perhaps we could get a "Link" that answers our collective concerns. I realize Mac Forum is not about these types of issues, more about technical, but, it is the next most important issue to a musician.

We could make some noise about our concerns and see what happens... Power of the Word, People and Music are boundless. I'm in... all I normally do on this site is realize how lucky I am to have all my gear rocking in harmony...

No offense guys and girls with Tech Blues... It cost me a lot of cash to have Pros come to the house and fix it... Talk about paying dues... I never even wanted all this crap! I'm lying... wish I would have had it coming out of the old girls womb... Thanks Mom, just had to be poor!

How do we move forward Re: Our Rights? I think we should start by looking at the going rates in various Countries. TV, Film, Commercials? That's it... Said my piece. My brain is hurting... I hate fighting... I just want lots of money for my music.... "I ain't joking"

[andru]

What about setting up an international composers group to monitor what's happening and provide advice feedback and later perhaps some clout?

[jacksackguitars]

I'm not sure if this sort of thing is allowed but i wonder if i could put jobs from ad agencies around the world up on this forum for you guys to pitch for? I get a lot of jobs through from the uk, the states and japan. I can't promise a demo fee but if you guys are pitching for nothing and getting paid badly even if you get the jobs, i may be able to help out. An online commercial music production community anyone? Could get complicated don the line but an interesting thought. I could post a quicktime movie and see what anyone comes up with.
I attempted setting up a business in perth western australia but there really isn't enough to go round. I know there's a lot of great musicians in OZ but i think the main problem is sheer population. If a an ad agency knows the commercial will be seen by fewer people they're not prepared to pay as much. An american campaign could conceivably be seen by 150 million possible customers and an australian campaign might only get to 15 million if everyone with access to TV saw the ad.

[simmac]

Hi everyone

I'm a musician,composer.To be pay .....................
This is a really sucks period for the music and for the culture general.

I have a lot of music and I arrived to the point I would like to sell it.I have almost every type of music (classical,jazz,rock,soundtrack even advertising music) I make arragements even for full classical orchestra.I sold already music but just in my country (that's Hungary).Little country-little circle,to go inside,it's almost impossible.I'm living in Italy but the situation is almost worst here.
No job,no real professional product...............what you can here in the TV,radio.

My question is,how can I sell my music on the internet?
I looked for it but somehow I didn't find any possibility.
I know it's hard to find the way but honestly I didn't find even the beginning
Please,I need some help.

Thanks guys

[mortalengines]

There are alot of ways to get out your music on the internet- a good exposure route is myspace.com. There is also alot of internet radio that you can upload mp3s for streaming. Acidplanet.com has a usersgroup that can offer exposure. cdbaby.com is another good one.

[DANO10]

Hey Guys.

You might find something here: Music Hosts A huge list of internet sites that help composer/songwriters. I personally use Broadjam.com and Artistlaunch.com and Freeworldradio.com. All very good.

DANO10

[UP Multimedia]

Dano... Thanks... Very helpfu... Yes, BroadJam is a "great" site... Will 'check-out' others you listed... King

[UP Multimedia]

Mortalengines... Thank you... Both you and Dano have broadened my horizons... Excellent... King

[formatj]

For selling your music online you may also want to have a look at Martian Music/Martian Method

http://martianmethod.com/ (artist upload/song management)

http://martianmusic.com/ (Online shop: customers buy your music here)

[jimdubpram]

If you can get hold of a copy, Computer Music magazine has just published a special edition entitled ' The essential guide to music online - Get your music heard and sold.'
www.futurepic.com
The magazine comes with a CD of web tools to help you get your music online.