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Composers for Film, Media and the like - How Do You Charge For Your Work?

TLDR: How do you come to know and then stand by your worth as a composer?
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As a composer just starting out in the world of commission work, I have been researching the different ways to charge fairly for your work.

I was initially working on the method of charging per minute of composition, but this can lead to some issues with fairness. I can spend 15 hours on a piece that is 01:30 mins long but if I charged £50 a minute per completed composition that would leave me with just under £100 pounds (assuming I charged £25 for 30 secs etc etc).

In the end I looked at minimum wage for my country (UK £9.90 an hour) and charged this for my 15 hours of work. This then left me with just shy of £150.

What I am getting at is that I struggle to know my worth in composing. I know I am good at what I do and I have a lot to offer but if I had charged by minute of music completed, I was struggling to even give myself minimum wage.

Are there other methods that seem easier, or is this minimum wage idea a good place to start?

Thoughts very welcome!
Beck Lombardi
Beck Lombardi
Songwriting | Composing | Sound Design

Replies2

  • Liliana Dias
    Liliana Dias
    Video Production Manager
    Hey Beck,

    I was wondering if you looked into charging different rates for different media usages?
    Make sure you know how and where your music will be used/broadcasted/posted upfront and charge accordingly. Your fees should vary depending on if is for TV, Film, advertising, corporate or online, etc...

    Not sure if you have already seen this but have a look at this link here:
    https://musiciansunion.org.uk/working-performing/composing-and-songwriting/commissioned-work/media-commissions

    This may help you get a good idea of how other artists charge for their work. Maybe start charging at the lower end of the range and then raise your fees as you build up your portfolio and experience.

    I hope this helps and some music composers out here reach out to you to share their experiences.

    Liliana

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