From start to finish, there is so much work going on behind the scenes for music and film to work together.
Sometimes the process is simple and easy. Most of the time it’s an uphill battle. This article is designed to help artists and their teams understand the process a little bit better. To have an edge over their competitors, understanding licensing rates and information that can be used to help land an artist’s music in film. Along with negotiating proper rates and not being taken advantage of.
How does music fit in during the movie production process?
Music is left until the last possible moment
The amount of money spent on music pales in comparison to the other production costs
It must meet a critical release date, so recording and editing need to be completed in time for distribution
The composer has 8–10 weeks to score and record the music. Sometimes even less
The three types of music primary to most films
Original Underscore
Original Song
Licensed Pre-existing Song
What are the deals involved in Motion Picture Music?
The Performer (singer/instrumental)
The Songwriter
The Record Producer
The Publisher to whom the songwriter is signed
The Publisher who owns a song that’s being sampled
The Owner of a Master Recording that’s sampled in the song
The Record Company to whom the performer is signed
The Record Company putting out the soundtrack album
Liz Tip: Remember to know your worth! Don’t be afraid to ask for more, but don’t pass up a great opportunity at the same time. Also, NDAs are common in this industry.
What are the rights involved in Film Music?
Acquisition of/obtaining rights for the picture
➢ Performing artists
➢ Songwriters, composers, and publishers
➢ Record producers
➢ Record companies (both for use of existing masters or samples in the film, and for clearing rights to put new recordings of their artists in the film)
The license of rights from the picture company to others
➢ A deal with a record company to release a soundtrack album
➢ Licensing film clips for music videos
➢ Possibly a publishing administration deal
➢ Commercials — TV and/or radio
What are the two types of Film Music Performer Deals?
One to perform in the picture
The other to use the performance on a soundtrack album or single
How are artists usually paid to perform in a film?
A flat fee
What are some standard fees for this?
Up to $400,000+ for a major artist
Norm is:
➢ $200,000 — $400,000 for a superstar
➢ $15,000 — $25,000 for mid level artist
➢ $5,000 — $10,000 for a minor artist
➢ $10,000 — $20,000 for featured instrumentalists
➢ $100,000 for big names
What kinds of royalties are paid to composers, producers and conductors on soundtracks?
Composers don’t automatically get record royalties. It needs to be negotiated. Underscore royalties are only paid for conducting the orchestra and/or producing the recording.
Producing: 3–4% | Conducting: 6–10%
What is the one thing that the record company normally recoups in a soundtrack deal?
Conversion costs (Costs of converting a song used in a film to a full track)
What is a composer package deal and what is the normal pricing?
A composer package deal means the composer is asked to deliver a package deal, which is the music including recording costs.
Pricing
$50K for budget to $2 million for major films
Purely electronic: $100K — $400K
Hybrid of electronic and real instruments: $50K — $250K (Orchestra and Studio are both paid)
Low budget: $5K to $10K (Composers will want the publishing and soundtrack)
What are the normal exclusions from composer deals?
Licensing of outside music (music not written by the composer)
Recording costs of outside music
Re-use fees (the union fees charged when you take a recording made for one medium — i.e. a motion picture, to use it in another — i.e. records and vice versa)
Re-scoring (re-recording)
Lyricist expense
Vocalist expense
Music editor fees
Mag stock (soundtrack imprinted on the film) and transfer costs
Pre-records
Sidelining
Excess Musicians
Library Music (composer’s written music not intended for the film, but chosen for the film)
What will a composer usually ask for on low budget films?
They will usually be paid somewhere between $5,000 — $10,000, and they will want the publishing and soundtrack.
What are the normal fees for TV composers?
Background Score: $2,000 — $7,000 for 30 minutes. $12,000 — $22,000 for 1 hour. $35,000 — $90,000 for 2 hours.
TV Themes: $10,000 — $25,000 and up to $40,000+
What are All-in Deals for Film Music
For a set fee, the artist will record and deliver a completed track. In other words, the artist takes on the recording costs themselves and keeps the difference as payment for the track
Important aspects of a soundtrack record album to ask about
What is the royalty to the artist?
Who is the royalty paid to?
For the distributor, what can be recouped against your royalty?
What can your record company recoup?
What rights does the film company have?
Roles in the release of music videos
What are the royalty amounts for soundtrack albums?
12–14% all in, prorated
16–18% for major artists
What is recoupable in soundtrack albums?
Usually, only the conversion costs if it’s purely an underscore soundtrack album (this is recoupment against the composer)
Performer deals: negotiate whether or not the film company can recoup:
Recording costs
Artist’s performance fee
Conversion costs
Re-use fees
Rights to ask for when artists have music in film recordings
Can use it on the Artist’s Own Record
Restriction on Re-Recording (usually 5 years)
Right to release singles
Music videos (limited footage allowed on the music video)
Licensing of the master for motion pictures
We are talking about song licensing and not the score or underscore
The deal for these licenses is between the record and film company
Artists may or may not have approval rights from the record company, they can block the deal if they own the publishing on the song
The right to use the master is only the right to use the physical recording, not the publishing rights.
Liz Tip: Often in films, even if an artist wrote a song, wrote and sang the song, the film company will ask for 25-50% of the publishing of the song. Since they are agreeing to you put your song in their film. If you don’t agree, then they will have no problem using someone else’s song. There is a whole world of artists waiting to be in your place. 50% of something is better than nothing. There are exceptions, mainly if you are a big artist (Randy Newman) who has the power to negotiate. Typically they do not take writer’s share, that stays with the artist. But, it does happen sometimes, where they may ask for 25%. (Guard writers share with your life!)
What determines the fee the record company will charge?
The popularity of the artist
How the music will be used in the film
What are the royalty ranges for this?
11–14% prorated with a Most Favored Nations (MFN) Clause — (No one gets a higher royalty)
How is the money split between the record company and the artist?
50/50
Who pays a majority of the costs to release soundtrack albums?
The film company
What are the two types of soundtrack albums?
Score Albums — an album wholly of underscore music (no songs)
Song Albums — songs by major artists comprised of pre-existing songs and songs written for the film
What are the advances and royalty rates for both score albums and song albums?
Score Albums
➢ Advance: usually just the re-use fee as these albums don’t sell that well
➢ Royalties: 17–18%
Song Albums
➢ Advance: $100,000 — $300,000, with some up to $500,000
➢ Royalties: 18–20% with escalations up to 22% based on sales of over 1 million copies
About Liz Kamlet
Liz Kamlet is a top music industry professional. Her clients have sold over 100+ million records, 2+ billion streams, 50+ million social media followers, and won/been nominated for multiple Oscar and Grammy awards.