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Q: how do you pay studio musicians/producers for indie albums ( No Answer,   3 Comments )
Question  
Subject: how do you pay studio musicians/producers for indie albums
Category: Arts and Entertainment > Music
Asked by: rockstar25-ga
List Price: $5.00
Posted: 14 Sep 2005 17:08 PDT
Expires: 14 Oct 2005 17:08 PDT
Question ID: 568155
Hi,
I am putting out a CD and starting a record lable and will be doing it
all independently (recording, paying for manufacturing, etc). However,
a couple of friends are going to be on the disc, help produce, and
mix. How should they be paid, or what is generally done in this
situation on indie record labels? Do I pay them a one time fee, do
they get a percentage of sales after initial costs are covered, etc?
How about for producing or mixing? Thanks, any and all info or
comments welcome.
Answer  
There is no answer at this time.

Comments  
Subject: Re: how do you pay studio musicians/producers for indie albums
From: rchamberlain-ga on 15 Sep 2005 10:08 PDT
 
Hi. My friend runs an indy label (generates only about $80,000 a year
income and is rather small). He pays the bands about $850 (at most)
per cd. He then has someone do the artwork (a 4 page booklet, insert
and disc art usually). Then he will send this off to a CD replication
firm to be pressed. All in all, a single pressing of about 1,000 CDs
costs him around $2,200. He normally buys the jewel cases seperate
because it saves on shipping costs and the places that press the CDs
rip you off. Normally, after he writes up the contract, he has all the
band members sign the contract unless there is a manager (sometimes
the singer) of the band who can sign on their behalf. He ends up
paying the band 50% (you pay for the studio time yourself, do NOT give
them the $ for the studio time). When he has a CD that finally sounds
the way he wants, he pays the band the remainder of the 50%. You need
to get a contract drawn up by an attorney to save you any headaches in
the future. Good luck.
Subject: Re: how do you pay studio musicians/producers for indie albums
From: rchamberlain-ga on 15 Sep 2005 10:10 PDT
 
Oh, and another thing that you need to do.... Make sure you get the
FULL RIGHTS to the CD since it is going to be an indy release.
Subject: Re: how do you pay studio musicians/producers for indie albums
From: neilaudiodotcom-ga on 27 Oct 2005 22:33 PDT
 
If the musicians just "played" on the track - and did not do any
songwriting.. it's best to pay them a play rate like you would pay a
session musician.

Depending on how much Creativity comes from the Producer and Engineer,
you may want to consider giving them some points ontop of what you pay
them.

Feel it out - do what feels fair.

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