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!